Hi hi! My name is Sanika Panditrao, and I’m so excited to meet you! I am an Indian-American sophomore from Mount Olive, New Jersey, about 45 minutes west of NYC! I am currently a biomedical engineering major with a SLAM minor. Outside of being a First-Year Five, I am also a Green Wave Ambassador and a general body member for Sexual Aggression Peer Hotline and Education, or SAPHE, among many other positions. I also love to get involved in the community by volunteering at the Children’s Hospital New Orleans and in FIRST robotics events. I love listening to music as well- rock in particular, and my favorite artists are Elton John, David Bowie, and System of a Down. I dabble in a lot of other genres too- reach out if you have any music suggestions, I’d love to hear them!
In the summer, I participated in a program called ConnecTU by the Center for Academic Equity, which allowed me to make a lot of friends who I still talk to today. After that, I moved into Butler, and I met many people who I can call my friends, and I hope it’s the same for you, wherever you end up living! What I love most about Tulane is the variety of resources available to students in supporting them on their journey here. It’s reassuring to know the university wants us to succeed, of course! Being in New Orleans has allowed me to taste a plethora of new food as well, and I definitely recommend the char-grilled oysters from Felix’s Bar and Grill! The fish tacos from Val’s on Freret Street are also a must try.
My Tulane experience has been nothing short of amazing and memorable, and I’m so excited to share my first-year stories with you all! When meeting new people, be yourself, and put yourself out there! You will find your people. It’s okay to be nervous coming into your first-year of college, so don’t hesitate to reach out! And with that being said- welcome to Tulane!