Tulane Killed the ‘Why Us?’ Essay. That Matters More Than You Think.

Why did Tulane drop its “Why Tulane?” essay—and what does that tell us about where college admissions is heading? The change may seem small, but it points to a larger shift from what students say about fit to what their application behavior reveals.Corey Alderdice, a national voice on talent and transformation, explores how colleges are increasingly reading demonstrated interest through behavioral signals like Early Action, Early Decision, campus engagement, timing, and enrollment predictability. Using Tulane as a case study, this episode considers why the old “love letter” essay may matter less in an era of application inflation, AI-assisted writing, and sophisticated yield management.For additional thoughts from Corey, visit coreyalderdice.com.You can also follow him on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, BlueSky, YouTube, Instagram, and Threads.