In a Class By Itself

Introduction
Tulane is a school seeped--but not buried--in tradition, from creole catfish and gumbo fridays to the annual Rocky Horror Halloween. There are people from everywhere in America (even Wyoming), and also exotic places like Panama, Cyprus, Austria, Brazil, etc. If you can handle an intense (yet highly rewarding)workload AND partying like the Great Gatsby, there is no place like Tulane. If you are pretentious, a hermit, not smart, or can't handle yourself drunk and need a babysitter, apply to some other school--you will probably be over-stimulated and unable to handle beautiful Tulane.

Campus Life and Social Life
The beginning of the year is always crazy fun...you will learn that after the party there is an after party...and then an after-after party, and then the Boot...but once you settle into your life at Tulane and you get into your classes, you learn quickly to balance everything. Some weeks, you may see more of your studio than actual sunlight (if you are an architecture student as I am), but finishing a hard project or a long paper feels so rewarding if you are truly passionate about your major, unlike all the things you might have had to do in highschool. And at the end of that, you WILL go out and celebrate, either at Quill's, an amazing themed frat party, or just with some champagne. As for sports, there are many clubs, but even if you cannot commit to a club, our gym is amazing. On weekends there is always a party and the bars, but you should definately get out and volunteer, and absolutely come to the Dome and cheer on the Green Wave. Advertisement
Academics
As an architecture student, expect to be in studio overnight at least twice a semester. Projects are involved and often frustrating, but there is a cameraderie like no other in the A school. The B school (thats Business) is where former architecture majors tend to land, because--and this is expected of any architecture school--if you aren't passionate about architecture, it will indeed be architorture. I know little about the B school, except that it has a beautiful library with a big window high above McAlister drive my friends and I like to call "the perch" and which is a prime spot for studying.
I suggest taking at least one foreign language, as it will make your Junior Year abroad (which many people will do) extremely rewarding. As for professors, talk to them and get to know them a little, they are unique people and you will probably be invited to a barbeque or something at their houses over time. And if you ask questions, they have so many wise words and a lot of helpful advice.

Student Body
As a member of the class that "avoided the storm", I am used to a very diverse student body. I think I have friends from every single state and several from other countries. Naturally, there are a good amount of Louisianans, and as a Jersey native, their mint-julep manners and southern charm are impossible not to love. Everyone seems to love Tulane and feel homesick for New Orleans when they actually are at home--certainly nobody counted Tulane as a safety school--there is a shared passion here that everybody knows they want to be here.
There are plenty of rich kids, but also many with scholarships. It is only natural, and people do not feel awkward nor resent those of different socioeconomic classes. Pretentious people go to Little Expensive College in pennsylvania or have their parents "make the call" so they can be at Harvard...people with true passion for other people and for being leaders come to Tulane. We get in on our own accord, but once we are here, we are spoiled with free t-shirts and a plethora of campus events, and so much more.

In Closing...
I could go on and on about Tulane. Basically, a campus visit is absolutely essential and I will leave it at that. Good luck!