Over 32,000 students a year apply to Tulane, and it isn’t because of just one reason. The academics are amazing, the culture is amazing, the community is amazing, and it’s in New Orleans, perhaps the most fun city to be a college student — especially if you love music and celebration. The culture of Tulane is grounded in to others, and as a private research university with this strong mission they are doing in labs and around the world. The undergraduate experience is varied, but with a shared foundation. All students complete , which is designed to spark curiosity and encourage exploration. The acceptance rate is about .
There are many options for avenues towards admission. You can choose to apply Early Decision I, Early Action, Early Decision II, or Regular Decision. If you love Tulane, you definitely need to seriously consider applying early, and preferably ED, as they prioritize ED applicants in the admissions process. The Tulane application process is also for all undergraduate first-year applicants, but that doesn’t mean that you should jump at the opportunity to omit an SAT or ACT score. It’s true that in recent years of admitted and enrolled students have submitted a standardized test score. But strong scores underline an impressive application. If you can achieve an ACT of 34+ or an SAT of 1,500+, you should submit your scores as part of your application.
In this post, we’ll be looking at the parts of you that aren’t quantifiable. The Tulane supplement is short, but it still offers an important space to emphasize what matters most to you and why you are a perfect fit for the Tulane community. Remember that Tulane doesn’t respond well to ‘afterthought applicants.’ They don’t want to accept students who aren’t passionate about them, so conveying informed enthusiasm grounded in a real understanding of Tulane matters massively.
We help passionate students get into dream schools. Learn more.
Tulane cares deeply about welcoming students who will be a strong culture fit for the Tulane community. It isn’t just about whether you can succeed academically at Tulane because they can assess that through transcript and scores. Rather, they need to see more than whether you can hang academically in the supplement. They need to see you.
Describe why you are interested in joining the Tulane community. Consider your experiences, talents, and values to illustrate what you would contribute to the Tulane community if admitted. (up to 250 words)
The Tulane supplement is basically a “why us.” But since it is their only supplement, it needs to do more than that. The good news is that you have 250 words, so there is space to make this supplement really prove your case for acceptance. Next, we’ll go into how you should do it.
The bare bones minimum to succeed with a response to this supplement is to share a reason for why you want to be at Tulane. So, why do you want to be there? Come up with three reasons: one academic, one community, and one cultural or social. These can overlap, but it’s important to consciously brainstorm things that are specific to Tulane that address each of those buckets.
“Specific to Tulane,” is important, so let’s pause on that. The academics being strong isn’t a reason to go to Tulane, but them having a leading program in the specific major that you want to pursue would be. The key here isn’t to make generalized statements about Tulane that could really apply to any school, but to do the research necessary to speak specifically. So, find professors, programs, and traditions that make you truly excited.
Once you have your three reasons, it’s time to build them into a story. You can’t simply list what you’ve come up with and be done with it. To kick off this supplement strong, tell a story from your life now that illustrates why something at Tulane matters so much to you. For example, if one of the things that you treasure about Tulane is the service-based perspective and connection to community, then you should start with a short vignette about the role service plays in your life now. Then, build from there to how what the story focused on led you to wanting to attend Tulane. Share your reasons for making Tulane your first choice (even if it isn’t actually your first choice), and be as specific as you can be.
End the supplement by specifically sharing how you see yourself contributing to Tulane. They want to accept students who will look for ways to engage and contribute, so show them how you will make Tulane even stronger.
RESUME
Tulane also invites applicants to upload a resume. We work with our students to submit one-page resumes (yes, always only one page) with a strong objective statement at the top that emphasizes their core attributes and the ways in which they see themselves contributing back to the university. These can be customized for each school, but it’s also possible to write an objective that speaks to many schools if you craft it well. The key, here, is strong editing and careful formatting.
Any resume should carry the reader all the way through, so don’t lump all of your best stuff at the top. Instead, include a few themed sections with strong items in each. And you don’t need to include everything you’ve ever done, nor every award you’ve ever won. Focusing on what matters most to you and what makes the most impact will help your resume do more for your application.
Tulane really emphasizes what we call a ‘vibe check’ in assessing applications. There are far more talented and qualified students applying than they can offer a spot. So, Tulane filters first for academic fit, but then for cultural fit. Showing that you care about the things that Tulane prioritizes matters — a lot. Being smart isn’t enough, you must also be service-minded.
Crafting a strong application requires strategy. Get yours.