My now grown and very wise adult s#1 said to me something a year or so ago that I have never forgotten. He said: “don’t live with regret”.
This has not been the experience of my D who is currently at Tulane. Her experience has been quite the opposite, actually. She has made several different friend groups through involvement in different organizations. According to her, because students at Tulane tend to be very involved on campus, they have a exposure to and get to know a broad group of people. The relationships she has been able to build with both students and faculty, in addition to the collaborative vs. competitive culture, are what has really driven her enjoyment of being a part of the Tulane community.
Ditto what @pishicaca said above. When DS#2 was at Tulane, he was not interested in greek life (which is likely more significant and prevalent at SC) and had a great variety of friends. I was a warm and welcoming community.
@jym626
What were your sons least and most favorite things about his Tulane experience? Was he considering anywhere else as well, if so what schools?
@pishicaca thank you that’s very reassuring. Was Tulane always your child’s first choice? What has she found the best about her experience and what, if anything, does she wish she could change? Also, what is she studying there?
@animallover345 - Probably the thing he liked the least was the food, But since that time they have built a new dining commons so that should be much less of an issue.
He also applied to Vanderbilt, UNC-CH Hill, and Emory. When he applied, Tulane was “rolling”, and he heard back about the acceptance and the first scholarship in October. So that tempered his decision to apply elsewhere, as he really loved Tulane. The bigger scholarship came in February. And back then NMF threw in a few more thousand/year.
@jym626 is he pursing graduate school? If so, does he know where? I am curious how well Tulane sets you up for post undergrad schooling
He is employed. He is well employed.
@jym626 what did he major in when he attended?
Already answered upthread. And I will not discuss his employment due to privacy, but just know he is doing quite well.
Are your awards straight merit at both schools? If you have need-based financial aid from Tulane on top of merit, is there anything in your family’s circumstances (sibling leaving college, a parent making more, etc.) that might make Tulane even pricier in future years?
Some of it is financial aid but most is merit
You are also considering your acceptance to Bama?
Sadly, in today’s climate , most folks at least in the coming year or so are likely going to earn less, not more.
Sorry for the delay in responding!
Tulane was high on her list but not first choice until she was able to visit during Honors Weekend. During that visit she felt like she had finally found her place. I also attended, and that weekend also sold me that the additional $ that Tulane was going to cost us over some of her other choices was worth it. Regarding affordability, Tulane fell in the middle of her options as they gave her a significant merit award.
I asked her your questions, and her responses are below. Keep in mind, she is heavily involved in Tulane’s student government so she is exposed a lot of goings on behind the scenes that flavor her thoughts.
What has she found best about her experience? My professors and advisors have been all been wonderful. I also love how much the administration is willing and eager to work with students to improve campus. Processes are always very straightforward too which isn’t the case on a lot of campuses, and communication with students is prompt and respectful.
What does she wish she could change? I wish the university spent more money on liberal arts, especially poli sci because our major is so huge and there currently aren’t enough profs to serve it (class sizes in poli sci are higher than they would like them to be right now). And I wish the university spent more money on ensuring that members of marginalized communities have the resources they need and space set aside for them. I know they are working on creating space but they have a long way to go there. I also wish a better overview of all campus opportunities was provided to students at the beginning because you can’t utilize things if you don’t know they are there. Tulane has opportunities and programs for everyone and everything but they need to publicize them. This is a challenge because there are so many.
She is a political science and public health double major.
Hope this is helpful!
@pishicaca thank you for asking your daughter!! Does your daughter know anything about Tulane’s history program? That is also a liberal arts and I’m wondering if they are having the same issue of not enough professors, too many students, and not enough funding.
She says it’s mainly an issue with political science as it has gained in popularity as a major in recent years. She does want to stress that the poli sci professors she has had are amazing and her favorite as a group.
@pishicaca ok awesome thank you! Is there anything as both a student and parent you wish you knew before your daughter entered Tulane?
@animallover345 - what is your current 1, 2 and 3 choice of Tulane, South Carolina and Alabama, and why? Perhaps we can answer better when we understand what you are looking for in a school and why.
@jym626 I’m not really considering Alabama which is why I didn’t mention it on this thread.
I think I mentioned it my OP but Tulane is my first and usc is my second