Tulane University of Louisiana Top Questions

What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

Ilana

Work hard play hard kind of students. This is very accurate.

Patrick

There is a little bit of everything at Tulane. Most kids are super friendly, but the stereotype would probably be rich white kids. This is kinda accurate, but all in all they student body works hard and plays hard. 25{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the Undergrads do greek, alot of people are involved in clubs around school, and music is the main entertainment to get off campus for.

Sarah

The typical stereotype at Tulane University is that the student body is full of rich kids and also a majority of Jewish kids. Sometimes the university is referred to as Jewlane. While there area large number of financially blessed students and a large number of Jewish students, I'd say there's also a significant number of students here by scholarship. Financial status does not matter once you are here, and almost everyone here is involved with on-campus jobs to help pay for school. Also, Tulane has a large number of religious organizations of all kinds. And anybody could get involved, even if they aren't religious. The activities are endless. Also, the first question people tend to ask when hearing a student goes to Tulane is "Oh, you must be smart, huh?". While it is true that you have to had succeeded academically to get into Tulane, the student body is certainly not made up of the typical 'geeks'.

Yonatan

Tulane students are most often stereotyped as rich white kids from up north who want to go to New Orleans and party it up all the time. While it is true that there are many entitled partiers and frat kids, the majority of the student body is unified by values other than copious amounts of alcohol. More important than partying, most Tulane students are kids with a heart who are attracted to New Orleans either because of its culture, music, romance, or overall charm, and because they know that the surrounding community is one which is still recovering from one of the worst natural disasters to hit the US in the past decade. I would argue that a more accurate stereotype of Tulane students would be friends and compassionate. You don't go to Tulane unless you are willing to help rebuild New Orleans.

Alex

The main stereotype is rich, white kids, primarily from the northeast. This demographic definitely is felt most widely on campus, as money does help move things in college life. There are however many students that don't fit this stereotype, but they are less likely to be found out partying as much as some students can afford to. Frat and sorority types are very common on campus.

Morgan

A lot of people stereotype Tulane as being a predominantly Jewish school (jokingly nicknamed "Jewlane") and, as much as I don't like to perpetuate stereotypes, this one is pretty accurate. However, I found out that the reason has some pretty interesting historical roots. I learned that during WWII, there was some pretty significant discrimination of Jewish Americans, even in our own country, and that Tulane was one of the few places that served as a safe haven for those of Jewish descent who were often not welcomed in other areas of our nation.

Morgan

A lot of people stereotype Tulane as being a predominantly Jewish school (jokingly nicknamed "Jewlane") and, as much as I don't like to perpetuate stereotypes, this one is pretty accurate. However, I found out that the reason has some pretty interesting historical roots. I learned that during WWII, there was some pretty significant discrimination of Jewish Americans, even in our own country, and that Tulane was one of the few places that served as a safe haven for those of Jewish descent who were often not welcomed in other areas of our nation.

Jesse

You'll definitely notice people from the Jewish community. It hasn't been nicknamed "Jewlane" for nothing. About a quarter of Tulanians are Jewish, and they range from Orthodox to non-practicing. Second, you'll notice plenty of frat kids, as Greek life thrives in the Big Easy. In general, there will be plenty of nerds, since Tulane's a private research university with a decent science program. All in all, however, Tulane is actually very diverse, and "Jewlane" is pretty inaccurate.

Jennifer

Tulane is often considered a party school. This is partly due to the city it's in (New Orleans is home to Mardi Gras, after all), and up until Hurricane Katrina happened I think it was fairly accurate, but in the seven years since the hurricane the school has really dedicated itself to promoting community service. Today, the frat party scene is fading back and the school is attracting more and more students looking for a meaningful college experience; like New Orleans itself, Tulane is still a great place to party, but these days the students are a pretty mixed bag of social activists, fratastic bros, and highly motivated pre-professionals.

Ryan

Academically smart! Very smart students congregate here. Although it is a stereotype, the most prevalent one is partiers. Yes, there a ton of outings and alcohol is readily available. While this is all true, the students here are still smart and concerned about their school work.

Jessie

The stereotype at Tulane is your typical Southern girl/guy - boys in pastel polos with those awful frat boy sunglasses neck holders, preppy sorority girls with pearl earrings. But this is NOT true! Tulane has only a small percent of students involved in Greek Life, so it's there if you are interested. And the on campus radio station WTUL and local music scene attracts tons of more indie/hipster kids. Beyond the fact that the school doesn't fit its stereotype, even the greek life isn't as preppy/southern and I was afraid it might be. As a more alternative boston girl, I still can't believe I ended up in a sorority and loved it. In Chi Omega, I met girls who ended up working in film and form major record labels. Definitely not girls just looking to get their MRS degree like a lot of southern girls I've met!

Janine

Tulane University draws a unique crowd. The stereotype holds that over-privileged, well-dressed students flock to the 'dirty south' to perpetuate the mantra, 'work hard, play hard.' While it is true that the student body at Tulane is comprised of myriad students from the Northeast, with a persevering stereotype popularizing the nickname 'Jewlane' (T-Shirts were sold on the quad last year due to popular demand), Tulane University benefits from the geographic diversity that is the reality. Students from different regional backgrounds are drawn to the culturally rich party city, as over 75{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of its students travel over 500 miles from home to attend. Even though students come to Tulane from all over the country, many do come from well-to-do families (around the country) eager to get a taste the crawfish, grits, and jambalaya and party it up during Mardi Gras, and just about any other possible opportunity. However, when students partake in such festivities, they do so in style. Girls at Tulane are known to showcase the latest fashion trends, hinting at the capital of their families. The stereotype maintains that the girls are more attractive than the boys, and this is confirmed on a daily basis. However, materialism aside, the culture of the city as well as the community service prospects unites students and it is seen that students are not just drawn to the party atmosphere of New Orleans. Although they will be sure to enjoy the lax drinking laws, and the Mardi Gras holiday break, students really do want to benefit from the culture of the city and get involved. The playing field is further leveled when scholarships doled out by Tulane Admissions each year are considered, as all freshmen applicants are considered for partial merit scholarships, ranging from $7,500 to $25,000 per year. The blend of students from different regional backgrounds proves to falsify the stereotype that Tulanians are all snobby white kids. Well... half of the stereotype. Tulane is undeniably white. However, regional diversity undermines the homogeneity of the student body, and students are overwhelmingly intelligent, friendly, involved, and hard-working. And they definitely know how to have a good time. As the prestige of Tulane University mounts each year, the school is becoming more selective. Sororities and fraternities are in fear that the selection pool will not be as beneficial to ensuring a ‘perfect pledge class’ as the intellect correlates positively with dorkiness, which is not a bad thing.

Janine

Tulane University draws a unique crowd. The stereotype holds that over-privileged, well-dressed students flock to the 'dirty south' to perpetuate the mantra, 'work hard, play hard.' While it is true that the student body at Tulane is comprised of myriad students from the Northeast, with a persevering stereotype popularizing the nickname 'Jewlane' (T-Shirts were sold on the quad last year due to popular demand), Tulane University benefits from the geographic diversity that is the reality. Students from different regional backgrounds are drawn to the culturally rich party city, as over 75{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of its students travel over 500 miles from home to attend. Even though students come to Tulane from all over the country, many do come from well-to-do families (around the country) eager to get a taste the crawfish, grits, and jambalaya and party it up during Mardi Gras, and just about any other possible opportunity. However, when students partake in such festivities, they do so in style. Girls at Tulane are known to showcase the latest fashion trends, hinting at the capital of their families. The stereotype maintains that the girls are more attractive than the boys, and this is confirmed on a daily basis. However, materialism aside, the culture of the city as well as the community service prospects unites students and it is seen that students are not just drawn to the party atmosphere of New Orleans. Although they will be sure to enjoy the lax drinking laws, and the Mardi Gras holiday break, students really do want to benefit from the culture of the city and get involved. The playing field is further leveled when scholarships doled out by Tulane Admissions each year are considered, as all freshmen applicants are considered for partial merit scholarships, ranging from $7,500 to $25,000 per year. The blend of students from different regional backgrounds proves to falsify the stereotype that Tulanians are all snobby white kids. Well... half of the stereotype. Tulane is undeniably white. However, regional diversity undermines the homogeneity of the student body, and students are overwhelmingly intelligent, friendly, involved, and hard-working. And they definitely know how to have a good time. As the prestige of Tulane University mounts each year, the school is becoming more selective. Sororities and fraternities are in fear that the selection pool will not be as beneficial to ensuring a ‘perfect pledge class’ as the intellect correlates positively with dorkiness, which is not a bad thing.

Caitlin

The first question people ask me when I tell them I go to Tulane is normally,"How do you get any studying done with Bourbon Street so close?" People tend to think that Tulane students are kids with too much money who spend their time partying. While we definitely party, everyone knows that work comes first. Tulane students are more well balanced- they'll get their work done and then go out. A large portion of our student body has some sort of scholarship without unlimited access to their parent's money. Students are normally working, going to school, and extremely social creating a motivated and driven student body.

Caitlin

The first question people ask me when I tell them I go to Tulane is normally,"How do you get any studying done with Bourbon Street so close?" People tend to think that Tulane students are kids with too much money who spend their time partying. While we definitely party, everyone knows that work comes first. Tulane students are more well balanced- they'll get their work done and then go out. A large portion of our student body has some sort of scholarship without unlimited access to their parent's money. Students are normally working, going to school, and extremely social creating a motivated and driven student body.

Alex

Tulane is often thought of as a "party school." You only need to spend a little time in New Orleans to see why this is the case. Students at Tulane are quite diverse, however. Tulane students are known for being involved on campus, and the University's community service requirement gets students involved in New Orleans. Tulane is becoming a more and more competitive school to get into, and this has caused interest in the school by a whole different class of students. Tulane is defiantly a play hard school, but there are so many different things going on and defiantly a lot of smart students. The school is heavily northern, and my of the students come from areas around the country's large cities. The school is about a third Jewish.

Samantha

Although Tulane students are often stereotyped as being wealthy, white and jappy, there are many more people who defy this stereotype rather than embody it. There is a definite contingent of girls from Long Island walking around in designer clothing, but this is not the majority. You don't need to be like this to make friends, but you will see them on campus. Most of the people I've met are down to earth, and don't get caught up in material things. The guys are pretty bro, but there are tons who are much more laid back. It is an expensive private school, but Tulane also gives a ton of merit and financial aid, so not everyone is rich. I've met a bunch of people who are actually paying their own tuition, which is pretty impressive when you consider how high it is. The student body is definitely very white, however, and I haven't been impressed with the diversity here. It's important to remember that people come to Tulane (and NOLA) for tons of different reasons, so there really is no typical student.

Clifford

Like any college or large group of people, Tulane has a range of sub-communities that all have their own sets of stereotypes and behaviors. In Tulane's case, one factor influences all of these groups: the city of Bacchanalia that is New Orleans. One would expect the city known for Mardi Gras to be a continuous non-stop party, and while these expectations are exaggerated by the stories one hears about decadent, intoxicating New Orleans, the image is real, and the school is populated by students who have journeyed down expecting celebration. In short, the stereotype of Tulane would be drinkers. In actuality, though, it would be more correct to refer to socializers. Parties may be seen as events solely focused on inebriation by those who are less inclined to throw them, but really they are about meeting new friends, chatting with old ones, and participating in a community. An incoming Tulanian should expect many opportunities to drink, but more importantly she should expect many opportunities to create new social ties, hear people's stories, and learn to handle herself in a friendly conversation. And isn't that what college is about?

Lily

When you think of the typical Tulane kid, you think of someone who knows how to party. While the stereotype is that of a spoiled Northeastern frat boy or sorority girl, there's actually a lot of geographic diversity. You'll find Southerners, Midwesterners, and California hippies all here at Tulane. Tulane attracts a lot of great students who have academic scholarships, as well as students who were just looking for a party school. What they have in common is that they (usually) work hard and play much harder.

Lily

When you think of the typical Tulane kid, you think of someone who knows how to party. While the stereotype is that of a spoiled Northeastern frat boy or sorority girl, there's actually a lot of geographic diversity. You'll find Southerners, Midwesterners, and California hippies all here at Tulane. Tulane attracts a lot of great students who have academic scholarships, as well as students who were just looking for a party school. What they have in common is that they (usually) work hard and play much harder.

Paige

Greek life is not very large on campus according to the percentage on our schools website. However, it definitely has a more prominent role socially. You do not need to be in Greek life to go out, have fun, and meet new people. By NO means must you join a sorority/fraternity to enjoy school. However, it is an advantage to join because you automatically meet +50 more people who become your new "brothers/sisters". As a somewhat shy person myself, it helped me branch out and feel more comfortable when going to bars and recognizing more students. I really do love being a part of something that makes me feel so closely knit to a group of people. I also have many friends who did not join Greek life and they know just as many people as I do and are invited to many of the events Greeks hold weekly. It really is a personal preference to join or not, and regardless of your choice you will still be happy at Tulane.

Ryan

Academically smart! Very smart students congregate here. Although it is a stereotype, the most prevalent one is partiers. Yes, there a ton of outings and alcohol is readily available. While this is all true, the students here are still smart and concerned about their school work.

Alexandra

The most common stereotype is that the students are rich Jewish kids from New York and surrounding areas. A belief about Tulane students from the surrounding New Orleans community is that we are snobby and uninvolved. Aside from these, there are so many different types of people on campus that it's hard to pinpoint one overarching theme. There are plenty of sorority girls in leggings and UGGs, but at the same time there are a ton of artsy people and hipsters.

Marianna

When many people think of Tulane they immediately think of Bourbon Street and the French Quarter. This leads to the stereotype that all Tulane students do is drink, which in fact is not the case. While there is a great bar scene and fun frat parties, Tulane and the city of New Orleans provide an assortment of activities for students that don't like to drink (the music scene in New Orleans can be enjoyed sober, as well as the organization Tulane After Dark which provides late night on campus activities as an alternative to the bars). In addition, Tulane students are incredibly hard workers. The phrase "work hard play hard" is a very accurate description of the Tulane mentality--the students here are incredibly driven in every aspect of life, be it their studies or having a good time.

Allison

Many people have called Tulane "Jewlane" because of the seemingly high population of Jewish students. However, I do not believe it is accurate. Yes, many people here ARE Jewish, but that does not define who we are as a community. There are many different people represented at Tulane, and no "stereotype" is left out. No matter what a person's style or religious beliefs may be, there is always a place for him or her in the Tulane community.

Matthew

Don't let the location fool you, Tulane is an East-Coast prep school through and through, merely air-lifted to the deep-south. The vast majority of Tulane students come from over 500 miles away, with states like New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut being the most common. If you are from one of those areas and like the social climate, great! Expect more of it here. If you're like me, and stem from the beaches of California...expect a fair amount of culture shock. Expect designer purses on girls, and guys wearing button ups to a dive bar. Also, it needs to be noted, a not-so-proud nickname of Tulane is "Jewlane". Simply put, lots of Jews go here. That wasn't so much a problem for me, but it is certainly something to know before making the leap (can you believe they don't note this all in the tour?) But don't let this suddenly make you scamper off and run. Stereotypes always have counters and Tulane is no exception. There is a healthy nerd population with an active video-game club, and yearly Human Vs. Zombies game. There are the jocks that you will either live with or only see in the dining hall. There are goths, there are preps, and there are guys like me who are just dudes looking to get a degree and have a fun time. There's a niche for everyone.

Veronica

At first glance, Tulane University sounds like a diverse group of intellectuals. It boasts being one of the most geographically diverse schools, and since it sits in the heart of New Orleans, one cannot help but think it will be racially diverse as well. Once you arrive there, however, the new stereotype is that we are all a bunch of rich, spoiled, white kids from the Northeast. While this is not entirely true since Tulane does have international students and at least one kid from almost every state, the average student is wealthy and from the Northeast (and I'll let you decide for yourself if they're spoiled). While, yes, this can cause a few rifts and can make the school seem more undesirable as a whole because it is not the hub of diversity that you think it might be, it is easily surmountable by exploring the surrounding city and taking advantage of all the opportunities you can to get out and enjoy New Orleans.

Veronica

At first glance, Tulane University sounds like a diverse group of intellectuals. It boasts being one of the most geographically diverse schools, and since it sits in the heart of New Orleans, one cannot help but think it will be racially diverse as well. Once you arrive there, however, the new stereotype is that we are all a bunch of rich, spoiled, white kids from the Northeast. While this is not entirely true since Tulane does have international students and at least one kid from almost every state, the average student is wealthy and from the Northeast (and I'll let you decide for yourself if they're spoiled). While, yes, this can cause a few rifts and can make the school seem more undesirable as a whole because it is not the hub of diversity that you think it might be, it is easily surmountable by exploring the surrounding city and taking advantage of all the opportunities you can to get out and enjoy New Orleans.

Michael

Pretty much true. It's difficult to argue against stereotypes at Tulane due to a lack of diversity. The school itself has a reputation for being the Southern equivalent of a Northeastern liberal arts college, but with a heavy party atmosphere. For this, it ends up drawing primarily upper-middle class white students from California, Chicago, and the Northeast. You really get two types of applicants, those who had Tulane as their safety school and didn't get into anything Ivy, and some socially conscious students drawn by Tulane's reputation for charity in New Orleans. Fortunately, the student body is turning away from the Pre-Katrina dynamic of rich kids looking to party, towards a more academically and socially driven kid who is happy to party in New Orleans.

Rebecca

Tulane University students are thought of in different ways, depending on who you ask. There is a higher Jewish population than the national average, so there is a bit of a stereotype that everyone who goes here is Jewish and usually from the Northeast. But not everyone really is, and there are plenty of people from all over the country. Another stereotype is that everyone drinks a LOT, it is in New Orleans and I know from my friends at other schools that we do have more access to bars (which are more often to those 18+ instead of 21+) and there is clearly a drinking culture. That said, people often over estimate the amount of drinking that takes place, and it seems to me that there are usually a few people in any group of friends who don't drink at all.

Chelsea

Tulane students have a reputation for partying. This is partially true, but we generally work really hard academically, then drink... heavily. A lot of Tulane students come from the Northeast, with New York as the second largest "feeder-state," after Louisiana. Greek life exists, but it is not overpowering and one can still have a great social life without it. I would say that there are definitely more bro-tastic frat boys and vapid sorority girls at Tulane than eccentric bohemians, but most people find their niche all the same.

Elinor

Coming into Tulane, I was given quite a few impressions, either pertaining to the school, itself, or the city surrounding it. My boyfriend here is Jewish. His best friend is Jewish. Her best friend is Jewish. I think you get the idea. Last time I checked, about a third of the student population would identify themselves as Jewish. So what does this cause? If nothing else, we have a very active campus Hillel and many students that walk around wh the assuption that one third of the people they'll run into on any given day are Jewish. And that's probably pretty accurate. One guy in my class even customized "Jewlane" shirts, in the same style as our school's classic green shirts with the white "Tulane" lettering (with a marked three-letter difference, of course). In addition, I've found that our "Only in New Orleans, Only at Tulane" motto is particularly appropriate to describe the party scene. Sure, there are crazy parties at every college, but c'mon - it's New Orleans. And I think it's safe to say the scene here is unlike that of any other school. The school tends to have a reputation for kids with bad livers who never stop partying, and while you're sure to run into some of those, there are plenty of students who absain AND STILL have a social life. Parties are fun and, provided you remember them, will give you material for great stories to tell at other parties, but if it's not your scene, it's all too easy to avoid. I have plenty of friends here who don't drink and they still have a great time. If you can get bored in New Orleans, you're probably going well of your way to do so. The only other false impression I was given is that the school is very diverse. I can hear one of my friends here say from time to time, "I miss black people." Sure, we have diversity, but like many schools in the US, I'm one of many, many white kids. However, if I were to list some of my best friends here I could tell you that one is a bisexual swing dancer from Idaho, another is a Puerto Rican girl from Jacksonville, Florida, who boasts a very colorful condom collection, a girl from Ohio who spent the last 2 years in Mexico, a musical theatre pre-med with what is possibly the cutest southern accent ever, and another is my boyfriend, who is from a tiny Jewish high school in Mercer Island, Washington. I have yet to meet someone here from my hometown. Even if you can't see variegated skin tones wherever you go, the different socio-economic backgrounds, experiences and viewpoints that coalesce at Tulane is sure to provide one with stimulating conversation and experiences that you can find "only in New Orleans, only at Tulane."

Michael

The student body at Tulane is sometimes thought to be a rich, white upperclass group of students. Being an expensive private school, it is true that there are some people who attend here who fit this description. However, the great financial aid programs Tulane has to offer really allow students from diverse cultures, backgrounds and socio-economic classes to receive their education here.

Anne

Because New Orleans is in the "Big Easy", the stereotype is that, of course, students at Tulane must drink and party all the time. While we know how to have fun, we also work hard...after all, our unofficial motto is 'Work hard, play hard.' I think that best describes the general undergraduate student body at Tulane. Tulane, like New Orleans is really diverse--we have the Greeks, the athletes, the studious ones, the ones who are involved in everything and we all know the importance of doing well at school (we are students), but afterward, we all like going out into the city to eat, go out, and have fun.

Sonya

It's mostly true, but there are diamonds in the rough.

Jessica

I would say that Tulane has a party stereotype. However, there is definitely a party hard work hard atmosphere. There is so much to do in the city of New Orleans, and the city itself has a party stereotype. Most students are able to experience what New Orleans has to offer and have an fun, while still doing well in school. Sometime, though, it takes a semester for students to find the balance between socializing and school. As long as you eventually find the balance you should do great.

Nina

You may have heard some people refer to Tulane as "Jewlane". Although Tulane has a large Jewish community, it by no means that students who are not Jewish don't fit in. Everyone is extremely tolerant of other religions and actually a majority of Tulane's undergraduates are not Jewish. Tulane has students from all around the United States, with almost every state represented.

Gabriella

Jewlane