Tulane anyone?

[Dock-TAH!]

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Hello all!

I'm accepted at Tulane and am strongly considering going there. I really like the school but I am interested to hear from other accepted applicants who are either going or withdrew their acceptance. What was your thought process that led to your decision? (not so much if you got accepted to a school you wanted more and withdrew. I am looking more for thoughts having to do with the situation in New Orleans and how that affected your decision).

Thanks!

 

[nolamd2b]

Hello all!

I'm accepted at Tulane and am strongly considering going there. I really like the school but I am interested to hear from other accepted applicants who are either going or withdrew their acceptance. What was your thought process that led to your decision? (not so much if you got accepted to a school you wanted more and withdrew. I am looking more for thoughts having to do with the situation in New Orleans and how that affected your decision).

Thanks!

Hi, I was not accepted by Tulane 🙁 , but am currently getting my MPH at the School of Public Health and have lived here for 3 years.

The only significant challenge involved in living in NOLA right now is the scarcity of 1 bedroom apartments. Stores, bars, restaurants, etc. are all open and doing well. You'll still get the full cultural experience that comes with living here through Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and the million other excuses to get dressed up and have a parade that NOLA has come up with🙂

There are only 3 hospitals open in Orleans Parish, however, and one is Children's. If you have any respiratory problems or chronic illnesses, probably not the place to be. There are a few more hospitals open in Jefferson Parish (20 mins away from Tulane Med School), so you will have places to do rotations. Also, there are limitless opportunities to get involved with the clean-up/rebuilding process, which is gratifying.

I love it here, despite the need to hide in the air-conditioning all summer 😉

Hope this helps. Good luck to you.

 

[rebectar]

I chose Tulane over a couple other schools. I was basically convinced from the time of my interview - the attitudes and committment of the faculty and students were a big part of my decision. Of course I was worried about things like safety and whether I would get a proper medical education, but I did my research and talked to them and I'm sure I made a good choice. I went to New Orleans about a month ago and was pleasantly surprised. After talking to Father Don and a few others and touring the facilities and city, I am confident in Tulane and I saw they are very committed to their students and their mission. It has been kind of annoying to get so little info from them when my friends going to other schools have already turned in their immunization forms and white coat sizes, but Tulane is still catching up from the six weeks they lost after Katrina. They realize it's annoying too, so they're doing everything they can.

New Orleans is not be the ideal place to live right now (and if I weren't going to school there, I wouldn't just move there for the heck of it), but nowhere is perfect. It's definitely liveable. I even found a great apartment uptown near the undergrad campus that's way better than my current one in GA. It will be a very unique opportunity to get hands-on experience and actually make an impact (yeah that sounded like a lame interview answer but it's true).

For me, the positive aspects far outweighed the downsides. Think it through, go visit if you can, talk to people there (everyone was more than willing to answer any questions I had and show me around), and decide if you think it's right for you. See you there, maybe.
I just realized that I didn't actually say anything here that will really help, but maybe it's a start. 🙂

 

[KAI1927]

I just got back from NOLA today and had an awesome time meeting Dr. beckman and the rest of the staff. I am going down in june for the md/mph program and ia really excited. I choose it over other schools and couldn't be happier. There is so much work to be done there and i can't wait to start.

 

[-Goose-]

I just got back from NOLA today and had an awesome time meeting Dr. beckman and the rest of the staff. I am going down in june for the md/mph program and ia really excited. I choose it over other schools and couldn't be happier. There is so much work to be done there and i can't wait to start.

Hey Kai! Could you share some of the info that Dr Beckman passed your way about clinicals etc?

Thanks!

 

[KAI1927]

Hey Kai! Could you share some of the info that Dr Beckman passed your way about clinicals etc?

Thanks!

Well it was a pretty funny meeting, she was saying how they had sent out the same number of acceptences as previous years, but she has received way more $500 deposits than is normal for this time; it seems as though alot of people are really gung-ho for tulane. I asked her about the curriculum, she said the first two years are totally fine, and by the time we are T3's there shOuldn't be a problem. But it there is alot of work to be done down there and she did mention that becuase of the shortages, we might get to do and see things that nomal med sudents would not

 

[deacondan16]

Maybe if you're skeptical about going to Tulane you should take your other option....I may be biased though, I'm on the waitlist
(but seriously if anyone knows someone who's on the fence and can be easily convinced not to go to Tulane, I'd really appreciate the help) 🙂

 

[-Goose-]

Maybe if you're skeptical about going to Tulane you should take your other option....I may be biased though, I'm on the waitlist
(but seriously if anyone knows someone who's on the fence and can be easily convinced not to go to Tulane, I'd really appreciate the help) 🙂

I wish you the best, deacondan. My withdrawl (sp?) letter is getting sent in the morning. I just can't personally justify moving to NOLA right now for family reasons and the cost of attendance.

Best of luck.

-Goose-d

 

[nolamd2b]

But I know NOLA's got tons of toxins / mold floatin around in the air now, so I'm stilla bit worried cause news andother sources don't so easily dismiss this. On the other hand, all the 2nd, 3rd and 4th yrs will be coming back to NOLA, not ot mention the LSU kids, all the undergrads. There have got to be other kids with asthma in the mix. It can't be great for you (as can't NYC, where I currently live), but how bad do you reall y think it is? Shoujld I be more worried about this?

Kankshi

I seem to remember hearing in one of my PH classes that NYC has the highest rates of asthma in the country. If you're okay living there, you should be fine here in nola.

 

[TheMightyAngus]

I wish you the best, deacondan. My withdrawl (sp?) letter is getting sent in the morning. I just can't personally justify moving to NOLA right now for family reasons and the cost of attendance.

Best of luck.

-Goose-d

I was accepted into the MD/MPH program, seriously considered attending, but decided to withdraw for the following reasons:

1) Prohibitive cost. Lack of MD/MPH scholarships made cost of attendance unfeasible. Combine that with increased cost of living and I was looking at >$260-280k for four years.

2) Faculty exodus. Hard to find out which faculty stayed and which ones left, and which departments are running and which ones aren't. Administration can't answer most questions and don't seem to have things organized yet. I really feel bad for incoming T-3's. If you're interested in EM or IM, you should be fine. But it doesn't look like elective surgery and non-urgent care is happening anytime soon, which means less exposure to subspecialties.

3) I'm not interested in rebuilding. Kudos to you guys sacrificing for your fellow man. I'm selfish when it comes to my education and don't want to compromise anything.

4) If another Katrina hits this summer, everyone gets screwed all over again because the levees haven't been improved.

5) No one from admissions has addressed medical education for next year. No newsletter, email, FAQ, website update, etc. Just some intra-office notice that somehow wound up on SDN. I don't feel comfortable going to a school that communicates this poorly with incoming students.

 

[clusterfunk]

Angus, I truly hope you shared at least some of those sentiments with Dr. Beckman or some other Admissions figurehead because they REALLY need to hear those kinds of serious, warranted concerns. Otherwise, next year's recruitment cycle is not going to be any different, and eventually the recently-founded Beckman+Kahn Tulane School of Gunners/Straight-out-of-Undergrad-Naives/Katrina-Resume-****** er Medicine will replace the true Tulane that Pisano had built over the course of 30+ years.

May I ask to where are you going instead?

 

[drmota]

goose. you just broke my heart. i thought i should let you know that. big ups to you though and i wish you the best with whatever journey you choose to embark on.
-mota

 

[NotAnMD]

Angus, I truly hope you shared at least some of those sentiments with Dr. Beckman or some other Admissions figurehead because they REALLY need to hear those kinds of serious, warranted concerns. Otherwise, next year's recruitment cycle is not going to be any different, and eventually the recently-founded Beckman+Kahn Tulane School of Gunners/Straight-out-of-Undergrad-Naives/Katrina-Resume-****** er Medicine will replace the true Tulane that Pisano had built over the course of 30+ years.

May I ask to where are you going instead?

Clustrfunk, are you a current student at Tulane Med?

 

[-Goose-]

goose. you just broke my heart. i thought i should let you know that. big ups to you though and i wish you the best with whatever journey you choose to embark on.
-mota

memphis ain't that far from nola, dog.

 

[TheMightyAngus]

Angus, I truly hope you shared at least some of those sentiments with Dr. Beckman or some other Admissions figurehead because they REALLY need to hear those kinds of serious, warranted concerns. Otherwise, next year's recruitment cycle is not going to be any different, and eventually the recently-founded Beckman+Kahn Tulane School of Gunners/Straight-out-of-Undergrad-Naives/Katrina-Resume-****** er Medicine will replace the true Tulane that Pisano had built over the course of 30+ years.

I emailed BB and MK variations of the same questions several times from Jan-April. Heard lots of rhetoric but never did get a straight answer or learned anything reasuring. Too bad too cause I was all about Tulane after interviewing with them in October.

May I ask to where are you going instead?

Weighing Case Western and UCDavis. Leaning slightly more to Case.

 

[drmota]

memphis ain't that far from nola, dog.

we're going to graceland!
-mota

 

[Dock-TAH!]

wow- Thank you all so much for your input. I think all of the pros and cons that were mentioned are very valid and all worth considering. I went to NOLA about two weeks ago and spent a good 2 hours with Dr. Beckman touring the school and talking about all of my concerns. I will do my best to try to recap some of the things she said ... especially her answers to some of the cons.

In response to the "faculty exodus"- I believe that many of them were research faculty. I was told by a third year that the core faculty for teaching the first two years are still there. This student also told me another story about how his class got a new biochemistry professor while he was there. The students had a lot of issues with the professor and expressed all of them to the administration. Within weeks he was replaced. To me- this says a lot about how much Tulane cares that their students are getting the best possible education.

Dr. Beckman mentioned friends of hers that spend their days watching the construction on the levees...She said they are convinced that they are being rebuilt correctly. Timing though...not for awhile. I am really interested in hearing from a first year about the experience in Houston. Worse comes to worse...the class ends up back at Baylor again. Yeah it's a disruption and maybe a little annoying but the biggest message I took away from my NOLA visit was that TULANE WILL NOT SACRIFICE THIER QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR ANYTHING. I left NOLA cofident in Tulane's ability to make it work and to do it well. (There is too much outside money to let it suffer- a much better situation than LSU that relies on state funding)

Also- Just last week did I receive any sort of information from another school I have been accepted at about orientation or anything. Another school I have heard nothing from. I do not think Tulane is far behind by not wanting white coat sizes yet. Give them a chance- I am confident the info will come soon.

I guess it comes down to a personal decision on whether or not you have the heart to go down and help rebuild. In my opinion- this is the biggest Pro for the school.

I appreciate all of your comments and would love to hear more. The cons are valid concerns. Angus- thank you for your list of CONS...although some might not apply to me I can see how you came to your decision.

As for me...still deciding....

 

[Punkinhead]

Hello,
I was accepted to Tulane along with 3 other schools and chose to rescind my acceptance to Tulane. Sometimes I wish I had held on just to make sure, but here were my pros and cons:

Pros:
People, #1 reason to go there. The students, Dr. Beckman, other faculty I interviewed with, and even applicants were amazing. They were so pro-Tulane and hopeful about the return to NO. You could see that they were more fun and real than other places and big difference from the Baylorites. Very smart and interesting people, all.

Caring Administration - They are making every effort to accomodate folks after Katrina and set up the whole thing with Baylor, which is an organizational feat

Charity Hospital/Gritty Clinical experience that will make you a great clinician - Charity is/was famous for its rigor and the variety of cases seen.

New Orleans - no need to explain, amazing city for food, recreation, even now

Reputation - Research top-notch great dul-degree programs, excellent match in previous years

MPH option with especially the focus on Tropical medicine - that was my personal reason for applying to Tulane

Cons:

Instability of NO after Katrina - When will the new Levees be finished, how strong, potential for another huge storm and aftermath

Lack of jobs for my live-in boyfriend/future fiance and housing/local economy

The mass exodus of clinicians from the area for good, into Housten and nearby areas, especially sub-specialists

Hospitals in flux, changing the population mix for clinical years

Lack of clarity for what will the new curriculum, clinical years look like, will there be enough places/clinicians re-opened sites?

It was a hard decision for me, but having more stable (arguably) options meant I could not justify Tulane for myself. I think the incoming class this year will be so special and tight-knit because they will have made the conscious decision to be at Tulane and it will be a very positive thing. Good luck with your decision. You will have a great experience either way, I think.

 

[DrHuang]

Charity Hospital/Gritty Clinical experience that will make you a great clinician - Charity is/was famous for its rigor and the variety of cases seen.

charity got shut down

 

[tulane06]

I don't know if this will help, but here I go. I'm originally from NYC, but went to Tulane for undergrad. Someone I just fell in love with the city, it got into my blood. It's not a rational thing....but I just had to stay in the city to help it get back on its feet.

 

[Nodelphi]

We lost some good faculty at Tulane and we're losing more. One department has gone from about 40 people to about 15. There is no working cafeteria in the medical school at the moment, there is only one vending machine and it is rarely stocked. There are still floor tiles torn up and some of the hallways still have that rotten, moldy smell. There are few places to get gas/food in the immediate area. These are unfortunate post-katrina realities. Hopefully that will change before classes start.

Still there is great opportunity for the school and it's students to rebuild and reinvigorate both themselves and the surrounding area. I certainly don't mean to discourage anyone who wants to go to Tulane, it's a great institution. Don't choose Tulane expecting to be pampered though, it's going to be a hard road, but I think it'll be a good experience if you're up for it.

 

[clusterfunk]

memphis ain't that far from nola, dog.

UT-Memphis is a great school in a city that is just as sketchy and fun as New Orleans, plus you will encounter a patient population quite similar to that of New Orleans' past, sans all the superfluous Tulane/New Orleans BS.

And plus, here's a little insider's tip for ya... way back in the day, Pisano himself was at UT-Memphis School of Medicine long before he came to Tulane.

 

[Cheech]

Know a clinical faculty member who was laid off there. They laid off a lot of faculty, esp clinical- this was from administration. Personally, I think that y'all are awesome for heading to NOLA, but I'd be concerned about the clinical experience. As I understand it, Charity is closed and will not reopen for years- think post-Loma Prieta earthquake for the California folk. University is open on an inpatient only basis. VA is renting beds from University. Tulane does NOT have the capacity to place all T3s into a clinical environment, at least not in the way a fully functional medical school would- many MDs have left town voluntarily, and many were not given contract renewal. The 3rd years coming up will be most affected, especially when it comes time to apply for residency. I'm not trying to start a flame war, so please don't get all ticked off- I know a lot of people are very loyal to Tulane, and that's awesome- but personally, I don't think I'd get the clinical education that I'd get elsewhere, and if I were deciding between two schools, the other school would definitely take precident.
Good luck folks, especially those brave enough to attend school there. If they have another hurricane, it's going to absolutely destroy the town.

 

[OB1🤙]

Hello future Tulanians,

I'm a T4, and my 1 br/1ba is going to be available as of June 1. Right on Audubon Park off Magazine in a small, quiet apartment building. I can leave my furniture in there too if you want. PM me if interested.

Oh yeah, you're making a great call sticking with Tulane. Don't worry about the clinical experience, it will continue to be great.

Roll Wave.

 

[peptidoglycan]

This is precisely why the med students are still in Houston while the residents are in New Orleans already. By the time we get the students back in the city, the med school will be back to normal, cafeteria and all.

We lost some good faculty at Tulane and we're losing more. One department has gone from about 40 people to about 15. There is no working cafeteria in the medical school at the moment, there is only one vending machine and it is rarely stocked. There are still floor tiles torn up and some of the hallways still have that rotten, moldy smell. There are few places to get gas/food in the immediate area. These are unfortunate post-katrina realities. Hopefully that will change before classes start.

Still there is great opportunity for the school and it's students to rebuild and reinvigorate both themselves and the surrounding area. I certainly don't mean to discourage anyone who wants to go to Tulane, it's a great institution. Don't choose Tulane expecting to be pampered though, it's going to be a hard road, but I think it'll be a good experience if you're up for it.

 

[tulane06]

Good article

http://www.slate.com/id/2140224/entry/2140245/?nav=tap3

 

[vikaskoth]

the recently-founded Beckman+Kahn Tulane School of Gunners/Straight-out-of-Undergrad-Naives/Katrina-Resume-****** er Medicine will replace the true Tulane that Pisano had built over the course of 30+ years.

May I ask to where are you going instead?

I'm a first year (2009) at Tulane. I came straight out of undergrad into medical school, but my class is not made up of mostly people straight out of undergrad. I feel out of place sometimes because I'm the youngest among my friends and they all have sometype of extra-undergrad experience. The average age for our class is 24, (21-32). The 2nd year class is older as well, i think their avg age may be 25. I've heard that the profile for 2010 is older than 2009 and more LA residents, meaning people probably affected by Katrina in someway and not resume ******.

In conclusion a wise man once said
"haters wanna hate, lovers wanna love. I dont wanna do none of the above, I want to piss on you...drip, drip, drip."

 

[annamoo]

I was accepted to Tulane and have decided to accept to UTMB in Galveston instead. I know it also has a chance of being hit by a hurricane, but it is so much more affordable bc I am a TX resident, and I really want some solid continuity in my med education.
having said that, I interviewed in Houston, and loved Dr. Beckman and all the students and residents I met. I think the school will be back on its feet in a few years, and I hope to apply for a residency there.


I am sending my letter this week, it will take a while to get there bc I am very far away...but that's one more place. I know I am making the right decision for me, and hope that whoever gets my spot has a wonderful time there!

 

[KAI1927]

I was accepted to Tulane and have decided to accept to UTMB in Galveston instead. I know it also has a chance of being hit by a hurricane, but it is so much more affordable bc I am a TX resident, and I really want some solid continuity in my med education.
having said that, I interviewed in Houston, and loved Dr. Beckman and all the students and residents I met. I think the school will be back on its feet in a few years, and I hope to apply for a residency there.


I am sending my letter this week, it will take a while to get there bc I am very far away...but that's one more place. I know I am making the right decision for me, and hope that whoever gets my spot has a wonderful time there!

When I saw Dr. Beckman last week she was surprised that she had more despoits than usual, she was slightly worried that not enough people would withdrawl. Its a unique place, but not the right fit for everybody, good luck in Texas its great school.

 

[fiji128]

When I saw Dr. Beckman last week she was surprised that she had more despoits than usual, she was slightly worried that not enough people would withdrawl. Its a unique place, but not the right fit for everybody, good luck in Texas its great school.

What happens if more people accept Tulane's offer then they have spots at the school? Can they rescind acceptances?

 

[KAI1927]

What happens if more people accept Tulane's offer then they have spots at the school? Can they rescind acceptances?

NO they can't, that is pretty unlikely, but every school over-enrolls and they take the chance of having a big class if things go in an unpredictable manner. The funny thing is, they sent out the normal number of acceptences as any other year, but just as many or more people still want to go. If anything given this year one might expect people to shy away, but over 7,200 people applied; pretty amazing. She did say that all students would be accomadated. I wouldn't worry either way, plenty of people will withdraw

 

[theunderdog]

dont worry. i loved tulane and already sent my deposit.

but another school out there has my eyes on it and if i get off the waitlist there, i will open up my seat at tulane as quick as possible.