Located in New Orleans’ historic Uptown neighborhood, Tulane’s campus is just a short streetcar ride away from some of the nation’s best music and richest culture. Tulane is a private school with just over 6,000 undergrads. Tulane is known for its robust social life and while Greek Life is a popular option, it’s far from the only path students take. One of the first schools in the country to implement a required volunteer program, Tulane is also focused on connecting students with service. The admissions rate is about 13%.
The Question
Please describe why you are interested in attending Tulane University (optional). (50-800 words)
Before You Get Started
First of all, that part where they say “optional?” Ignore that. Tulane’s acceptance rate has been going down for years and this one will be no different. Imagine you are competing against an applicant who has the same grades as you do. Equally as glowing teacher recommendations, and a comparable resume. The essay is going to be the tie-breaker. It’s also an opportunity for the admissions committee to get to know you apart from just the numbers and resume-lines attached to your name. Use it. Secondly, Tulane gives a ridiculously wide range to students for their word limit. 50 words is way too short. Aim for 650. 800 is okay, but we find that sticking to a slightly shorter limit encourages writers to edit and trim the fat off their essays.
Also Before You Get Started
Before you start writing, you’ll want to make sure you are crystal clear about the very specific area of academics you intend to pursue at Tulane. This should be an extension of what you’ve been working on all throughout high school from your clubs to your classes. “Science” is far too broad. Hone in as specifically as you can to identify your niche. Even if you don’t really intend to pursue this subject as a major, for the purposes of this essay, you’re all about it. With that area of expertise in mind, you’ll need to do a bit of digging around. Put those research skills to the test and investigate Tulane’s academic and extracurricular offerings. Look into your specific academic area of interest and uncover all that there is to know. What are the classes within your dedicated field? Who are the professors and what kind of research have they done? What are the clubs that relate to your area of interest? Any internship offerings? You should spend at least a few hours reading up on the school as it pertains to your academic corner of the world.
The Outline
Next, you’re going to want to outline your essay. The first part is a story about you and how you became interested in your area of expertise. Tell a story in one paragraph. This should be simple. Perhaps you had a lawn mowing business as a kid and from then, wanted to be an entrepreneur. It doesn’t need to be a big, existential moment, but the more specific and more detailed-story you can write, the more you will stand out.
Then, you’re going to want to think about how you and all that you learned in your research about Tulane overlap. Identify 3-4 talking points you uncovered in your research, including two classes above the sophomore level that you want to take and jot down bullet points about why you want to take them. Now, do the same for the professors whose interests align with yours, as well as extracurricular opportunities. For each of these items, go back and write 2-3 bullet points about why you’re a good candidate to be in those classes, why studying with those professors would be an extension of the work you’ve already been doing in high school, and how you’re a natural fit for those clubs and internship opportunities. Now, put it all together in a structured essay form. Each talking point should be 1-2 paragraphs in length. Most importantly, let your passion shine through.
Tulane is an incredibly challenging school to get into. Their acceptance rate has been steadily decreasing every year, and we expect this year to be no different. You’re going to need to put your best foot forward with the supplement, and we’re here to help.
Need some help with your supplement? Reach out to us here. We are great at helping students hone in on what makes them unique.