Hi everyone!
In case you missed it, decisions for our Class of 2027 were released this past Wednesday. It is going to be an amazing group and we are excited to see who decides to enroll! Just a few figures about the class:
- Academically, our admitted cohort has a 3.8 average GPA (up from 3.73 last year), a 1473 average SAT and a nearly 33 average ACT (both of which are nearly identical to last year).
- Roughly 50% were admitted without test scores (up from 46% last year).
- At schools that provided us with a rank, more than 64% rank in the top 10% of their graduating class (up from 60%);
- We expect they will likely be our most ethnically diverse class ever as 41% identify as students of color (up from 38% last year);
- An additional 11% are foreign nationals (up from 6% last year), not including U.S. citizens schooled abroad;
- 10% will be the first generation in their families to graduate from college (up from 7% last year);
- 11% will be from Louisiana (up from 9% last year) and 7% will be from New Orleans (up from 5%);
- 34% reported their legal sex as men (up from 32% last year) and 66% women with nearly 5% among them identifying as trans or non-binary.
Since we unfortunately cannot admit every strong or interested student, a good number of students were also placed on the waitlist. Based on my inbox, I know many of you have questions, so we’re putting all the answers in one place.
What is a waitlist? A waitlist is a group of students who have been flagged as being admissible, but institutions aren’t sure if they have space in the class for them. Every year, enrollment managers do their best to try to project the size of their incoming class, but it is never a precise process. As deposits come in as the May 1 deadline approaches, Deans across the country are monitoring their yield and figuring out how many seats they have open. Waitlists are a necessary part of the admission process, but we acknowledge that it can be a frustrating decision to receive.
Who is on the waitlist? Roughly 4,000 students were offered a space on our wait list (a similar percentage as our admit rate on submitted applications). We expect that at least half of those 4,000 will see their interest in Tulane wane quickly and significantly as they rightfully get excited about alternate options. By May 1, we predict fewer than 2,000 will be holding a space on our waitlist and of course, it is premature to predict how many will be admitted.
Is the waitlist ranked? No, it is not. All students on the list are in the same boat..
Will you go to the waitlist this year? That all depends on one factor: space in the freshman class. We have a finite number of spaces in the class, and we simply can’t admit everyone who is academically qualified and interested in Tulane. As we get closer to May 1st, we compare our numbers to previous years and predict how large the class is going to end up. If we are seeing that our numbers are a bit lower than we would like, at that point we can admit a few students off the waitlist. If the numbers are up, it is less likely that we will be able to admit anyone from the list.
What has happened in previous years? Some years, we admit a group of students off the waitlist, others not.In recent years, the number of students we’ve been able to admit has ranged from 0-50.
If I am admitted from the waitlist, will there be aid available? Yes, students admitted off the waitlist are eligible for merit-based scholarships and need-based aid. Merit scholarships are evaluated with your application by the Admission Office, while you can apply for need-based aid through the Financial Aid Office with the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
What can I do to strengthen my case? For the most part, the ball is in our court. There is no need to send in additional documentation at this point. Maybe just ONE email to your counselor if you’ve already been in touch. Be sure to reply to every one of those emails we send out asking if you would like to remain on the list.
When will I know? We will release decisions by July 1 at the latest. It comes down to numbers and available space, and we won’t exactly what our situation looks like until after May 1.
So… doesn’t that mean I need to have a backup plan, in case I am not admitted from the waitlist? Yes. You will have to deposit somewhere else by May 1st.
I know this can be a frustrating and stressful time, so I hope this helps answer some of your questions. Best of luck as May 1 approaches!
