Tulane University of Louisiana Top Questions

What are the most popular student activities/groups?

Olivia

Tulane is big in public service. Everyone is required hours of service each year.

Ilana

Greek life is pretty popular as well as separate major oriented fraternities. In addition club sports and big sporting events are popular as well.

Patrick

TUCP - brings bands to campus - last year we had Snoop Dogg and this year it was Ben Folds

Alex

About 1/3 of all undergrads are involved in Greek life. The dating scene here is primarily hook up based as opposed to long term relationships. Athletics are not popular here, mostly because our teams are not that good, so I would urge anyone looking for a division one school to really look elsewhere. Partying is a big thing here. The city itself lends well to that atmosphere. Getting alcohol is never a problem and going to bars is what people do almost every day.

Elinor

We're a Division I school, with well-supported sports teams and long-standing traditions. We also have a lot of club sports teams, endless volunteer organizations, and other student groups that cater to just about any area of interest. Like juggling? We have a club for that. Hip-hop dance? Yeah, we have one of those, too. My boyfriend's personal favorite is Humans vs. Zombies, an event that takes place one week of every semester, in which bandana-clad students chase each other around with Nerf guns, in an attempt to force assimilation. On any given day, there could be a Drag Show in our Student Center, a themed frat party on Greek Row, several bake sales on campus, a walk for AIDS or Breast Cancer in neighboring Audubon Park, a play in the Performing Arts Center. Through classes, student organizations, dorm living, and athletics, it's easy to form multiple circles of friends. The possibilities are endless and it's impossible to get bored here.

Caitlin

A large portion of the student body is involved in Greek life, although it is not the end all of the social scene. There seems to be a sorority and fraternity for every type of student, and with the addition of two new sororities next year, it is a good opportunity for anyone who would like to take that path. Most people in Greek life are involved in a ton of extra activities proving that Tulane students don't have to be Greek to have a good time. As I said before there are endless opportunities to participate socially with out drinking, but that does not mean the bar scene is not one of the most popular choices. It seems that mostly everyone goes out and enjoys themselves at one or more of the many establishments close to campus. Some people choose to be involved with club sports such as crew or volleyball.

Alex

More than a third of students participate in greek life. There is an active student government, green club, theater programs and interesting campus programing. There are two bars that are basically on campus, and about five more in walking distance on maple street.

Samantha

It's really easy to get involved at Tulane, and there is an activity for every interest. Student Government is very popular, and there is an undergraduate government as well as separate councils for each school. Cactus is one of the largest student organizations, and it spearheads many community service opportunities. Another popular organization is TUCP, which plans campus programming, and brings musicians, speakers and activities to campus. One of the major events of the year is Crawfest, which is free to Tulane students, and basically involves eating unlimited Crawfish while tanning on the quad listening to local bands. This is something almost all students participate in, and it is not to be missed. There are also a lot of events within the city, such as Po-boy fest, Southern Decadence, Mardi Gras (obviously), that attract Tulane students. Frats and sororities are exactly as important to you as you want them to be. If you want nothing to do with them, that is absolutely fine, and you can spend your time at clubs and bars around the city. If you want to join one, you will likely have best friends for life, but might also be subject to unnecessary drama. Frats have a lot of fun themed parties, and they are much more popular among underclassmen. Drinking is a huge part of Tulane nightlife, and New Orleans culture in general. However, Tulane does have a program called Tulane After Dark, which hosts comedians and other fun events on Thursday and Friday nights. There is no pressure to drink, but it is definitely a popular way to spend your time.

Clifford

The most popular organization is probably TUCP, or campus programming, who procures musical guests and other events. A great source of school spirit is these events and concerts, moreso than sports teams, although they too draw many spectators. Club sports are a big draw, and fraternities usually compete in these for bragging rights and an excuse to throw victory parties. Personally, although I attend the basketball games frequently because I know some of the players, I am more involved with WTUL, or Tulane radio. There is an abundance of musical diversions, both affiliated with the school and elsewhere, because the city places a high value on music of all kinds. If I am awake on a Tuesday, I could be out at a bar, studying, talking with friends, watching a movie projected on the quad, or any number of diverse things; the night hours are just as good as day ones! Fraternities and Sororities are very important to those who are in them, but they are not universal by any means. People party very frequently, every night except sunday and monday, and maybe these if there is a good football game on. If you don't want to drink on a Saturday night, you could see a concert at the school or in town, have a fun movie party with your dorm, some popcorn and cupcakes, play frisbee on the quad with an LED equipped disk (amazing technology), or simply make a blanket and pillow fort with your significant other. With regard to the dating scene, all one really has to do is put himself or herself out there; many people meet in bars or while drinking and socializing, but class, the gym, or even a student senate meeting could all be occasion to make a romantic connection.

Lily

Greek life is popular at Tulane, but it's not the end of your social life if you don't get involved in it. While the image of Tulane as a party school has typically been linked to frats and sororities, controversy in the past ten years has led to a big crack-down in how wild Greek life gets. It's worth checking out the Greek system, but if you aren't involved in it there are many other ways to make friends. Activities like WTUL (the campus radio station) are great if you are interested in the local music scene. Students also connect with each other through the on and off campus jobs offered through the university, which is probably the best way to make friends at the school. Tulane Football plays in the Louisiana Superdome, and admission is free for all students. While going to games are fun, you won't find the same sort of excitement for sports that you'd get at other Southern schools like LSU. A lot of students actually travel to Baton Rouge to tailgate for the Tigers rather than cheer on the Green Wave, who are, well, not the best college football team. Nightlife at Tulane is centered around the college bars. The most popular of these are The Boot, The Palms and the Maple Street bars like TJ Quills and Rocco's Tavern. As students get older they inevitably gravitate farther from the university to check out more interesting 21+ venues. The social scene is not frat party oriented, most freshmen connect at bars instead of house parties, which makes it feel a lot less exclusive than other colleges. If you don't like to drink or party Tulane probably isn't a great fit for you, but there are plenty of fun things to do in New Orleans(most do involve excessive drinking, though.) There's over 400 festivals a year in the New Orleans area, and only 365 days. The most popular festivals for Tulane students are Mardi Gras, music festivals like Voodoo and Jazz Fest, the Po-Boy festival in November, and Tulane's annual crawfish boil, Crawfest. If you enjoy live music and food Tulane is a great choice, as you get opportunities to experience new tastes and sounds every day.

Paige

Anything involving free food, students will be there. For example, the most fun school sponsored event hosted on the main quad of our school: CrawFest. SO FUN! Let me break this day down for you...imagine an entire quad of students decked out in bathing suits, sunglasses, and Tulane apparel with unlimited amounts of Crawfish and corn for all to eat. Everyone has a blanket laid down and they are stuffing their face with seafood while drinking daiquiris from the local DaqShack down the street. Surrounding us are local food stands offering some of the best snacks around as well as multiple live bands playing all day on two stages. This in total = unlimited fun

Marianna

I'm on the Ultimate Frisbee team, the Undergraduate Student Government, TUCP (the campus programming organization), the Choir, SOAR (Students Organizing Against Racism), and I do a lot of work with the Newcomb College Institute (supports/holds events for women). There are so many clubs to get involved in--ranging from Multicultural Organizations to Humans vs. Zombies Club. Intramural/Club sports are really popular on campus as is Greek Life.

Matthew

As mentioned, Tulane is a surprisingly tranquil school, at least on campus. Even on a Friday night, the actual campus looks little different than usual, besides the occasional drunk group chuckling their way to the bars. Once you reach those bars, however, things are much wilder. This school (and every other party school) like to make the claim that succeeding at a school like this is about balance, and that is absolutely true. This school is one of the top 50 in the Nation and will demand much from you (less so from an English major like me!) It is important to balance fun time with work time, and because the bars and parties are all completely separated by a ten minute walk, that really isn't so hard. The people who can't hack it tend to be gone by Sophomore year, and at that point the parties a little less fun, and getting good grades is a little more important so people tend to chill out. ---- THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T DRINK HERE!!!! There, I had to get it out. Again, you don't have to drink to go here...you might just get some raised eyebrows. If you don't however, it's likely you will still find yourself surrounded by alcohol and in places where people are very drunk. No one will ever pressure you to drink if you don't want to. Again, this is college, peer pressure is for high-school idiots. There are also weekly drink-free events called "Tulane After Dark". They usually sound fun...but I don't think too many people go to them.

Michael

Clubs are pretty typical, with community service ones being the most popular. Lots of people get involved in IM sports, but it doesn't seem like a big part of life. The gym is a regular for most students, with girls regularly attending the offered yoga or dance classes. School spirit and athletic events are basically nonexistent; the sports are there, but nobody cares. Frats and Sororities are definitely popular, but are not really the heart of the social scene. Frat parties and house parties aren't that big because there's so much to do in the city. However, people do end up hanging out with only Tulane students, and going to only student bars. Everything is about bars, even with younger students. Fake ID's are everywhere, and nowhere in New Orleans do you need a good one. Good music scene with students attending live shows throughout the city regularly. Drinking is obviously the heart of the social scene, and isn't uncommon on weekdays. Mardi Gras adds a cool dimension each year, as the school gives everyone a long weekend to go out and party.

Veronica

Thanks to movies and tv shows, a common thought about college is that once you get there, you'll be bombarded with recruitment people telling you to "go greek!" Yes, Tulane has greek life. Yes, a large number of people join sororities and fraternities. And yes, you'll still have friends (inside and out of the greek population) if you don't rush. If joining a frat or sorority is for you, then Tulane offers that opportunity. If it isn't something you can afford or just not something you're interested in, it does not hinder you not to join. Also, there are tons of other groups you can join that are tailored to your interests, and if you can't find one: start one. It's a cliche thing to say, but Tulane will let you start your own club. It might take a lot of work on your part, but if it's something you're passionate about, it'll definitely be worth it. The great thing about it is that you can get involved in as many or as few things as you like. Tulane also runs a lot of cheesy events freshman year geared towards students meeting each other. They're silly and full of those ice breakers that everyone hates, but I met most of my best friends at some of them. It's also easy to meet people in class or in PJs, the on campus coffee shop when you're in there studying at 3am on a Monday night. I won't say that Tulane, located in the center of New Orleans, is not a party school, but there are a lot of things you can do on the weekends that don't involve alcohol if that's not for you. Every year there's a festival called Fringe Festival that lets you go to many venues downtown and watch inexpensive plays. A lot of them sound like they're going to be really stupid and then surprise you and have you laughing like crazy. Fringe isn't the only festival though: this is New Orleans, remember? There's a festival almost every week. You can spend all day at Po-Boy fest eating and then use the night to catch up on the school work you didn't do. Or if you don't want to leave campus, Tulane generally runs programs at one of the on-campus restaurants for students who don't want to go out. They have open mic night, karaoke, swing dancing, etc. At Tulane and in New Orleans, there is always something to do.

Veronica

Thanks to movies and tv shows, a common thought about college is that once you get there, you'll be bombarded with recruitment people telling you to "go greek!" Yes, Tulane has greek life. Yes, a large number of people join sororities and fraternities. And yes, you'll still have friends (inside and out of the greek population) if you don't rush. If joining a frat or sorority is for you, then Tulane offers that opportunity. If it isn't something you can afford or just not something you're interested in, it does not hinder you not to join. Also, there are tons of other groups you can join that are tailored to your interests, and if you can't find one: start one. It's a cliche thing to say, but Tulane will let you start your own club. It might take a lot of work on your part, but if it's something you're passionate about, it'll definitely be worth it. The great thing about it is that you can get involved in as many or as few things as you like. Tulane also runs a lot of cheesy events freshman year geared towards students meeting each other. They're silly and full of those ice breakers that everyone hates, but I met most of my best friends at some of them. It's also easy to meet people in class or in PJs, the on campus coffee shop when you're in there studying at 3am on a Monday night. I won't say that Tulane, located in the center of New Orleans, is not a party school, but there are a lot of things you can do on the weekends that don't involve alcohol if that's not for you. Every year there's a festival called Fringe Festival that lets you go to many venues downtown and watch inexpensive plays. A lot of them sound like they're going to be really stupid and then surprise you and have you laughing like crazy. Fringe isn't the only festival though: this is New Orleans, remember? There's a festival almost every week. You can spend all day at Po-Boy fest eating and then use the night to catch up on the school work you didn't do. Or if you don't want to leave campus, Tulane generally runs programs at one of the on-campus restaurants for students who don't want to go out. They have open mic night, karaoke, swing dancing, etc. At Tulane and in New Orleans, there is always something to do.

Rebecca

I have to admit, I'm not a huge athletics fan. And, from what I have heard, our athletics teams are generally not very good, except for baseball? Maybe, baseball... But I do know many other students do attend tailgating parties and cheer on our teams. I think one of the biggest areas of student involvement is community service. Due to the community service required by Tulane, most people find themselves completing at least some service during their time at Tulane. This manifests in a lot of different ways, as many of the biggest traditions on campus tend to revolve around causes. Such as 'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,' where many of the guys put on heels and walk a mile, raising awareness for sexual violence. It's a good cause, and it's hilarious. In terms of the party scene, there are a few options. Bourbon St., one of the most famous party streets in the country, tends to be where people bring their friends if they have never been to New Orleans, but it's expensive and honestly just a little gross if you think about it while sober. There is also a pretty big Frat/Sorority scene, with at least a couple parties most weekends. The parties are always free and they are usually a lot of fun, especially the parties that the Frats are known for such as the 'Delts around the world party' or 'the bayou bash.' Frats tend to go all out for their headliner parties and even people who usually don't show up to Frat events come. There are also a few bars not far from campus. And there are many things to do that aren't drinking. As a theater and dance person, I go out to a lot of shows. Not to long ago I went to the New Orleans Fringe Festival, which presents fringe theater in many strange locations, such as old abandoned churches, coffee shops, hidden bars and just some person's front yard. New Orleans has a wonderful theater scene and even when Fringe isn't happening there is usually something to see. Tulane also offers some 'Take Back the Night' activities, which are late night things that are on campus. There are movies played on the quad, music and other options. Plus, there is always the fun and relaxing evenings watching movies in your floor common room or inviting some friends to watch a movie in your room. If you're looking for something to do that isn't drinking, there are always a lot of options.

Chelsea

The most popular groups are service based, but I feel like these groups only participate in one or two major events or builds each year and this serves more to pad resumés. There are a lot of really interesting clubs... one of which is The Juggling Club, which meets on the rooftop of our parking garage to juggle, but who also run a bike repair desk and have a pretty cool garden. There's also a French speaking club that meets once a week and only talks in French, a wine and cheese club and a couple political organizations. I am the Program Director and a DJ at WTUL which is our FM radio station. I DJ for 2 hours every week and get awesome phone calls from listeners and get to rip all kinds of music onto my laptop. DJs also get to do artist interviews and have in-studio performances. One of my friends just did an interview with St. Vincent! While there isn't a ton of DJ-interaction, we do get together to do service projects and have parties. This past week we had an open-to-the-public holiday party with two bands at Tipitina's. I also get a ton of free concert tickets in return for how much work I put in at the station. I met most of my close friends freshman year in my dorm, though they didn't live on my floor. I hated nearly everyone on my floor for whatever reason, so I hung out on my best friend's floor all the time and met all the girls who lived there. The next year I lived in a suite style set-up with seven other girls and we always left our doors open. The dating scene at Tulane is odd. Most guys are more interested in casual hook ups than dating, though most of my friends ended up with boyfriends eventually. Mardi Gras is as much fun as you think it will be. When I was a Freshman, I would go to frat parties for the free booze, but they are generally very sloppy and gross. I don't usually drink during the week, nor do my friends, but there are people who do. I was talking to a girl in a 6 PM Wednesday class last week and quickly realized she was drunk and had just gotten back from happy hour. As an example of a typical Friday night, last night I got back from the library around 9 PM. (Wooo!) I drank a Red Bull, rallied my energy, and went to a small party at a good friend's house, then went to a divey, but cool bar on Magazine. Now that I live off campus, a lot of evenings my roommates and I will invite friends over, cook dinner and have drinks. There are a lot of things to do on a Saturday night that don't involve drinking. One fun, non-drinking event is St. Claude Art Walk which happens once a month on a weekend night in the Bywater. All the art galleries in that area stay open late that night and have some pretty cool work on display. There is wine served, but it's not necessary to be drunk... I must say though, why are you in New Orleans if you don't drink?!

Sonya

40{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} Greek life, approximately. The student media is strong - the radio station (wtulneworleans.com) and the newspaper (thehullabaloo.com). Lots of ethnic clubs - vietnamese, indian, asian association, etc. that put on a lot of events. Gamer clubs - Humans vs. Zombies. Literary society that publishes a book annually, poli sci clubs, game clubs, reading clubs..lots of clubs.

Samantha

The athletic events are semi-popular but not everyone goes. Tulane is more of a casual hook up then serious relationship school, but a good amount are in relationships. I met my closest friends on my floor freshman year as well as out at night and in class. At 2am on a Tuesday I am most likely drinking at the Boot for 50 cent night! One big tradition is Crawfest: free crawfish boil and music all day. People generally party/go out 4 times a week: tuesdays,thursdays, fridays and saturdays are the most popular. Frats/sororities are a part of the social and can be a lot of fun but they are not necessary to having a full social life. If you don't drink there is a lot of great music in New Orleans and a lot of really yummy places to eat. Off campus I go to bars and restaurants withing walking distance, go to Audobon Park which is across the street, Magazine street which has a bunch of cute shops and down to the quarter for beignets and hand grenades.

Paul

If you've heard of any stereotypes about Tulane, this one is probably the most accurate. While not everybody is out drinking every night or weekend, most are. There is so much good music, food, festivals (Jazzfest is probably one of the greatest jazz festivals in the world). Mardi Gras is precisely as you envision it, but the entire school (professors especially) embrace it.

Caitlin

A local capoeira club practices in the LBC.

Dan

Tulane is definitely a party school. Many students take advantage of the lax enforcement of drinking laws in New Orleans on a regular basis. Almost any night of the week there is somewhere to go out whether it is a frat party, bar special, or house party. However there are also many students who do not drink and can find many differing activities, and the fact that Tulane has a party reputation should not disinterest students who do not drink.

Steven

The problem with Tulane is that students don't get too involved with their organizations or clubs. I was a member of the Asian American Student Union and it kind of sucked. We never did anything together. Athletic events are pretty unpopular because the teams kind of suck. The baseball team is the best athletic team, but college baseball just doesn't have much excitement. I think that if Tulane marketed with the fact that so many players get drafted and go on to be professional baseball players, they might get more fans. I will say this, being in New Orleans has given Tulane a lot of perks regarding guest speakers. A lot of respected and influential people come to Tulane to talk (probably out of sympathy for Katrina). Partying is obviously a bit thing that people do. I never met a single kid who didn't drink. Some kids would party as early in the week as Tuesday. I really don't think there's much you can do on a Saturday that doesn't involve drinking. There just aren't enough people who just want to chill out at 2 in the morning. Chances are, if they're not down on Bourbon, they're either at the Boot (the local bar and dance club), or they're in the dorm bathroom throwing up.

Alex

Most of my close friends are the ones I met in my dorm my freshman year, but you also meet people who can be your best friend in your classes. Students leave their doors open if they have a doorstop, but other than that, none of the people I lived with ever had a problem just opening their neighbors' door and walking into their room. Students are very open about sharing their space. Athletic events are not that popular. The theater program puts on some excellent productions and it is always worth a Friday or Saturday night to go watch one of their performances. The plays are different and sometimes are student written, plus there is lots of talent among the theater students. There are lots of guest speakers, and some of the best come through the Newcomb Women's Institute, which also has weekly lunches that include a lecture by a female author, a feminist, or a variety of professors or other speakers who discuss a range of different topics. If a student gets hungry, The Rat is a restaurant located in the basement of the student union. It's greasy, fried southern food is delicious and excellent 2 am study break food. There is always something going on around Tulane, any day of the week Plus, it's New Orleans, which is filled with music and cultural events. Any of the festivals that are held in New Orleans, such a Voodoo Festival, French Quarter Festival, and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, are always worth the money to attend. On the weekends, it is often difficult to find something to do that doesn't involved drinking or sitting in your dorm watching movies every weekend. The school could definitely do a better job of having more activity choices for students, like the concerts that happen outside of the student union during homecoming, or the movies they show in McAlister Auditorium on select weekends. Tulane has a Greek system, but it is fairly small. There is usually a frat party going on during the weekends, but they are definitely more active during the spring semester.

Katie

Greeks are on top socially. But if you don't bother them, they won't bother you. Awake at 2am on a Tuesday - you are riding the buzz off from 50 cent night at the campus bar: The Boot. You can party 7 days a week. Most go out 1-3 times depending on commitments and how heavy their course load is. Pre med goes out alot less than business. Dating - random/regular hook ups the first two years. After that guys tend to settle down for their Junior and Senior years. Saturday without Alcohol involves the library, an off campus cultural event, or dinner and a movie with friends.

Kate

Between all of my friends from high school who go to similarly ranked colleges like Vanderbilt, Emory, William and Mary, Washington University, and others, Tulane's social life is by far the best. We had the opportunity to partake in the events offered by the city of New Orleans, which really is absolutely unique and cannot be copied. When students from other schools come to visit they are overwhelmed by all the different options from hanging out at someone's house, to going downtown to bars, staying uptown and going to bars, live music, and so many other fun stuff to do. I don't think fraternities and soroities make or break a person's social life at Tulane, however they are very beneficial as they have their own functions and especially as a freshman and/or sophmore helps faciliate the transition and meeting people that you may not have normally met before.

Alex

The most popular groups on campus would have to be the frats and sororities. We always have a guest speaker or a concert going on. Lil Wayne performed at our school, Obama spoke at our school, and the list goes on... The dating scene is definitely open!

Jesse

go greek or go home but the greek like might be changing now (getting more strict) due to a certain frat exposing their hazing accidentally

Julie

- there is an activity on campus for everyone - we have too many to count! - we have had some really good guest speakers over the past few years - Barack Obama, Gloria Steinem, Anderson Cooper, etc. - Tuesday is 50 cent night at the Boot... - sororities and fraternities are popular, but you don't NEED to be in one to have an active social life; Greeks and non-Greeks get along

Al

For me the school did all it could to keep me from having this outside of a study group. So IF you want a social any thing good you will have to find it on your own.

Bart

Even though the greek system may seem prevalent, it is only one part of the equation. New Orleans is a cultural mecca and one can always find something to do that is awesome and non-greek. But, if your into that then the Greek scene is also great.

Jill

so much stuff to do on campus, i regret not taking advantage more of what tulane had to offer. there were speakers coming to the mcallister aduditirium all the time. this year we had ann coulter (ew, but still cool that she came!) barak obama, bill clinton, laura bush, and many others. james carville spoke at our graduation. there also are concerts frequently held on campus and comedians and other shows. tulane is a pretty big part of new orleans and they really want the students to have a fun and diverse experience. if you are in incoming freshman SIGN UP FOR TIDES its such a fun class, super easy and great field trips to get to know the city and culture. free dinner too!

Rachel

Greek life at Tulane is amazing. Though intragreek relations are weak, each individual sorority is unified. My sorority, Alpha Epsilon Phi, contains an extremely close knit gorup of girls. I met most of my friends through my sorority.. Also, 15 out of 53 girls in my pledge class were from my floor freshman year. Guest speakers are as popular as the speaker themselves. I woke up at 5:45 am to wait in line to hear Barak Obama speak. But I was also one of a few students that went to hear Madeline Albright speak. If I am awake at 2 am on a Tuesday, I am at the Boot taking 50 cent shots with my friends. Soon I will make my way over to the Palms before grabbing a slice of pizza around 4 am for the two block walk home. There is no dating scene at Tulane. It is hookup central. Sex and hooking up is casual and serious relationships are much less common than causal sex.

Madison

So much to do on and off campus.

Emmerson

You're in New Orleans...need I say more.

Sarah

Tulane has a lot of clubs and activities for anyone to get involved in, especially the community service programs, students really like giving back to the community. There are a ton of guest speakers, comedians, and musical performances that come to campus, this past year we had Lil Wayne, Girl Talk, Jim Breuer, and more. Bill Clinton even come to our campus to hold a Global Initiative program. Students are very social, and there are opportunities to do something every night of the week. Its easy to get downtown with the newly up and running streetcar. If you're awake at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday you are more than likely at The Boot (it's 50 cent night on Tuesdays) or eating at The Rat, or you're studying. My closest friends are my floor mates, we had a really close floor this year and we're really lucky to have all become really close friends, I lived on a coed floor also, which was a lot of fun and I made some really good friends through leaving my door open and using the social lounges. There is a lot of partying to do at Tulane, and its a great time, but its easy to get burnt out, and after a while movie nights seem to become slightly more prevalent.

Rebecca

In my dorm we always left the door open! It's friendlier that way. It's really easy to make friends at Tulane. Dating doesn't exist. This is unfortunate. That's not to say boys and girls don't interact. They just are either more casual or in a steady relationship. They middle ground is sadly lacking. Guest speakers are beloved at Tulane. We love hearing famous people. Sporting events are boring. Fraternities and sororities are semi-important. I think 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the girls in my class rushed. They're there. You can ignore them if you want or join them if you want, but either way they are not so dominant as to be overwhelming. One thing that is campus wide is Crawfest. The main quad is covered in students soaking up the sun, listening to live music and eating pounds and pounds of crawfish. A lot of people get into it. It's relaxing and a lot of fun.

Joey

If you want a school that has a strong interest in NCAA athletics, this isn't it. The only athletic event kids attend is the annual Tulane-LSU game, and even then only for the tailgating and pregame festivities. Tulane has every club you can think of, and if they don't have it, chances are they will support it. I have friends that are starting a kayaking club next year, and I am currently on the debate team. But without a doubt, the volunteer organizations are the strongest at Tulane. Kids routinely prop their doors open, and usually leave them that way 24/7, welcoming kids in but mostly just so that they don't have to fumble around with their key at 4 a.m. when returning home after a night of barhopping. The most popular events are speaking events by public speakers. This year, Barack Obama, Ann Coulter and Gloria Steinem all spoke at Tulane to packed houses, with several protests and heated screaming matches ensuing. There isn't much of a dating scene at Tulane, but kids routinely "hook-up" with random people they meet at a bar. Definitely bring your share of condoms if you go to Tulane, you will use them. For example, an average Tuesday at Tulane consists of the weekly beer pong tournament at a local watering hole or a drink special at another bar that has 50 cent drinks all night. The biggest tradition of the year is definitely Mardi Gras, which last two weeks in New Orleans and is nothing but an alcohol fueled period of juvenile delinquency. The fraternity and sorority scene isn't too important at Tulane, but definitely is strong enough on campus to be seen regularly. If you can't appreciate alcohol and drinking, you could always enjoy the vibrant jazz scene in New Orleans, but even then, most of the venues for those types of things are in bars, so alcohol is a constant throughout Tulane and New Orleans, and if drinking really isn't your thing, you might get bored.

Terry

Tuesday night is 50 cent night, Wednesday night was big cup night, Thursday night is the start of the weekend, Friday night is Friday night, Saturday night is the last chance to drink before the week starts, Sunday is for nursing hangovers, and the truly hardcore are back out on Monday night. There's a wee bit of a drinking culture at the school. On the plus side, the Rat is open all night long, so even the freshman honors kids can go out late every night for study sessions and snacks.

Hunter

Groups, organizations, and clubs are very popular on campus. Sororities and Fraternities rush spring semester. Many students run for positions on RHA (residential housing), Student Government, Newcomb Senate, and many others. Club Sports are popular along with communtiy service, religious, and multicultural groups. Guest speakers and concerts often take palce on campus (John Legend, Andersoon Cooper, Obama). It appears most people meet their friends by living with them, taking classes together, or becoming members of the same organization. Many traditions and events take place each year in New Orleans. Voodoo fest is in the fall, Mardi Gras takes place before Fat Tuesday, and Jazz Fest is in the Spring. There is so much to do in the city off campus. Magazine Street has many small boutiques and cafes, the French quarter is beautiful, and there are many jazz clubs around.

KC

People at Tulane are very very active and social. Rooms are almost always open as long as someone is in your room. People go out A LOT, however if you have to study any night of the week people are mostly resepctful, depending on the kind of people you live with or who live on your floor. There are lots of things to do also if you don't want to go out and drink on the weekends. The mall/movie theater is in Metairie and is only about a 20 minute cab ride away. Downtown there is so many things to do without going onto Bourbon St. Almost every week there is some kind of random parade going on and you can go to that - go to Cafe du Monde which is open 24/7. New Orleans ALWAYS has something for everyone.

Matt

Nearly every sport and team exists on Tulane's campus, from Club Water Polo to Rock Climbing, to Crew. Greek Life takes the cake on the party scene, although if rushing isn't for you, it is New Orleans, and the bar/club scene has something for everyone, and amazingly not all of it involves drinking (although much of it does, haha). The music scene in New Orleans allows for some of the most amazing free shows in the country, oftentimes you'll just stumble upon one in a random uptown coffee house. There's 24 hour food to be had on campus, including the Rat from 8pm to 8am, if you like french fries and fried chicken.

Kyle

Tulane is in New Orleans... With that being said I will just list a few things that appeal to everyone Mardi Gras, Jazzfest, Voodoofest, many small local festivals (french quarter, wine and cheese, art, greek fest, etc.), local music at clubs/bars on a nightly basis, speakers at tulane this year included: Ann Coulter, Jeffery Sachs & John Legend, Salman Rushdie, Anderson Cooper. Performing was Lil Wayne, Disco Biscuits, Vampire Weekend. Day long crawfest boil with plenty local jazz music. Bars open every day of the week. pretty much 18 to drink because most bars in neworleans are 18 to get it. fake ids popular needed

Casey

Choir is awesome!! There is theater, but non theater majors almost never get good parts in the plays. No musical theater during the school year because the school is just so small. There are all kinds of club sports including ultimate frisbee and ping pong. Lots of student organizations, student government, residence hall government There are all kinds of great guest speakers and performers that have come here including Salmon Rushdie, Ludacris, John Legend, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, etc. They say the dating scene is bad, that most guys are interested in hook-ups. I'm currently in a relationship with another Tulane student, so I guess I am not one of those guys. It really depends what your scene is. However, there are definitely the creepy types who like to pick up drunk girls in bars and take advantage of them. Frats are everywhere, so are sororities. Pike is awful!! They burned pledges with crawfish boil and have been suspended now. They also roofie people. Just watch out for Pikes. Frats and sororities are not my thing, but there is a significant variety of them ehre. People party all the time, but if that isn't your thing (it certainly is not mine), there are TONS of other things, including free music department performannces, plays by the theater department, and TONS OF ACTIVITIES off campus: museums, zoo (in beautiful Audobon Park across the street from campus), aquarium, clubs, theaters, malls, movie theaters, antique stores, anything that interests you!

Toby

Social life and activities are superb. You can make yourself as busy with extracurriculars as you wish, and its very easy to start something at Tulane if you can't find exactly what you want. New Orleans is a social city, there's always something to do or see!

David

There are many different types of people at Tulane, so it is relatively easy to find friends

Monica

Let's just say that we're a very apathetic campus. The most popular organizations are fraternities and sororities. Athletic events don't draw a large crowd. Neither does the theater, but important guest speakers can be popular. Tulane's dating scene: people here mostly just hook up. Serious relationships are hard to come by. The girls are easy and the guys know it. I met my closest friends by living with them freshman year. If I'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday, I am either up doing homework or at 50 cent night. People party constantly. There is a special at some bar every night of the week. There's nothing to do on a Saturday night that doesn't involve drinking.

Shawn

Every night has drink specials at a bar nearby, and there's a lot of weekday drinking. Greek life is huge. Mardi Gras is unforgettable. You'll party harder here than any other private school. Alcohol is never difficult to come by, and you can carry it down the street (even if underage) without cops hassling you. Cops rarely care about alcohol and only in fact care about three things: fights, pissing in the street, and obvious drug use. The dating scene is pretty laid-back too. There are plenty of opportunities to have informal relationships based mostly around drinking and sex, as well as one-night stands (though you're likely to run into them again). These relationships generally crash and burn, as a lot of girls come here to get their MRS degree. I recommend that you do whatever you want in this department, as you can definitely get away with anything for four years.

Reese

You'll never be bored here.