Information for Undocumented Students

Application

Tulane’s Office of Undergraduate Admission assigns application readers by student citizenship, but the application itself does not differ based on citizenship. Tulane values the diversity that undocumented and DACA students bring to our campus. When undocumented and DACA students apply, their applications are reviewed similarly to how we review international applications, taking into full account the experiences and background of each applicant. Therefore, we assign undocumented applicants admission counselors by the country from which they hold a passport.

Instructions

Please note our admission deadlines and follow them carefully. Transcripts, Secondary School Reports, and recommendations must be submitted directly by your school. These documents will not be accepted from a student or family member.

You are welcome to send application materials via postal or courier service; however, it is strongly recommended that you submit materials online through either your Green Wave Portal or by emailing them to submit@tulane.edu.

1. Application

All first-year applicants use the same freshman application forms. If you are applying as a transfer student, please review additional guidelines here.

2. Secondary School Transcripts

Tulane requires a certified copy of your secondary school academic record. Most students will not have their final results at the time of application. Grades for at least three full years of secondary education are required; internal marks are required, exiting exams alone are not sufficient. Tulane is familiar with the grading systems of most nations. If you have any questions or concerns about your grading system, please contact your admission counselor. Your transcripts must be submitted directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admission by a school official.

3. Demonstrated English Proficiency

The admission committee weighs many factors during the application process, including the rigor of high school curriculum, academic performance, quality of recommendations and essays, extracurricular and community involvement, and life experiences. In order to provide a more holistic review process for undocumented students, Tulane will consider several different standardized tests.

TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, or Cambridge C1/C2 scores are required if you are not a native English speaker. Please note that although Tulane does not require you to submit an SAT or ACT score, you can submit a 600+ on the SAT reading/writing or 27+ on the ACT English to fulfill your English proficiency requirement.

Students completing four years of education in an English-based academic setting may request an exemption from one of these tests. To do so, please contact your admission counselor.

4. Secondary School Report

All first-year applicants must submit a Secondary School Report and/or an official letter of recommendation from their guidance counselor or head of class. This component must be submitted directly to the Office of Undergraduate Admission by a school official. This may be uploaded by the official through Naviance, Scoir, or emailed to submit@tulane.edu

5. Certification of Finances

The need-based financial assistance that Tulane University can offer to undocumented students is limited. Therefore, our office uses the Certification of Finances Form to determine a student’s financial situation. While undocumented students are not eligible for federal need-based aid, they are eligible for Tulane’s institutional need-based aid, at a maximum of $25,000 per year. Undocumented students should submit the CSS Profile by February 15. If you have further questions regarding financial support, please contact your admission counselor.