I’ve loved reading this thread. Lots of interesting pointers and opinions. Yes, schools use ED to fill seats that are fullpay.Fullpay students help fund and subsidize scholarship students. (I’m grateful for this!) EA is an effective tool that might help pull in students that may have had the school as a higher choice, and once “in” a student might lean in towards the school, in this case Tulane. It’s flexible for the student, too, allowing breathing room for considering all options. For example, my D dropped applying to three additional January-deadline schools (one safety, one reach and one match) since Tulane was a top choice. Once she was into a school she loves (with a nice merit scholarship), her interest in other schools dropped. Now we are waiting to hear from the schools she applied to (those with Nov & Dec deadlines) and will compare financial aid/merit packages. I suspect we are not the only family experiencing this (it’s a family investment!). So, it seems to me that ED and EA works if a school knows how to use them as useful and complementary admissions tools.
One more note on the ranking & status of Tulane (since it came up in previous posts). I’m sure schools might be sensitive to the next comment (because it implies being lower down), but I’ll use it: Tulane’s on the rise. I look at the schools that 30 years ago were considered lower on the ladder, and some of them are extrememly competitive and highly ranked now. There are schools from 30 years ago that were seen as equal to some of the more competitive LACs that you barely hear about now. Schools that refresh, innovate and move forward attract students that are interested in vibrant learning communities. Tulane has done remarkable things since Katrina – for New Orleans and for their institutioin of higher learning. As New Orleans has “come back,” Tulane has also risen. People are hearing about this more and more (from school visits, fairs, GCs and private advisors, students). I think it’s paying off now with highest levels of applicants and highest, most academic stats ever. I don’t like to look at rankings, but rather what the school offers. Rising, for me, implies a learning environment that is engaging students and providing learning experiences that reflect the topics and jobs of the future. They are creating the problem solvers of the future.
Tulane also tells an authentic story – “We’re not for everyone, but maybe we’re the right fit for you,” said the speaker in our Info session last summer. They take pride in NOT being an intense, stressed out school (they project a happy vibe). They believe in the symbiotic relationship between the culture and history of New Orleans and the school, especially since Katrina. They believe in giving back to the community and teaching their students (if not insisting their students) do the same. They have rigorous academics and have carved out a best-in-class for particular studies (Tropical diseases, biomed, Latin Amer studies to name a few – and I know there are more!). This combination of factors speaks to the next generation of young people in meaningful ways. That’s why I think Tulane is rising. Their yield will show this over the next few years. The Admissions team seems to understand the wave (pun intended) and also seems to understand the unique higher education proposition that Tulane offers. Something is clearly reasonating with the students – the application numbers are up, and last year’s yield was up (perhaps this year’s will also increase). Several kids from our little high school in the Pacific Northwest are applying to Tulane – it’s very popular for a specific kind of student (academic) and person (looking for more than just a intense academic environment). Perhaps the students that are most attracted to what Tulane offers (and what Tulane “is”) comes across in the application and maybe those that included Tulane on a long list of schools to apply to (but perhaps didn’t show as much heart behind their reason why they’re applying) came into play with admission, There are subtleties that show in an application. And perhaps they had so many applications that even if you showed your heart and soul, they unfortunately chose someone else. Just something to think about.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens over the next few years with Tulane. It’s just my gut instinct, but i think the Green Wave is one to watch.