I just got into Tulane Law School (has anybody been to New Orleans post-Katrina??)

Hey guys,

I was recently admitted to Tulane Law School for the fall of 2006, and prior to Hurricaine Katrina hitting, I was really psyched at the prospect of going to law school down there for a variety of reasons relating both to the school itself and to the city of New Orleans.

(not to mention, of course, because it would also place me within a quick weekend's getaway to Houston so I could catch Rockets' games from time-to-time in order to help relieve the 1L stress - I became a Rockets' fan while I was growing up in Canada, so as far as I'm concerned New Orleans is in Houston's backyard and I'd just be glad to be within driving distance/an extremely short flight to Clutchcity).

Anyways, I've been in New York for the last five years and was looking for a change of scenery for law school, preferably in a warmer climate. Basically all signs were "go" for me and Tulane prior to the Hurricaine, now I'm just a bit curious about the post-Katrina state of New Orleans/the area surrounding Tulane specifically.

The school is having an Accepted Students' Day in April, which I'll be attending since they'll reimburse me for the cost of my flight. I know that I need to go check it out for myself and that my own first hand impressions will be the most valuable, but since I have about 2 1/2 weeks to go until I'll get there, I thought I'd see if anyone on the board has been to NOLA/Tulane's campus since the Hurricaine and could help me out with any insights or commentaries.

Also, any recommendations for me and my girl that weekend (restaurants, bars, attractions, otherwise) would be much obliged.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

Ha, fair enough. If I end up going there, I was thinking more about seeing games in-between semesters... but by the time the second semester rolls around, I have to admit I could see myself trying to squeeze a weekend or two out to Houston. After all, as I understand it, you should expect to spend 15 hours per week in class + 45 reading (according to the 3 hours spent reading per each hour spent in-class rule), making for 60 hour weeks for the avg student. That should usually make for six days of reading per week at 10 hours a day, but for a week here and there I could just go hard for 12 hours over 5 days, hop a plane, stay with one of my best friends, catch a game, be back by Sunday...no? (I sure as hell hope so at least, we'll see how the first semester goes)

According to what I've read from current Tulane students, and prospective Tulane students that have visited the campus, is that the the poor, lower-lying areas in New Orleans are completely and utterly destroyed. while the ritzy, historic areas like the Garden District (where Tulane is located) and the French Quarter are all relatively unscathed.

This is consistent with what I've read in the national media I believe, and as a law student that's going to be in class or in the library for around 60 hours per week anyways, I don't know how much the devistation in the poorer areas is going to affect my daily life. Basically, since I've mainly heard opinions from people tied to the law school so far, I thought I'd survery the Hangout to see if any non-Tulane student could comment for me.

Really, before the Hurricaine, all I was looking to get out of New Orleans to occupy my time while not studying was warm weather, great food, music, nightlife, some nice parks and perhaps a few trips to Harrah's (I'm sure there were a few other reasons, those are the ones that stick out off the top in terms of social life tho)... anyways, I feel like all these things should still be there for me in the fall.

Plus, I've spent time abroad in places with worse conditions than what it's like in New Orleans right now, and those were some of the best experiences of my life, so part of me thinks it doesn't matter anyways and it'll make for a memorable experience, especially if I take advantage of the opportunity to help rebuild/volunteer in-between summers and semesters.

 

Thanks for the info. I know what you mean about the empty feeling - trust me, I felt it in full force after 9/11, walking down the middle of Broadway against what normally would have been traffic on the busiest street in New York, but on 9/12 it was completely deserted instead for obvious reasons. Can I ask when you were in New Orleans last?

 

Exactly what I was thinking, and was one of the main reasons I wanted to apply to Tulane before the Hurricaine. It has good career placement to the tri-state area (almost 25% of each class go back to NY) incase I want to return back north (which I doubt, but we'll see), plus it keeps roughly 33% around TX/LA and sends like 10% to Cali and 15% split between DC and FL... good national placement, esp. to the areas I'd consider settling in most.

 

Ah, I don't know if I should say I'm sorry or glad to hear that you're a fellow law school applicant. Don't worry, Tulane was the first school I heard back from and once you get your first acceptance, all that tension melts away (when you realize, after all, that you'll at least have SOMEWHERE to go next fall).

Good luck with the apps man.

 

Gotcha, good to hear another source (not connected to the school) give the same assessment of Tulane's area. Thanks a lot for the info. If I can think of any other specifics, I'll be sure to let you know.

 

Jimbo: You let me down, man. Now I don't believe in nothing no more... I'm going to law school!

Homer: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!