Tulane University of Louisiana Top Questions

What are the academics like at your school?

Olivia

Academics are extremely tough, but you learn a lot.

Patrick

harderish - but not really that bad. i study very little but i have always been that way, and then i have friends who study every day.

Alex

The academics vary greatly by major. Most kids are ok with not doing a lot of work until a test comes along, and then, depending on the class, may only need a night to study or at most a few days. Besides the general science classes that every Pre-med student needs to take, classes are decently small. I'm a triple major (it's not that uncommon) in Political Economy, German, and International Relations with a minor in Philosophy. The political economy major is my primary one, and my experience with everyone inside it has been amazing. All the professors really know and like to teach the subject. That makes being in class much more tolerable (which when you get to pick all your classes is a really important aspect).

Alex

The academics vary greatly by major. Most kids are ok with not doing a lot of work until a test comes along, and then, depending on the class, may only need a night to study or at most a few days. Besides the general science classes that every Pre-med student needs to take, classes are decently small. I'm a triple major (it's not that uncommon) in Political Economy, German, and International Relations with a minor in Philosophy. The political economy major is my primary one, and my experience with everyone inside it has been amazing. All the professors really know and like to teach the subject. That makes being in class much more tolerable (which when you get to pick all your classes is a really important aspect).

Morgan

In terms of academics, Tulane holds its students to standards equivalent to those in ivy league schools. The courses are rigorous, but not impossible to pass. Professors are always willing to help students who have difficulty grasping specific concepts, and if students need additional help, there is a free tutoring center on campus. Most of the classes I have taken have had approximately 30 students each, but I have also taken a few large lecture classes (100-200 students), but I have never felt as through a professor was not available to answer questions and to address any concerns I have had about course material. In my time here, I have taken classes I never thought would capture my attention, and have actually decided to declare a second major. I have accomplished things here academically that I never thought possible, such as sustaining a high GPA and doubling my workload purely because I enjoy the academic environment at Tulane.

Jennifer

To be completely honest, academics at Tulane are generally pretty easy. Of course it depends on your department, but a lot of teachers seem loath to giving anyone anything lower than a B. Unsurprisingly, Tulane seems to attract fairly laid-back, non-competitive kids, but that doesn't mean Tulane students aren't serious. Many are just there to get a diploma, but I've had some very intellectual discussions both in and out of the classroom and I've also had some first-rate English and French professors, people I've stayed in touch with outside of class as my interests in their fields have developed. My favorite class I've taken was on feature writing taught by a former editor of TIME Magazine. The teacher's insight was great and he really encouraged us to find the unusual side of everything and everyone we came across. I learned a lot about writing and a little about life in that class. In almost every class at Tulane there are both slackers and overachievers, and while the teachers will put up with coasting, they really appreciate students who put in effort.

Jessie

I definitely got a wide exposure to Tulane's academics as I was earned dual degrees and had three majors - I got a Bachelor of Arts in English (Creative Writing) and International Development, and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. I'm not going to lie - my English and Int. Development classes where a lot smaller and more intimate than my public health classes. I loved getting to know those professors on a one-on-one level and feel comfortable emailing them whenever I have a question I think they could help me solve. These professors offered my internships, put my name up for great conferences, and generally helped me grow as a student immensely. In public health and my science classes, I was more impressed with the experience of my professors than the classes per se. Tulane has incredible Science and Medical professors, with tons of real life professional experience to share. But the classes were bigger and relied more on powerpoints than my English-minded-brain enjoyed. My favorite class was actually a public health class though, despite those downsides of larger classes. It was called Violence in the Community, and taught by a nationally known criminologist named Peter Scharf. He brought in great speakers from the city to talk about the crime problem in New Orleans and basically posed this question as the thesis of the class: Is violent crime a solvable problem? It was incredible. Since that class, Dr. Scharf always takes the time to stop me and ask how my plans are going, and he wrote me an awesome recommendation for graduate school. I was really happy with my classes at Tulane. I feel like my analytical and writing skills are really strong, thanks to classes that focused specifically on increasing critical thinking skills. I was exposed to so many different world-views and theories without feeling like my learning was theoretical only. The service learning component at Tulane is probably what keeps their academics more focused at learning real skills. This component is a tiered community service program that requires more hours and more involvement each year with a local or international organization. I worked at Planned Parenthood and went to Malaysia where I interned an HIV/AIDS NGO through the service learning program. These are the real-world experiences that got me jobs in the future.

Elinor

Despite, the "party hard" environment surrounding Tulane, the academics here are pretty intense. The architecture students are rumored to rarely see the light of day, the pre-meds are always stressed (though most of that is self-induced), and many others are just trying things out. The core curriculum here actually allows for a great deal of freedom. I'm allowed to double major in disciplines outside of the sciences, while still completing my pre-med requirements, and that isn't the craziest thing I've heard here. Academic advisors here really know what they're doing, which is great because, a lot of times, you probably won't. My advisor has offered me a great deal of guidance regarding classes, professors, roommate issues, and beyond. As long as you do a little planning on your own, your advisor can help fill in the gaps, and you'll be on your way to graduation and beyond. Despite the size of the undergraduate student body (roughly 6,000), most class sizes are small. Sure, if you take intro classes like Chemistry I and others that are required by a great deal of students, you'll probably experience the large lecture style. However, most of my classes are capped at 20 or 30 students, including my favorite - Spanish 2030. My spanish professor is very fun and always does her best to get us involved in discussions. She knows my name as well as where I'm from, what sports I play, and what I like to do on the weekends - all through conversation in spanish. I always have a great time in that class, and my fluency has never been stronger. My least favorite class is taught by a professor who clearly knows his stuff, but should probably not be teaching it. I distinctly remember one day when he flipped through a bunch of powerpoint slides, denoting the information they contained as "more words about stuff." Like other lecture classes, there is a great deal of disconnect in my chemistry class. This is exhibited between the professor who "teaches" the subject and the TA's who grade the tests and quizzes. It's clear that the faculty doesn't converse as much as would be beneficial. Consequently, before curving, most of the students in the class are failing. The curve in this class is based on competition - x{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} will receive A's, y{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} will receive B's, and so on and so forth - but you'll find that every professor has their own distinct way of grading. Consistency is something the academics here sometimes lack, but most of the time, professors really know what they're doing and are more than willing to help you out if you're struggling with the material.

Janine

Tulane University is the only college in the country that I know of that has integrated a service-learning requirement into the curriculum. This two-tier requirement means that students must complete a total of 40 community service hours, revealing the willingness of students to give back to the school and community. I completed this requirement at Sophie B. Wright, a nearby charter school. The program was arranged through the Latin American Studies department. I was paired with a seventh grade student as a reading buddy. I found this experience to be very valuable. As the University is consistently ranked amongst the nation’s top universities, incoming students should not expect to party away their four years in New Orleans, although some are tempted. Students will, consequently learn to maintain a balance between the academic rigors and cultural and social events. With each progressive year, the freshman class at Tulane continues to raise the academic bar and the high caliber staff exceeds expectations. Tulane University is classified as a ‘medium size university,’ with a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,803 students. This means that students can anticipate seeing many familiar faces while walking on campus, but also expect to meet new students throughout the duration of their time at Tulane. Introductory lecture courses on average are large, ranging from one to two hundred. Even in this larger lecture setting, however, courses have been taught by dedicated professors willing to make time for students. The majority of my courses during the first two years consisted of twenty students or less. My freshman year Spanish class, for example, had just twelve. As a student in the honors program, I have benefitted from the fact that classes become even more intimate. This ensured individual attention that facilitates the strong academic ethos of Tulane. I have never had a teacher than did not know my name after one or two weeks of class. Contacting professors is incredibly easy, as professors commonly make their cell phone numbers available. As a freshman I was shocked to find that the library closes at 9:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. I felt that this was not conducive to studying, but students prove to be highly motivated and resourceful, ignoring that going out every night of the week is an option. I oftentimes find myself wondering how students at Tulane do it, but they manage to get work done, and do it exceptionally well. Majoring in English and International Development, the liberal arts curriculum of Tulane University allows for so much flexibility that I have been able to also minor in art studio. Even though I was an exploratory freshman, the roundabout path of arriving at my major illustrates that education at Tulane is geared to learning for its own sake. I have multiple favorite teachers from Tulane. In my beginning drawing course I met one of the most dedicated teachers imaginable. Aaron Collier opens his art courses to students of all skill levels and is committed to the teaching the art of ‘learning to see.’ Students are willing to collaborate and the atmosphere is one of sharing.

Alex

Professors will know your name. They are always helpful at office hours and the school has a great tutoring center. There are a lot of bad professors, but also some really great ones. I have loved taking Legal studies, ethics and economics.

Samantha

The professors are largely pretty good, with some being better or worse than the average. Some take the time to get to know your name, but others just can't be bothered. However, if you are willing to ask for help, I have never heard of a professor rejecting that request. They will not come to you and ask, but they are there for assistance if you need it. If you want to establish a relationship with your professors, it is crucial that you attend office hours and let them know that you're interested in the subject. Many are intellectuals, and can talk about their respective subjects for hours without getting bored. There are students that have plenty of intellectual conversations outside of class, but I wouldn't say this is the majority. A lot of students are in the b-school, which doesn't exactly lend itself to analytical thinking. Science and engineering students work really hard, but probably not any harder than students at another school of Tulane's caliber. Liberal arts majors tend to enjoy their studies, while other students are more focused on their career paths. Overall, this is definitely a work hard, play hard school, and it's really important to maintain a balance. If you blow off work and party 5 nights a week, you will fail out of school, no matter what your major is. But if you never go out because you're studying all the time, you will be absolutely miserable, and not taking advantage of this opportunity. Academics are really important to most students, but they still recognize the need for fun.

Clifford

My professors do know my name, because my classes are mostly smaller english classes, with anywhere from four to thirty students. This is the norm for humanities classes, although science, business, and other large lecture classes are certainly more impersonal. My favorite class has probably been a series of classes on Ancient Greek democracy, although there are definitely more conventional "favorite class" offerings like Brazillian Dance or Guns and Gangs. My least favorite was Microeconomics; the teacher tried his best to make it interesting but it was not enough. Although students do certainly drink and socialize a lot, they also study a great deal. I am writing this from the library, and there are no empty seats within my field of vision. Class participation varies based on the size and subject of the class. Students do have intellectual conversations outside of class, my most recent being a tragic, unconventional reading of the Twilight series that saw the books as a critique of traditional gender norms and notions of relationships. Students are competitive if the class is graded on a curve (this means you, medical students). The most unique class I have taken was a service learning offering that required me to go into New Orleans criminal court in order to observe cases. It was haunting and difficult at times, but an incredible experience. Some majors are more aimed at immediate employment than others, although that really is a feature of academia in general than a Tulane particularity. I have spent some time with teachers outside of class, and learned just as much during those times, while we ate dinner or went running.

Lily

Professors at Tulane tend to be helpful, personable, and engaging, but there are plenty of duds out there as well. As at any school its important to check on sites like RateMyProf.com before you commit to a class. Classes and students are very different depending on what school you are in. The stereotypical party/slacker types are usually associated with the Business school, while the hard-working students who never stop studying are usually in the School of Architecture, or the School of Public Health. My school, The School of Liberal Arts, is somewhere in the middle. As an English and History major a lot of the class discussions are usually monopolized by 3 or 4 intelligent students, while the rest sit there blankly. The best classes I've taken are the Creative Writing workshops and the English Capstone with Professor Molly Rothenberg, where students all participate and are engaged with what they are doing. Students at Tulane tend not to be competitive. This is definitely not a dog eat dog academic environment. The academic requirements are not too hard to complete in four years, but a lot of students take four and a half or five years to finish at Tulane, which goes along with the laissez-faire, laid-back mindset of the university in general. Tulane is often commended for their public service requirement, but in reality this is treated as somewhat of a joke. Unless you do a lot of research on your class beforehand, there's a good chance your "community service" will not feel very much like service at all. For example, a lot of my friends had to make a "radio show" or conduct interviews for their service requirement, instead of more typical community service activities like working at a school or building houses. There's a lot of students who finish without many job prospects, but Tulane gives you all the tools to get jobs and internships while in college and afterwards. The best way to insure you will get a job after graduation is to work while your in school, which is not hard to do. Teach for America also has a great relationship with Tulane, and many students go on to the program after graduation.

Lily

Professors at Tulane tend to be helpful, personable, and engaging, but there are plenty of duds out there as well. As at any school its important to check on sites like RateMyProf.com before you commit to a class. Classes and students are very different depending on what school you are in. The stereotypical party/slacker types are usually associated with the Business school, while the hard-working students who never stop studying are usually in the School of Architecture, or the School of Public Health. My school, The School of Liberal Arts, is somewhere in the middle. As an English and History major a lot of the class discussions are usually monopolized by 3 or 4 intelligent students, while the rest sit there blankly. The best classes I've taken are the Creative Writing workshops and the English Capstone with Professor Molly Rothenberg, where students all participate and are engaged with what they are doing. Students at Tulane tend not to be competitive. This is definitely not a dog eat dog academic environment. The academic requirements are not too hard to complete in four years, but a lot of students take four and a half or five years to finish at Tulane, which goes along with the laissez-faire, laid-back mindset of the university in general. Tulane is often commended for their public service requirement, but in reality this is treated as somewhat of a joke. Unless you do a lot of research on your class beforehand, there's a good chance your "community service" will not feel very much like service at all. For example, a lot of my friends had to make a "radio show" or conduct interviews for their service requirement, instead of more typical community service activities like working at a school or building houses. There's a lot of students who finish without many job prospects, but Tulane gives you all the tools to get jobs and internships while in college and afterwards. The best way to insure you will get a job after graduation is to work while your in school, which is not hard to do. Teach for America also has a great relationship with Tulane, and many students go on to the program after graduation.

Paige

School is tough. But as my dad always says..."You go to college for class, not for parties." I work very hard in majority of my classes. There were those few classes that were definitely an easy A that fulfill some requirements, but many of my major requirements take up a LOT of study time. As a double major, Environmental Studies and English, I spend equal amount of times reading/writing and studying scientific facts. Tulane is not the best when it comes to being able to take all of your first choice classes each semester (they fill up very quickly). However, as I get older I become earlier on the line to choose my schedule. By Senior year I will be in every class I want. I honestly have never studied this hard in high school, I mean 24 hours in the library in one weekend. But your hard work pays off and even if you are getting average grades but your teacher sees how much effort you put in to the class, they will usually take that into account when giving you your final grade.

Ryan

It isn't easy. I start with that because it's the truth and it's the main thing you need to understand when you come into a nationally ranked university. Now that you understand that here it is! The academics at Tulane are just plain awesome! The teachers will know your name. Freshman classes are generally bigger. Like you General Chemistry or Intro to Psych will be larger around 150 students but other than that, most have a cap at 20. The university has a TIDES program which is basically just an extremely fun class! The topics range from Business to Clinical Medicine to Architecture in New Orleans to Baking. The class is designed to get you integrated into the campus, the city, and to give you a good advisor.

Zoe

While the courses are challenging at Tulane, they are also very interesting and informative. Tulane really caters to the diverse student population by offering so many different options for courses each semester. The classes at Tulane are much smaller than at other colleges, which is a huge advantage; the ratio of students to faculty is 16 to 1. The intimacy provided by the small class size allows the students to create relationships with their professors and get to know them more easily. Tulane has wonderful professors who are extremely passionate and dedicated to their work. They will always go the extra mile to ensure that their students are learning as much as possible and that each student feels that their efforts are acknowledged. All professors offer designated office hours for students to come get one-on-one extra help if they are struggling or missed class. Professors are very flexible and will always make an individual appointment with you if you are unable to attend the assigned office hours. Tulane University epitomizes the word hard, play hard attitude. You will always find students studying in the library but we definitely know how to have a good time! Of course school can get frustrating and stressful during midterms or finals, but Tulane University manages to make learning fun and I know that is something every student at Tulane would agree on!

Zoe

While the courses are challenging at Tulane, they are also very interesting and informative. Tulane really caters to the diverse student population by offering so many different options for courses each semester. The classes at Tulane are much smaller than at other colleges, which is a huge advantage; the ratio of students to faculty is 16 to 1. The intimacy provided by the small class size allows the students to create relationships with their professors and get to know them more easily. Tulane has wonderful professors who are extremely passionate and dedicated to their work. They will always go the extra mile to ensure that their students are learning as much as possible and that each student feels that their efforts are acknowledged. All professors offer designated office hours for students to come get one-on-one extra help if they are struggling or missed class. Professors are very flexible and will always make an individual appointment with you if you are unable to attend the assigned office hours. Tulane University epitomizes the word hard, play hard attitude. You will always find students studying in the library but we definitely know how to have a good time! Of course school can get frustrating and stressful during midterms or finals, but Tulane University manages to make learning fun and I know that is something every student at Tulane would agree on!

Zoe

While the courses at Tulane are challenging, they are also very interesting and informative. Tulane really caters to the diverse student population by offering so many different options for courses each semester. The classes at Tulane are much smaller than at other colleges, which is a huge advantage; the ratio of students to faculty is 16 to 1. The intimacy provided by the small class size allows the students to create relationships with their professors and get to know them more easily. Tulane has wonderful professors who are extremely passionate and dedicated to their work. They will always go the extra mile to ensure that their students are learning as much as possible and that each student feels that their efforts are acknowledged. All professors offer designated office hours for students to come get one-on-one extra help if they are struggling or missed class. Professors are very flexible and will always make an individual appointment with you if you are unable to attend the assigned office hours. Of course school can get frustrating and stressful during midterms or finals, but Tulane University manages to make learning fun and I know that is something every student at Tulane would agree on!

Marianna

I'm having a very unique college experience academically compared to the rest of the Tulane community. As a Gender and Sexuality Studies and English major I have yet to be in a class bigger than 25 people. I'm a great example of how students can get a liberal arts education at Tulane. I feel like I have the best of both worlds. Small classes and great professors but I also have the ability as an undergraduate to do research since Tulane has many graduate studies programs. I'm getting a great education here but I think it's hard for people that are less focused and unsure of what they're passionate about. It's very easy to have all 100 person lectures freshman year if you aren't careful in choosing classes. I advise students to not try and complete all their requirements straight away (or choose a major), and instead take classes they are interested in with good professors.

Marianna

I'm having a very unique college experience academically compared to the rest of the Tulane community. As a Gender and Sexuality Studies and English major I have yet to be in a class bigger than 25 people. I'm a great example of how students can get a liberal arts education at Tulane. I feel like I have the best of both worlds. Small classes and great professors but I also have the ability as an undergraduate to do research since Tulane has many graduate studies programs. I'm getting a great education here but I think it's hard for people that are less focused and unsure of what they're passionate about. It's very easy to have all 100 person lectures freshman year if you aren't careful in choosing classes. I advise students to not try and complete all their requirements straight away (or choose a major), and instead take classes they are interested in with good professors.

Allison

Tulane's courses are unlike any I have ever seen. There is something for everyone's interests. Most of the class sizes are pretty small, with the largest usually being the chemistry and biology classes. Because of the smaller class sizes and the ability have in-depth conversations, you are able to build a relationship with your professors and classmates, which can be very beneficial in the future. Professors are always available via email or office hours. Because of the rigorous courses, students can be found studying every day of the week in the library or in the LBC, but that doesn't mean they don't let loose and have fun. It's not uncommon to hear students talking about class work or what they learned over Facebook or in person. I have noticed, though, that sometimes students don't talk a lot in class.

Matthew

I really like the party culture at this school. The weather is pretty good when it isn't raining, and the classes are usually fine, but that's all to be expected. I presume it's mostly students reading this and you get plenty of that nonsense from the tour (I'm bitter. I lost out on being a tour guide due to my inability to walk backwards in sandals). There are two major party streets at Tulane. Broadway, and Maple. Broadway is the frat-row if you will, and as a Freshman you will likely spend much time there because hey, free booze! About four blocks down Broadway one will reach Maple. Maple holds about seven bars, four of which you will ever step foot in. These bars all are very college with loud, bad music, and cheap yet poorly made drinks. If you crave the college experience, it's hard to beat finding yourself in a trashy dive- bar at 2 AM singing along to Journey with your best friends. There's also the Boot...I'll let you figure that one out. The reason the party scene is so nice is that it's close, yet isolated. I constantly hear complaints from friends at other schools that on Friday Nights it can be impossible to study with all the music and partying going on around them. That doesn't happen at Tulane. Because the bars and parties are always so close, there's no need or want to have parties in the dorms. Sure, as a freshmen you will still have the occasional ****-show in the dorms, but rarely enough that it still stays fun. When you really need to study however, there are plenty of quiet safe havens where there will be no temptation to break focus. See, what I did there? I just justified the party scene in New Orleans. --- On the complaint scale there are a few. First, no one cares about anything here. A couple years ago a highly controversial speaker came to visit. He was a former leader of Isreal, and as a result a small Palestinian group took up protest outside the speaking hall. Here's the thing, it's not that people were surprised that they were protesting him, we were surprised that there were protesters at all. Coming from Berkley California, this change in opinion absolutely shocked me. If protest rallies, and Occupy movements sound fun to you, this probably isn't your school. Next, the sports are pretty bad. I write for the sports section of the Tulane newspaper, "The Hullabaloo" and it can be a bummer writing about our seventh football loss in a row. The football team is bad, and even worse, they play in the Super dome downtown. Sometimes under a thousand people show up to "fill" a 80,000 seat building. Even worse is when good schools come to crush us, their away fans show up in droves to party in New Orleans and out-fan us by 3 to 1 or worse. To be fair, the men's baseball team is competitive, and some of our women's programs like tennis, golf, and running are very competitive. Even as a bad D1 program, we are still D1. Lastly, the food situation is pretty bad. There's a dining hall called Bruff that you will come to know quite well. There's also a food court which has the basics - Panda, Quiznos, Bagels, ECT... That's a lot better but as a freshmen you will only be given 250 bucks for that food which runs out quick. I'll put it this way, as a Junior I changed my food package to have 750 food-court bucks...I'm out.

Michael

Some degrees and classes are great. Business, Pre-Law, Pre-Med, Public Health, Latin American Studies, and most sciences are generally very good, with departments that hold deserved great reputations. Many Liberal Arts degrees are disappointing and seemingly forgotten about by the school. Some departments are so bad that they are almost laughable, which is usually due to a lack of funding from the university. The university's administration is very cheap and refuses to give professors tenure, so you get a consistent cycle of adjunct professors in and out. The university seems to spend a ton of money on the degrees that give Tulane its 'prestigious' reputation, and it in general pays off. For being such a small university, there is an excellent diversity of course offerings, including some really random but interesting classes, and lots of Louisiana/Louisiana studies. Once again, depending largely on your department, you can end up with some amazing professors, but terrible ones are far too prevalent in lower-level classes. Some of my most difficult classes were the 101 intro classes because they were taught largely by grad students who didn't have a clue what they were doing. In truth, once you stick it out through quite a few large and sometimes very poorly taught lecture classes, there is usually an abundance of small 10-12 person courses in really interesting topics. As far as how challenging it is, I've been wholly unimpressed. I've found that in order to get above a B, all you really need to do is hand things in on time and show up to classes. I have only really been challenged academically in two or three classes, which are the ones I really enjoyed. So it depends on what you're looking for; if you want to have a good time, get decent grades, and just slide your way into a degree, this place is great. But if you're looking for more out of your time in college, it's all on you to work for it. I'm a double major in English & International Development, with minors in Spanish and Psychology. English department has been pretty good, but International Development is not at all worth studying here. It's a really cool subject, but Tulane's course is disorganized and just really bad. I really do regret my degree choices, because as I get closer to graduating, I realize how poorly Tulane has prepared me for the job market. I would recommend avoiding Liberal Arts degrees, especially languages, especially if you value having windows or simple technologies like a projector in your classroom.

Veronica

Overall, the academics at Tulane are great. Disregarding the large lecture classes, which are generally intro level science classes, all the classes are small. This is definitely a plus because you have the opportunity to make your voice heard, especially since in most of the liberal arts classes, participation is strongly encouraged if not required. Another good thing about small classes is that professors know your name. You might think that they're reading off a sheet every time they call on you in class, but my Calc III professor from first semester freshman year still says hi to me by name when we walk past each other on the quad. Students are more than welcome to visit their professors during office hours , and a lot of the time, professors will set up more times to meet if the student needs extra help or cannot make the office hours. Most of the professors are very accessible, and some of them are willing to invite you and a few other students to their house for dinners or religious celebrations or just to watch the game. What I think I like the most about the academics at Tulane though, is that on any given day, you can walk through the quad or the cafeteria and hear students is deep discussion about one of their classes. I know I've had many conversations with friends about things I learn in class, and the best feeling is when you are able to start applying things from one class to another.

Veronica

Overall, the academics at Tulane are great. Disregarding the large lecture classes, which are generally intro level science classes, all the classes are small. This is definitely a plus because you have the opportunity to make your voice heard, especially since in most of the liberal arts classes, participation is strongly encouraged if not required. Another good thing about small classes is that professors know your name. You might think that they're reading off a sheet every time they call on you in class, but my Calc III professor from first semester freshman year still says hi to me by name when we walk past each other on the quad. Students are more than welcome to visit their professors during office hours , and a lot of the time, professors will set up more times to meet if the student needs extra help or cannot make the office hours. Most of the professors are very accessible, and some of them are willing to invite you and a few other students to their house for dinners or religious celebrations or just to watch the game. What I think I like the most about the academics at Tulane though, is that on any given day, you can walk through the quad or the cafeteria and hear students is deep discussion about one of their classes. I know I've had many conversations with friends about things I learn in class, and the best feeling is when you are able to start applying things from one class to another.

Veronica

Overall, the academics at Tulane are great. Disregarding the large lecture classes, which are generally intro level science classes, all the classes are small. This is definitely a plus because you have the opportunity to make your voice heard, especially since in most of the liberal arts classes, participation is strongly encouraged if not required. Another good thing about small classes is that professors know your name. You might think that they're reading off a sheet every time they call on you in class, but my Calc III professor from first semester freshman year still says hi to me by name when we walk past each other on the quad. Students are more than welcome to visit their professors during office hours , and a lot of the time, professors will set up more times to meet if the student needs extra help or cannot make the office hours. Most of the professors are very accessible, and some of them are willing to invite you and a few other students to their house for dinners or religious celebrations or just to watch the game. What I think I like the most about the academics at Tulane though, is that on any given day, you can walk through the quad or the cafeteria and hear students is deep discussion about one of their classes. I know I've had many conversations with friends about things I learn in class, and the best feeling is when you are able to start applying things from one class to another.

Veronica

Overall, the academics at Tulane are great. Disregarding the large lecture classes, which are generally intro level science classes, all the classes are small. This is definitely a plus because you have the opportunity to make your voice heard, especially since in most of the liberal arts classes, participation is strongly encouraged if not required. Another good thing about small classes is that professors know your name. You might think that they're reading off a sheet every time they call on you in class, but my Calc III professor from first semester freshman year still says hi to me by name when we walk past each other on the quad. Students are more than welcome to visit their professors during office hours , and a lot of the time, professors will set up more times to meet if the student needs extra help or cannot make the office hours. Most of the professors are very accessible, and some of them are willing to invite you and a few other students to their house for dinners or religious celebrations or just to watch the game.

Michael

Some degrees and classes are great. Business, Pre-Law, Pre-Med, Public Health, Latin American Studies, and most sciences are generally very good, with departments that hold deserved great reputations. Many Liberal Arts degrees are disappointing and seemingly forgotten about by the school. Some departments are so bad that they are almost laughable, which is usually due to a lack of funding from the university. The university's administration is very cheap and refuses to give professors tenure, so you get a consistent cycle of adjunct professors in and out. The university seems to spend a ton of money on the degrees that give Tulane its 'prestigious' reputation, and it in general pays off. For being such a small university, there is an excellent diversity of course offerings, including some really random but interesting classes, and lots of Louisiana/Louisiana studies. Once again, depending largely on your department, you can end up with some amazing professors, but terrible ones are far too prevalent in lower-level classes. Some of my most difficult classes were the 101 intro classes because they were taught largely by grad students who didn't have a clue what they were doing. In truth, once you stick it out through quite a few large and sometimes very poorly taught lecture classes, there is usually an abundance of small 10-12 person courses in really interesting topics. As far as how challenging it is, I've been wholly unimpressed. I've found that in order to get above a B, all you really need to do is hand things in on time and show up to classes. I have only really been challenged academically in two or three classes, which are the ones I really enjoyed. So it depends on what you're looking for; if you want to have a good time, get decent grades, and just slide your way into a degree, this place is great. But if you're looking for more out of your time in college, it's all on you to work for it.

Vivien

Classes usually meet every other day. Beginner language classes might meet 4 or 5 times a week while writing workshops in the English department meet for 3 hours once a week. I am enrolled in 6 classes (or 18 credits) and 5 of my 6 professors know my name. The one professor who doesn't lectures a psychology 101 course with about 100 students. In 3 years, this is the biggest class I've been in and the only time a professor hasn't known my name. Generally classes have between 15-25 pupils. However, smaller classes are available. Last year I took a course with only 6 other students. Every student is assigned an advisor and once the student chooses a major, he or she is assigned a new advisor in that specific department. Courses are both manageable and competitive. Most students come out of classes they are interested in with As or Bs. Discussion about class topics is very common outside the classroom but only by certain people. Upperclassmen have a greater interest in discussing the outside world because their entry into it is imminent. Politics and international issues in the news are popular topics (though local sports seems to take the cake) to discuss. This may also have to do with most upperclassmen living off campus and thus not being entirely consumed within the "Tulane Bubble." The best courses I've taken are within the Sociology, English, Psychology and Art departments. Sociology and English courses rely heavily on class participation while psychology is just fascinating to learn about. The art professors insist you call them by their first names and the environment is totally conducive to creative thought. The Pre-Requisites are relatively dull but after you knock them out, you have literally thousands of courses to choose from, one of which is glass-blowing. This is the class everyone should take before they graduate. Sometimes I like to sit in the studio during the winter and just watch firey balls of magma go in and out of the oven. One time I was there and a boy made me a glass rose right in front of my eyes! Needless to say, studios are always open and those who partake in the making of art and those who watch are always welcome. It should be noted, few students share my interest in the arts. Most students are enrolled in the "B School" or the business school. It's these courses which are taught with the focus on future employment while all other schools teach for the sake of learning. Professors offer office hours 1, 2 or 3 times a week depending on their schedule. Students are not only welcome but encouraged to go during these times to discuss their progress in the course, express any concerns, or just to have a casual talk about life. Every professor I've had has encouraged students to come see them outside class and when I've gone, I've never regretted it afterward.

Michael

Some degrees and classes are great. Business, Pre-Law, Pre-Med, Public Health, Latin American Studies, and most sciences are generally very good, with departments that hold deserved great reputations. Many Liberal Arts degrees are disappointing and seemingly forgotten about by the school. Some departments are so bad that they are almost laughable, which is usually due to a lack of funding from the university. The university seems to spend a ton of money on the degrees that give Tulane its 'prestigious' reputation, and it in general pays off. For being such a small university, there is an excellent diversity of course offerings, including some really random but interesting classes, and lots of Louisiana/Louisiana studies. Once again, depending largely on your department, you can end up with some amazing professors, but terrible ones are far too prevalent in lower-level classes. Some of my most difficult classes were the 101 intro classes because they were taught largely by grad students who didn't have a clue what they were doing. In truth, once you stick it out through quite a few large and sometimes very poorly taught lecture classes, there is usually an abundance of small 10-12 person courses in really interesting topics. As far as how challenging it is, I've been wholly unimpressed. I've found that in order to get above a B, all you really need to do is hand things in on time and show up to classes. I have only really been challenged academically in two or three classes, which are the ones I really enjoyed. So it depends on what you're looking for; if you want to have a good time, get decent grades, and just slide your way into a degree, this place is great. But if you're looking for more out of your time in college, it's all on you to work for it.

Rebecca

I'm a psychology major (School of Science and Engineering), an English minor (liberal arts) and a dance minor so I have a lot of experience with many of the different class structures. I think that science classes are probably some of the hardest to be motivated in because they tend to be on the extremely high end in terms of the amount of students in the class. Biology is taught in a HUGE lecture hall and it was hard to even be motivated to go some days because I felt like no one would notice if I wasn't there. As you move into the higher levels of all classes though, class size shrinks, and as you take more classes with the same specialized professors they learn your names and you begin to really feel like a part of the department. I think dance classes are usually my favorite classes, especially the lower level classes, because they offer such an eclectic mix of people trying dance for the first time. Everyone gets a chance to get to know each other, and the professor. English classes also offer that opportunity, and class participation is more frequent in liberal arts classes in general. One of the reasons I applied to Tulane was because I really dislike hyper-competetive environments. I like environments that foster the idea that we should all be helping each other achieve more, not ones that seem to encourage you to let your fellow students fail because it will make you closer to the top. I think Tulane has a less competitive environment than many schools of similar academic caliber, and most of the students I know really are here to enjoy learning. Even outside of the classroom my friends share things they learned in their classes, and we are each pretty happy with our major choices even if we don't know what we want to do with our lives yet. I think the amount students study is another important thing to think about, and here students do study quite a bit but not so much that it interferes with having a social life. The library is closed early on Friday and Saturday nights and students are out, even when it might be a little irresponsible to be. During finals students really get to work though, and show that we're a school that works hard so we can play hard.

Chelsea

I am a Film Studies and English major at Tulane. Most liberal arts classes are fairly small, and most professors certainly know your name and care about your performance. I have also been in large lectures of up to 200 people. Most professors make themselves available outside of class. I, myself, am not particularly close with any professors for whatever reason, but one of my roommates has become close enough with one of her professors to have eaten dinner at his house with him and his wife. Some professors make it quite blatant that they have other priorities and teaching is just a way to pay the bills. In the liberal arts, students are supportive, rather than competitive. If there is a large assignment, I often find myself meeting up with classmates in the library to complete them and have someone to take breaks with. I am currently in a Screenwriting class and we're doing a BYOB, scene-reading session at someone's house next Saturday before our final scripts are due. Most of my classmates are fairly intelligent, but of course, there are some that make you question how you're getting the same degree as them. I think some of the academic requirements should be done away with, but I understand that the purpose is "well-roundedness." I am currently in Geology to fulfill my science with a lab requirement and it's dreadful. An interesting requirement that Tulane has is the service learning component. You are required to take one class with a 20-hour service learning component and one with a 40-hour service learning component by the time you graduate. A lot of students feel that where they are placed within the community is largely ineffectual. I currently serve as an assistant tennis coach for under-privileged children attending Lafayette Charter School. The service learning really forces you to step outside of your comfort zone at times, but I think it's great to give back to the city.

Sonya

Professors always know my name. Students are not competitive, but they do often spend time with professors outside of class. I think the academics are on par.

Jessica

The academics are challenging due to the caliber of students. However, students are still friendly and willing to help other students. There is a sense of competitiveness but not in a hurtful or negative way. Teachers are, generally, eager to help and willing to set aside the time to work with students or just to talk. As an English major and dance minor, I find my classes to be small and often discussion based. I know the names of all my classmates, and personally know my teachers. I feel comfortable approaching my teachers for help or advice with my work. I am not fond of the huge lecture classes and only took them to fulfill my science and math requirements one semester. Now that I am strictly taking classes within my major and minor, I take smaller classes and feel that I am better able to learn in this type of environment. Due to the community service requirement, most people have internships during the academic year as a junior or senior. These help students determine what kind of career they are looking for. These internships can also turn into jobs in the future.

Hunter

For the most part professor know your name. Intro science class (bio, chem, psych etc) are usually 100+ but every other class I have had has been smaller than 40 with some as small as 12. I have had some great experiences with history classes--most of my history professors have been extremely knowledgeable, helpful and available. Intro classes are usually a little bit disappointing, but Tulane's TIDES seminar (freshman req) and the upper-level classes, in my experience, have been for the most part engaging, challenging and thought provoking. The core req's really aren't that demanding. Tulane's workload can be stressful depending on what you are majoring in. I only have experience in the social science and history fields and they require LOTS of reading and you really have to apply yourself. Overall, my academic experience so far has been challenging and I have learned a lot--I've had some great professors and some that were average. I do feel as though I am being prepared for graduate school/a job after I graduate.

Samantha

Classes are generally small, my biggest class was around 50 but most were around 20-25. The majority of the professors take the time to know their students by name and are readily accessible for help if needed. My favorite class was International Relations but the most unique was glass blowing. My least favorite was intro to microeconomics. Students study on a regular basis but there is definitely an increase when finals roll around.

Paul

I earned my BA, MA, and JD at Tulane. At every corner, I was challenged and impressed. I was looking for a serious curriculum (Ivy or the equivalent) when applying at each level and found Tulane to be a great suit at each junction. I NEVER had a teaching assistant or grad student teach a class. I NEVER had difficulty reaching a professor. In every semester, I had at least one professor who was a Nobel laureate, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, or Peabody Award recipient. From introductory classes to graduate level courses, my professors were accessible and kind. That being said, they were fierce in lectures and class debates. Nothing is spoon-fed to you. Like all top-tiers, it's up to you but you will be provided with a world-class basis upon which to build a career and, most importantly, become a free thinker.

Dan

Although I have only completed my freshman year at Tulane, I am somewhat familiar with the Freeman School of Business, of which I am enrolled. The nationally well-ranked business school at Tulane gives students many advantages but also has some disadvantages. The advantages include respected professors who have a vast professional knowledge of their field, as well as career programs aimed to guide your path from Freeman to the outside business world. Some of the disadvantages include mandatory business courses that are not interesting and do not seem to help many students stride closer to thier business goals.

Cameron

At Tulane, students can take large, impersonal lecture classes (perfect for skipping out on every once in a while...just make sure you get the notes later!), or they can take smaller, more intimate classes. There's always the possibility of running into professor around campus or out on the town, and stopping to have a brief chat is commonplace.

Steven

I really like the class sizes at Tulane. For the main core classes (such as Chem and Bio), classes can be large, but they are still a lot smaller compared to other schools. For more specific classes, i've had class sizes as small as 8 students. It's a lot easier to do well in a class that small because there's more face time with teachers. Students aren't that competitive, but they do try to do well. You run into those kids who don't do shit, but those kids will be at any University. Professors will generally learn a student's name if he/she does well in the class. I really don't like Tulane's academic requirements because it requires me to take a bunch of useless classes that i don't give a shit about. There's this public service requirement that requires me to do 10 hours of community service. I'm not too excited about it. I know it makes me look selfish, but throughout high school, I did over 200 hours of community service. 10 hours isn't a lot, but it means that I have to take some class that i really don't care about just to get those 10 hours. I think that the education at Tulane is geared toward getting a job. I mean that's what most of the students are there for, right? It's not that easy to just take a class for one's own sake because there are so many other classes that students have to take that they don't care about. For example, I have to take an inside the European tradition class. I really don't care about mythology, but I have to take it next semester.

Alex

I have lots of friends who went to state schools and tell me that it's no more difficult than high school classes. I have to disagree where Tulane is concerned. To pass, students must study, and attending class will only help, plus professors often give extra credit at random for attendance. At Tulane, student work for a top-notch education in a degree that will prepare them for their chosen field of work. Smaller classes have much more class participation and the professors really do try to become involved with their students. I am one of the few students who is neither in the business school nor pre-med, which basically covers about 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the students. It is a joke that almost every freshman starts out as wanting to be pre-med. I spend most of my time in Dixon Hall, the music building. The music teachers are all brilliant in their field, and are all more than willing to help their students get work done in their classes or help them with an out of class project. The administrators in the music building are also extremely helpful, if you get to know them. Most of the professors do everything they can do help support the music students by going to student performances or activities. There is a program called "Take a Professor to Lunch," where the school pays for students to sit down with their professors and get to know them outside of class, making it much easier to get letters of recommendation when it comes time to apply for scholarships or graduate school. Most of the professors are open to their students and usually offer a smile or a wave in passing. If students are willing to make an effort to get to know their professors, then the professors are willing to get to know their students. However, if you want your professor to like you, then turn your cellphone off during class because they really hate it when phones ring during their lectures or students continually text message, instead of paying attention.

Katie

Even in my 120 person classes, my profs tend toat least recognize my face. About half even connect my face to my name - including my general chemistry teach who had 170 students. It's competitive if you want it to be. Many teachers are switching over to Z-scale grading: your grade depends on how you do in comparison to the class average. So if you don't want a B- in the class you have to put in a greater effort than the guy next to you. The professors are there to help you learn and understand the material. The administration is there to help find and secure a good job upon graduation. We have both ends of the spectrum very well taken care of.

Kate

Students are not really that competitive. But academics at Tulane can be as hard as one makes it. Some students just skate by doing the bare minimum but others participate in the honors program and put grades and classes as a priority.

Alex

Professors know your name, classes are hard, but the professors work with you to help you to succeed, students don't study as much as they should, but that's anywhere, I don't know if students have intellectual conversations outside of class, students are competitive to a certain extend, and the most unique class that I have taken was photography 135. Education at Tulane will definitely help me to pursue my career in law.

Jesse

some kids try hard, others do bare minimum. teachers have high expectations and do not think that being hung over is an excuse. they often schedule tests the day after things like halloween or holidays like that to make kids focus on school.

Julie

- most students study a lot but also have time for extracurriculars and for social lives - it's easy to become involved with your academic department and professors outside of class - class participation is common, particularly in smaller classes - students work hard but are not overly competitive - the practicality of the education depends on which school you are in - liberal arts is more geared toward learning, while the other schools more toward getting a job - but career sevices is really helpful for everyone! - the academic requirements are pretty fair

Al

Academics is just that, most of the time academic. It is also a Prove it!!! for both sides, with times of ONLY on oneside of it.

Bart

The business school is top-notch and the kids work hard and play hard.

Jill

tulane students work hard and play hard. it is a challanging school, and the people here know how to really buckle down and get their work done, and as soon as that final is over really know how to celebrate! 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my teachers were amazing. the business school is very well run and they really try to take care of the students. i felt that they really wanted me to get the most out of my tulane experience and were very encouraging. after the hurricane they were very supportive and helpful in making sure everyone's credits trasfered and didn't get behind. they also offered a free mini semester to students who had stayed enrolled at tulane over the fall 2005 semester, which i thought was really great of them.