How does Tulane evaluate international applicants in the admissions process?

Tulane evaluates international applicants in the context of their own school system, not by expecting a U.S.-style transcript. Admissions looks closely at the rigor of your courses, your grades over time, and how well you performed relative to what was available at your school. They also review the rest of the application holistically, including essays, activities, recommendations.

For academics, Tulane typically wants to see strong preparation in core subjects and evidence that you challenged yourself within your curriculum. If your grading scale is unfamiliar, they read it with your school profile, counselor materials, and transcript details in mind. They are used to international systems, so the main question is usually not “How does this convert to a U.S. GPA?” but “How strong is this student in their actual academic environment?”

Your essays and extracurriculars matter because Tulane uses a holistic review and also pays attention to fit and engagement. They want to understand what you care about, how you contribute outside class, and why Tulane makes sense for you. Recommendations can also help clarify your academic strengths, classroom role, and character in a way that crosses grading systems.

What matters most is presenting a clear academic record, taking the strongest courses available to you, and making sure the rest of your application gives context for your school system and achievements. If your school does not explain its grading scale well, ask your counselor to include that context, because that can make a real difference in how your file is read.