2011-2012 Tulane Forum

[Aberzombie1892]

Any idea how Tulane stacks up compared to schools like Georgia and Alabama? I know it is lower ranked but it seems to carry more name recognition. I know that location is key among choosing which of these to attend, does anybody have any reasons aside from family connections (culture, job prospects) for choosing one over the others?

The answer to your question is complicated, so I'm going to try to break it down (while removing any bias).

Tulane historically, and continues to, place the vast majority of its graduates out of state. Before the economy tanked, only about 25% on average stayed. After the economy tanked, about 38% stay - but that will likely go back down. This is very important for several reasons:
1. Most students do not compete directly with each other for most jobs
2. Many employers, from large to midsize to small, across the US have encountered Tulane law graduates (and from my experiences, have fond impressions of them)
3. Many employers are aware that if they receive an application from Tulane law graduates, they may not receive many more during the same application cycle. Assuming that that applicant looks good on paper, that individual is competitive for the position.

That is generally what makes Tulane distinguishable from the other two schools you mentioned.

My only real complaint is that while Tulane attracts many top tier firms for OCI, it doesn't attract as many mid level firms For example in terms of Texas, the big 3 in Texas, Skadden (Texas), and other top flight Texas firms OCI here. However, many large (but slightly less prestigious) firms like Andrews Kruth and Bracewell and Giuliani do not. This is annoying to say the least, and this phenomena also takes place with firms in NYC, AL, MS, etc.

That also distinguishes Tulane from the other schools you mentioned.

[mattviphky]

crickets. Waiting for anything, I know I only applied like 2 weeks ago, but I'm getting restless!

[Texan1209]

Did y'all have a separate letter that gave the scholarship amount? I was accepted 11/18 and got my tote, but I didn't see anything about any scholarships in there.

[PrincetonLaw]

Did y'all have a separate letter that gave the scholarship amount? I was accepted 11/18 and got my tote, but I didn't see anything about any scholarships in there.

i was notified i was accepted via status checker but was told to wait for the actual acceptance letter for the dollar amount

[Nobody]

Mine was in a letter in the green folder.

[buchy2009]

I'm 1L at Tulane. I can field some questions as well.

[tuco]

For the current students kind of enough to answer questions.....

1) If you don't mind sharing, why did you choose Tulane over other options, and are you happy with that decision?

2) I have heard from some people that NO is the best place in the world and from others that it is really poor and seedy and dangerous. How is your take on NO compared to other cities you have been in/lived in?

3) Any take on why Tulane is so poorly ranked? It seems like it is at a minimum of 10 spots below where it should be?

Thanks!

[mattviphky]

Thanks for taking questions.

Does NO hire a lot of Tulane grads who want to be there?

Where do people go for SA positions? Are there a number in the city, or can people be competitive in other places?

What advantages does Tulane give to a law student over peer schools?

[stingray]

I'll add a question to the mix
Tulane's website cites the proximity to the 5th Circuit Court as giving Tulane students a leg up for judicial clerkships. The numbers I looked at shows that only 4% of students actually get Article III clerkships. What seems to be the prospects for students wanting to land a clerk job? What sort of advantages do students have being close to a federal appeals court?

[littleredlaw]

Did this "tote bag" come in your acceptance package? I received all my acceptance and scholarship letters, but didn't receive any such tote bag.. Just an envelope..

[PrincetonLaw]

Did this "tote bag" come in your acceptance package? I received all my acceptance and scholarship letters, but didn't receive any such tote bag.. Just an envelope..

yes

[Texan1209]

Mine was in a letter in the green folder.

Yeah I didn't have one in my green folder. Hopefully it comes separately or I can cross Tulane off my list. No way I can pay 63,000 each year.

[mattviphky]

I'll add a question to the mix
Tulane's website cites the proximity to the 5th Circuit Court as giving Tulane students a leg up for judicial clerkships. The numbers I looked at shows that only 4% of students actually get Article III clerkships. What seems to be the prospects for students wanting to land a clerk job? What sort of advantages do students have being close to a federal appeals court?

fits my interests as well

[mattviphky]

undefeated basketball...nice to see

[ADks]

Well they haven't really played anyone...Georgia Tech is next, that'll be a test.

[vbc515]

I got an email yesterday saying my file went complete, but it also says they'll start reviewing in November and have decisions by the spring. I know a lot of you have received decisions already, so should I expect them a little earlier? Within the next month? Thanks!

[ect88]

I can't really speak to the clerkship question posed a little while ago, but I'll take a crack at these:

For the current students kind of enough to answer questions.....

1) If you don't mind sharing, why did you choose Tulane over other options, and are you happy with that decision?

2) I have heard from some people that NO is the best place in the world and from others that it is really poor and seedy and dangerous. How is your take on NO compared to other cities you have been in/lived in?

3) Any take on why Tulane is so poorly ranked? It seems like it is at a minimum of 10 spots below where it should be?

Thanks!

1. Obviously this is never a simple answer, but here were my main reasons: I received a good scholarship with good renewal criteria. I'm interested in public interest. Tulane is close(ish) to my family while still being several states removed. I visited campus and loved the city. Tulane is nationally respected (important to me, since I don't really know where I want to practice).

I am happy with the decision. If I had gone somewhere else, I'm sure I would've been happy with that decision, too, though. I'm a firm believer that an experience is as good as you make it.

2. I think people who call NOLA poor (because apparently not being wealthy is the worst thing ever), seedy, and dangerous tend to be privileged white people who would rather live in their manufactured Stepford suburbs (where there are no poor or black people). Okay, so maybe that's a gross generalization, but there's some truth in that. Yes, New Orleans has neighborhoods that you shouldn't walk through at night. Guess what? So does every other city. I *strongly* suggest you visit New Orleans if your budget allows. You hear all sorts of things about this city, good and bad, but you don't really get a feel for what it's really like until you come here. What makes New Orleans great is that there is, especially post-Katrina, a lot of positive energy. I've never seen more social neighborhoods and random people smile at you on the street. I've been to many other cities where I feel less safe than I do here. Again, it all boils down to common sense.

3. I know this is impossible, but at some point you have to say "fuck the rankings." If you're going for a biglaw job in New York, go to a T14. Otherwise I believe the rankings aren't that important. If you're trying to choose between a handful of schools, go with your gut and your interests...not with USNWR.

Sorry if any of this came across as brash...finals season...

[ADks]

Sorry if any of this came across as brash...finals season...

Love that response. I plan on visiting next semester...What do you suggest I check out besides the law school of course...will be my first time in NO

[ect88]

Sorry if any of this came across as brash...finals season...

Love that response. I plan on visiting next semester...What do you suggest I check out besides the law school of course...will be my first time in NO

Well you definitely have to do a few of the touristy things. Take the streetcar down St. Charles and through the Garden District to the the French Quarter. Have some beignets at Cafe du Monde. Walk along the river. Have a grenade or hurricane over on Bourbon Street. Check out some of the independent shops in the Quarter. East as much as you possibly can.

I'd also suggest wandering around the school in a 1 or 2 mile radius. Then you'll get a good feel of what the area you'll be spending 95% of your time in is like. Check out the bars and restaurants on Maple Street. Find a good coffee shop or other local place where you'd like to study (I highly discourage studying in the library, no matter what school you go to -- people get crazy tense). Walk around Audubon Park (right across the street from Tulane and fantastic if you're a runner). Check out the neighborhoods on either side of campus as they're where most students live.

I'm sure there's more...I'll post when I think of more stuff...

[stingray]

Check out the neighborhoods on either side of campus as they're where most students live.

Do any students commute from an outside city like Metarie, or would that be utter chaos? Also, what is parking like on campus? Affordable? Available?

[jc010]

Check out the neighborhoods on either side of campus as they're where most students live.

Do any students commute from an outside city like Metarie, or would that be utter chaos? Also, what is parking like on campus? Affordable? Available?

Coming from Metairie would be horrible. You don't want to live anywhere you have to take I-10 to get into the city. Also, walk around the area around school, yes, but watch your back at night and don't go walking alone. You wouldn't believe all the crime reports there have been lately. Use common sense, like ect said.

I'd recommend going to the Bulldog on a Wednesday and getting yourself a free souvenir pint glass. And even go on craigslist around when you're going to visit and see some apartments, just so you know what kind of choices you'll have. A lot of the stuff around the school has charm, definitely, but it's pretty run-down and undergrad-ish.

I don't know if the law students can get commuter parking passes or not, but a commuter pass will allow you to park from 8 am - 3 pm in the parking garage, which is at least a ten minute walk from the law building, and anywhere on campus after 3 pm or on weekends. You can try to park on Freret or Broadway, which is a free for all, or there are residential streets over by Calhoun, but I think most of them have 2-hour resident parking. Most of the parking on campus is limited to faculty/staff during the day, and they do give tickets.

[Duke Silver]

Sorry if any of this came across as brash...finals season...

Love that response. I plan on visiting next semester...What do you suggest I check out besides the law school of course...will be my first time in NO

Well you definitely have to do a few of the touristy things. Take the streetcar down St. Charles and through the Garden District to the the French Quarter. Have some beignets at Cafe du Monde. Walk along the river. Have a grenade or hurricane over on Bourbon Street. Check out some of the independent shops in the Quarter. East as much as you possibly can.

I'd also suggest wandering around the school in a 1 or 2 mile radius. Then you'll get a good feel of what the area you'll be spending 95% of your time in is like. Check out the bars and restaurants on Maple Street. Find a good coffee shop or other local place where you'd like to study (I highly discourage studying in the library, no matter what school you go to -- people get crazy tense). Walk around Audubon Park (right across the street from Tulane and fantastic if you're a runner). Check out the neighborhoods on either side of campus as they're where most students live.

I'm sure there's more...I'll post when I think of more stuff...

They should check out Magazine street too. I always liked hanging out and studying there better than Maple (Tulane undegrad) and there's a lot of cool stuff around.

[Duke Silver]

Check out the neighborhoods on either side of campus as they're where most students live.

Do any students commute from an outside city like Metarie, or would that be utter chaos? Also, what is parking like on campus? Affordable? Available?

Coming from Metairie would be horrible. You don't want to live anywhere you have to take I-10 to get into the city. Also, walk around the area around school, yes, but watch your back at night and don't go walking alone. You wouldn't believe all the crime reports there have been lately. Use common sense, like ect said.

I'd recommend going to the Bulldog on a Wednesday and getting yourself a free souvenir pint glass. And even go on craigslist around when you're going to visit and see some apartments, just so you know what kind of choices you'll have. A lot of the stuff around the school has charm, definitely, but it's pretty run-down and undergrad-ish.

I don't know if the law students can get commuter parking passes or not, but a commuter pass will allow you to park from 8 am - 3 pm in the parking garage, which is at least a ten minute walk from the law building, and anywhere on campus after 3 pm or on weekends. You can try to park on Freret or Broadway, which is a free for all, or there are residential streets over by Calhoun, but I think most of them have 2-hour resident parking. Most of the parking on campus is limited to faculty/staff during the day, and they do give tickets.

For apartments, definitely check across Carrollton and Claiborne as well. Not too far, but you can get nicer stuff/more for your money in some cases. There's some decent stuff farther away from campus, but some areas stop being undergrad-sketchy and just start being normal sketchy, so be careful. NOLA can be pretty block-by-block, but it's really not too hard to find a good place. FYI, a lot of places near the school do May-May or June-June leases.

[stingray]

If parking is either impossible or nightmarish, how do most students get to school? Does NOLA have a good enough public transportation system to handle that kind of thing, or do you just have to live within walking distance to campus?

[Duke Silver]

If parking is either impossible or nightmarish, how do most students get to school? Does NOLA have a good enough public transportation system to handle that kind of thing, or do you just have to live within walking distance to campus?

Living within at least biking distance is easiest. I knew people who took the streetcar, but it's not super reliable timingwise. I knew people who frequently biked to school, and that wasn't a problem for them. I always lived within walking distance of school. The law students I knew lived close to school as well. Even though the roads are terrible, biking distance is probably the best for getting to school.

If you're willing to walk a bit though, you should be able to find parking in the side streets closer to the river, not behind the law school. Calhoun and beyond generally are tough to find parking on, but side streets like Plum/around Maple, etc should be okay. Again, if you're willing to walk a bit.