Tulane University of Louisiana Top Questions

Academics at Tulane are haphazard, and require a lot of personal initiative. Students rarely study, and its possible to get an A in a course while learning nothing of the material in many cases. However, there is a lot there if you put the effort in. Course offerings are similarly random, and it can take a lot of searching to find major requirements in some departments. The political science department is especially subject to these constraints. There are few professors and fewer course offerings, and most courses are taught one semester and don't reappear. Departmental support for research and career opportunities is not really there. My academic advisor rarely has anything useful to say, and basically serves as a rubber stamp for my own ideas, which can be a problem when i'm unsure of things. The education is there if you're willing to dig for it, but on the whole it seems far more difficult than it should be. In terms of reputation, resources, and departmental support, it all went the Medical and Business programs. If you don't want to be a doctor, lawyer, or MBA, there really is no academic reason to attend this school.

I've had some amazing professors and some that are just OK. I'm a liberal arts major and the biggest lecture class I've had has been about 60 Science majors will have slightly larger classes though.

Most introductory classes are about 100 people (at least in the sciences), but as the levels of the classes increase there are way less than that. The professors like it when students stay after to ask questions. For the most part students study the hardest during midterms and finals and only a little in between (also depending upon the classes in which you're enrolled). By the end of most classes the students know each other because they form study group. Pretty much all the classes are really good, except for the introductory math classes. The math professors very often don't speak english well and aren't good teachers. All the other departments in which I've taken classes do really well with teaching and caring about the contents of the lectures.

Most classes are small and for the most part the professors are awesome but there definitely are the boring 100 person lectures of any college as well.

Tulane's academics are what you make of them. If you want to get by as an anonymous face in the classroom, you can do this, and probably make decent grades as well. If you want to get a top-notch experience and really know your professors and take away knowledge above and beyond just what is offered, this is possible too.

Most of my teachers know my name, except for in the large intro classes. Most of the teachers really want to get to know you, and they want you to well. The amount of studying varies from student to student based on their major or motivation level. Most people are motivated to study but also to party. You just have to know how to balance it all. In the Business School, the education is geared at getting a job or furthering your education in grad school. I think the liberal arts programs are more about learning for its own sake.

Every one of my professors has learned my name since I've been here. My largest class so far was about 75 students, and my professor that semester learned most people's names and knew when someone was missing or someone who wasn't in the class was there. Students study when necessary. You'll always see students studying at the library or study lounges around campus, and during finals, everyone is studying incessantly. Our academic requirements are pretty strenuous, and it keeps me on my toes. Our education is fairly geared toward getting a job. An on-campus department, Hire Tulane, throws a job fair at least each year, and they offer help writing resumes and finding jobs when you graduate.

Professors expect a lot from students. There is little to no babysitting, and professor-student relationships tend to be very matter of fact. That being said, professors are definitely top-notch, and will provide you with the tools to get the grade. Tulane students love giving their opinions on everything. This can be great for discussion based classes, and not so great in lectures!

I attended a prestigious high school where the academic work was challenging. Thus, although Tulane is no doubt challenging, the work load was not as challenging for me as I first expected. However, the classes are in no way easy and I feel as if I am receiving an excellent education without constantly stressing. I think there is a great balance in the classes here.

I have only taken one class that exceeded 50 students, and some of my smallest classes top out at 8. Professors definitely know who you are, making sure to mark you absent even if they don't officially take attendance. Some of my profs from freshmen year still call me by name when I see them around campus. I've learned not to go to class if you haven't been keeping up, or if you can't bs your way through a direct question (you do get called on by name). Professors are usually more than happy to meet with you out of class, or for a meal (you eat free at the student center if you are lunching with a prof!).