Tulane University of Louisiana (TUL) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

You’ll know why students love Tulane University the moment you step off of the St. Charles streetcar onto the azalea-filled campus in “uptown” New Orleans. Since its founding in 1834, Tulane, has been both educating and entertaining students for generations. Tracing its roots back to the Medical College of Louisiana, the school owes its name to a wealthy New Jersey merchant, Paul Tulane, who earned his fortune in the crescent city. After more than a century as one of the most prominent features of the city of New Orleans, the university is an even more integral part of the city after surviving the challenge of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Now, students are flocking here to experience the rebirth of an amazing cultural center, as well as to be educated in a world class research environment.

The students here are diverse, intellectual, and very social. Boasting more than 250 campus groups and situated in the heart of one of the most culturally important cities in the country, students are offered more than just a top-tier liberal arts education, it offers an amazing collegiate experience.

The culture is just one of the many reasons students love being located in the heart of New Orleans. Public service opportunities, internships with local business and sports teams, full-time employment, and religious communities are all just minutes away. Students can enjoy the history of the French Quarter, the Spanish architecture, the Creole food, and the location of the birth of jazz while surrounded by a university with a renewed focus on educational excellence and a commitment to public service.

At the heart of the campus stands the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life, the hub of extracurricular activities. This building opened its doors in January of 2007 and puts a fresh face on the forty-year-old University Center (affectionately known as the UC). This hub holds dining and meeting facilities, a large bookstore, and the offices of both student programming faculty and student organizations.

A Tulane education provides more than just a degree. Academically, the faculty will prepare you to solve problems, challenge you with new theories, and support your personal research and endeavors. The cultural education you will obtain, however, is like nothing else in the nation. The history of New Orleans, added to the unique cuisine, music, traditions of the city, and the rebuilding process combine to form a truly unmatched collegiate experience. Students who choose to attend now will not only be studying at a great university, they will be an integral part of rebuilding an American treasure after one of the most devastating natural disasters of our time.

Information Summary

Ranks 1st in Louisiana and 146th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	94.0
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$72,296
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	33 / 1490
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	13 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	94% / N/A
Enrollment Total (all students)	12,646

Academics

Top students come here to get a world-class education in a unique setting. Academic opportunities, therefore, are embraced by all students. All undergraduates enter through the Newcomb-Tulane Undergraduate College, where a core curriculum ensures academic breadth as they begin their collegiate career, a TIDES course connects them to students with similar passions, and the public service requirement fulfills the mission to produce graduates with cultural knowledge who are “good citizens of the world.”

On campus, students study at one of ten schools and colleges, depending on their major and degree. Undergraduates start their career at the recently reorganized Newcomb-Tulane College. This undergraduate college was created by joining the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College for Women, which was established in 1886. As the first coordinate college in a university setting to grant degrees to women in the entire nation, Newcomb and Tulane draw students in with their rich history and innovative programming.

Schools, Programs, and Libraries

Outside of the core programs, students will choose majors from the five undergraduate schools: School of Liberal Arts, which awards Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), or Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degrees, depending on the choice of major; School of Science and Engineering, which awards a B.S.; A.B. Freeman School of Business, which confers the Bachelor of Science in Management (B.S.M.) degree; School of Architecture, in which students receive the Master of Architecture I degree; and the School of Public Health, where students receive a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. Students may also pursue cross-registration with other universities in the area, and are able to use these additional resources and libraries to their advantage.

Many joint degree programs are offered that combine undergraduate and graduate/professional degrees. Cross-registration in different schools and “4+1” programs are also available. Students can also choose from flexible study options, such as student-designed, dual, and interdisciplinary majors. Because the school is nationally recognized in many of its academic programs, a large percentage of students take advantage of more than one academic department for their concentrations.

Academic and research resources available to students are second to none. The main library on campus, Howard-Tilton Memorial, is not only home to five floors of “stacks” and study spaces but also the Latin American Library and the Maxwell Music Library, where students have access to some of the greatest music in the world. Special collections of the university include the Hogan Jazz Archive, Southeastern Architectural Archive, and the Louisiana Collection. Other special libraries on campus span the fields of architecture, botany, business, law, mathematics, natural history, primate research, race relations and ethnic history, and women’s studies (home to an impressive collection of historical local cookbooks).

Tides

First-year students participate in the Tulane InterDisciplinary Experience Seminars (TIDES) program, which connects them to other students who share similar interests. These seminar courses include speakers, trips, social events, and special programs that link to one of fifty chosen topics. Possible choices include: “The Music and Culture of New Orleans”; “Hurricanes, Human Rights, and History”; “Philosophy of Public Service”; “The Cultures of Food”; “Reading and Writing Women”; and many more. These programs were developed to introduce students to the city, the school, and each other by linking them up with faculty, activities, and other new students who share similar personal interests.

Advisors

Students are assigned to an academic advisor. These advisors take time to understand a student’s goals and passions, and align those with the opportunities and coursework at the different schools. Advisors assist in planning for special programs such as joint degree, personal research, and study abroad. They also suggest courses based on personal interest and coordinate with professors. Once a major is declared, a major advisor is also chosen to assist with field-specific goals, thesis research, and degree planning.

Another advising resource is the Career Services Center, which helps students at all levels of their collegiate career. The center advises students on everything from resume writing and interview skills to choosing the right major with resources to help understand not only the curriculum, but also the related career paths. The center offers free workshops, sponsors career fairs, and connects students with internship and job opportunities, as well as offers counselors to critique application essays and cover letters. On-line self-assessments and tools offer advice to students on their schedule.

The Education Resources and Counseling Center, another facet of the university’s advising system, offers both academic and personal counseling services. The center teaches academic skills and tutoring sessions free of charge while also providing personal counseling such as support groups, crisis counseling, and individual therapy.

Beyond the Campus

A significant number of students participate in the study abroad program. The Junior Year Abroad (JYA) program is one of the oldest of its kind in the country. Students can choose from full-year or semester programs, Tulane-sponsored programs, or trips coordinated with other schools, or they can develop their own overseas experience with the help of advisors at the Center for International Studies. There are programs in over twenty countries spanning Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Australia, in addition to a variety of faculty-led summer study-abroad programs for both undergraduates and graduates. Also offered are Washington, DC, semesters for students interested in politics, policy, and public service. All Tulane-sponsored study-abroad programs allow students to keep their specific scholarships and financial aid packages, which removes many barriers often present when studying at another school as a visiting student.

To complete the public service graduation requirement, students engage with the Center for Public Service to take a service-learning course, coordinate with faculty-sponsored service programs, design a study-abroad experience with a service component, or complete a public service honors thesis. All students get outside the classroom to participate in the revitalization of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Building houses, painting elementary schools, volunteering for education and health programs, and raising awareness of the region’s challenges are examples of ways students get involved.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Immediately after Hurricane Katrina and the cancellation of the 2005 fall semester, students were spread to over 600 schools in all fifty states. When the campus reopened in January of 2006, eighty-seven percent of these students chose to return to Tulane to continue their education. This enthusiasm to attend continues to be very strong in new applicants as well.

Although the entering class size has become smaller in the past year, the student body has remained a compilation of the nation’s top high school graduates. In addition to being strong academically, the typical freshman class is both geographically and ethnically diverse. A surprising number of students come here from great distances— over seventy-five percent of the typical entering freshman class hails from more than 500 miles away from the school. This diversity ensures that students are not only learning from their academic programs, but also from each other.

Application Requirements

Scores from either the SAT or the ACT are required to apply. The average SAT score for a recent freshman class was 1294 (based on 1600) (ACT equivalent of 29), which was 285 points above the national average. The ACT Optional Writing test is also required and SAT subject tests, such as math, writing, and science, are recommended for placement purposes. The school recommends taking the SAT, which includes a standard writing section. Equally important for placement and honors program consideration are Advanced Placement (AP) credits, which are enthusiastically accepted. Factors that demonstrate to the admissions team your unique qualities are AP and honors courses, recommendations, and extracurricular activities records, along with a personal essay. For architecture applicants, a portfolio is recommended as well. Students are encouraged to have completed four years each of high school English and math, and three years each of foreign language, social studies, and the sciences.

Campus Visits

Students who visited the campus the spring of their senior year in high school all attest to the power of seeing the campus in bloom and experiencing New Orleans in such beautiful weather. All applicants are encouraged to visit the campus for one of the prospective students activities in the spring, but they will also be accommodated at any point during the year. Daily campus tours are given by passionate Green Wave Ambassadors, often seen on campus walking backwards in flip-flops in front of a crowd of prospective students and parents. Ambassadors also host prospective students on overnight visits where the prospective student can join them in attending classes, meeting friends and professors, and participating in campus activities or sporting events. Efforts are made to make sure that visiting students experience both academic and social life before, or after, they make their final decision to attend.

Financial Aid

The university is committed to offering a great education to all students, regardless of financial situation. In a recent year, eighty-two percent of all full-time freshmen received some form of financial aid. Financial aid packages include grants, government loans, merit-based scholarships and awards, and student employment opportunities both on and off campus. There is a robust work-study program and about forty-five percent of undergraduates work part-time at some point in their college careers. Athletic and ROTC scholarships are also available to students who qualify.

As a member of the College Scholarship Service (CSS), the CSS PROFILE or Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are required to apply for financial aid. The average award for a recent year was $25,224, with an average annual earnings from campus work at $2,500. Upon enrollment, all students are assigned a financial aid counselor, who is committed not only to designing a financial aid award package that is tailored for each student but also to being available on a daily basis for questions about deadlines, forms, procedures, and options.

Merit-Based Aid

The university offers many merit-based scholarships that are awarded based on a student’s proven academic record and commitment to community involvement. A special application must be filled out for students applying for the Deans’ Honor Scholarship. This merit-based full-tuition scholarship is awarded to a few select students each year. The application includes THE BOX—a blank square on the application that you must fill as creatively as you can. Also requiring a separate application is the Community Service Scholarship, which awards up to full tuition to those students who can illustrate how they have dedicated exceptional time and effort to their communities. All students, regardless of application type or deadline, are automatically considered for other merit-based awards that do not require a separate application, with scholarships that range from $14,000 to $22,000 per year. Financial aid counselors will also work one-on- one with students who have received merit-based scholarships from outside organizations or government entities.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 813th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Louisiana.

Students

The university is located in the heart of uptown New Orleans. From listening to world-class musicians at renowned jazz clubs to throwing a Frisbee on the grassy park at the levee, New Orleans offers activities that simply can’t be found at other cities. The social life, therefore, is inextricably linked with the city that surrounds it. Jazz musicians perform at events, shuttle bus service takes kids around the city free of charge, students attend professional sporting events, movies shot in the city have their red-carpet premiers on campus, and freshman year officially starts on a paddle boat on the Mississippi River. Throughout a student’s years here, this continues to be the case. Most of the “social life” of the school is rooted in and around the city’s activities and big events. Some New Orleans festivals and events most popular with students include Mardi Gras, the weeks of carnival season associated with large parades throughout the city; New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (“Jazz Fest”), a two-weekend blowout of world famous bands and performing artists, arts and crafts, unique cuisine and late-night concerts; Voodoo Music Experience, a large annual music-festival; and the annual Sugar Bowl college football game.

Student Organizations

On campus, there are over 250 student organizations that create the social scene. Except for a select few, groups are open to all students and range from activism to sports. The oldest program on campus is the Community Action Council of Tulane University Students (CACTUS), which organizes community service activities of all kinds and involves almost every student at one point in his or her college experience. In addition to CACTUS, there are honors and professional societies, club and intramural sports, a healthy student government system, and a multitude of multicultural, political, performance, and religious groups. Campus media includes the Hullabaloo, the student-run newspaper that is published once a week; a student-managed television channel; and the immensely popular WTUL radio station. Student DJs man the airwaves in two-hour shifts at all hours of the day and night and have shows ranging from rock to folk.

Greek Life

Another dimension to campus life is the Greek system. There are fifteen national fraternities and ten national sororities on campus. Of all students, thirty percent of men and thirty-five percent of women belong to one of these chapters. Greek parties are open to all students, however, and the social scene is not dominated by these events. In fact, fraternities and sororities are some of the most active service organizations on campus and provide a great way to get involved in the community. The Greek recruitment, “Rush,” is deferred until a first-year student’s second semester on campus, giving the student the chance to make friends, understand the social scene, and join other organizations before committing to a fraternity or sorority. Most students who pledge do not live in organized housing, opting instead to live among friends not involved in the same Greek chapter.

Living on Campus

All freshman and sophomore students are required to live on campus and are guaranteed space in one of the university’s many dormitories or apartment complexes. Many junior, senior, and graduate students also opt to live on campus, as it provides them with a convenient, safe housing situation. Special living arrangements include female single- sex houses; theme living situations, such as honors, special interest, and international student houses; and the “Leadership Village”—a gathering of the university’s top student government and organizational leaders. Campus resources include a plethora of dining alternatives, a barbershop, several bank branches and ATMS, a copy center, post office, bookstore, grocery store, and several laundry facilities.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The Tulane Green Wave is a member of Conference USA in athletics and participates with teams in several NCAA Division 1-A sports, including football, basketball, and track, to name a few. Students receive free admission to all home games of all sports, and transportation is provided. The Louisiana Superdome, home to the Saints Football franchise and the Sugar Bowl, also hosts the Green Wave football team.

Perhaps their most successful sports team is men’s baseball, which earned its second trip to the College World Series in the 2005 season. The recent renovation of Turchin Stadium, one of the largest and most impressive collegiate baseball fields in the country, was completed in 2007. Student athletes are also recognized as successful scholars, with one of the largest percentages of graduating student athletes in the country.

Alumni

Graduates of Tulane University are equipped not only with a fantastic liberal arts education but also with a great respect for the world’s cultures and an understanding of the importance of public service.

Prominent Graduates

Lawrence Wright, Staff Writer for The New Yorker, Best-Selling Author of The Looming Tower: A History of al-Qaeda (2006)

Patrick Ramsey, NFL Quarterback for the New York Jets
Michael DeBakey, Heart Surgeon/ Transplant Pioneer
David Filo, Cofounder of Yahoo!
Neil Bush, Brother of President George Bush
Amy Carter, Daughter of President Jimmy Carter
Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the United States House
Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago
Lauren Hutton, Actress
J. P. Losman, NFL Quarterback for the Buffalo Bills
Jerry Springer, Talk-Show Host, Former Mayor of Cincinnati (D)
John Kennedy Toole, Author, Pulitzer Prize Winner
David C. Treen, Former Governor of Louisiana®
Michael White, Jazz Musician/Jazz Historian
Bruce Paltrow, Hollywood Director and Father of Gwyneth Paltrow
Bob Livingston, Former Congressman from Louisiana
Richie Petitbon, Former Washington Redskins Head Coach

Faculty

All courses are taught by professors who both teach and conduct research— not teaching assistants. All professors hold open office hours and are more than willing to spend time with students individually. The student-to-faculty ratio of nine-to-one ensures that classes are kept small and students are all given individual attention. The academic environment is influenced by the culture of the surroundings and is more friendly and encouraging than competitive.

Tulane University of Louisiana