<p>Living in MA, I am quite familiar with Tufts. I've never visited but, I've heard about it and even had a relative attend there. </p>
<p>But, one negative thing I've heard about Tufts is it rejecting well-qualified applicants to avoid being thought as a safety for the ivy applicants. In addition, most of the student body is accepted ED while there's tough competition for RD applicants. </p>
<p>With all that said, what does it really take to get into Tufts University if well-qualified applicants are getting rejected and you're not applying ED?</p>
<p>It's definitely no safety. It's a top-tier school and I don't know why ivy-applicants would consider it a safety. I think you have to show that you're serious in your application, that you're actually showing enthusiasm. I live in Oregon but I flew over to visit Tufts during the summer to check it out. I'm kinda hoping they take this into consideration, because I don't know how many applicants from Oregon actually visit the Tufts campus. Also, if you get an interview, you can show your dedication/seriousness in applying as well. Just my theory, but as long as you don't treat them like a safety, they won't view you as using them for one.</p>
<p>Excellent post, legendofmax. I think you've hit the nail on the head. </p>
<p>What is known as "Tufts Syndrome," the rejection of some very highly qualified applicants who are using the school as a safety, may be the result of a policy or strategy by the Tufts adcoms to construct an entering class of kids who will be happy and excited about Tufts. Thus, the adcoms may factor in enthusiasm for Tufts in their admission decisions. This may result in some kids with lower SATs and GPAs to be chosen for admission over kids with "knock your socks off" stats whose applications don't demonstrate an appreciation for Tufts in particular. </p>
<p>I think (and again, this is just MHO) that demonstrated interest is a huge swing factor at Tufts, moreso than at other schools of Tufts' caliber. That may result in some highly qualified kids getting a surprising thin envelope come April. </p>
<p>I'm not an adcom, just a parent of a Tufts freshman who with her son did a lot of research into Tufts admissions last year and this was a major impression and why my son ultimately decided to apply ED2. He had ivy caliber stats and was afraid he might be rejected because of "Tufts Syndrome," urban legend or not. Applying ED was the ultimate way to demonstrate interest, capped off by a very thoughtful and specific "Why Tufts" essay and two visits to campus. </p>
<p>PS: I think being out of the usual catchment area (New England and the NYC metro area) will absolutely help you gain admission too. Notice on <a href="http://admissions.tufts.edu/admstat.htm%5B/url%5D">http://admissions.tufts.edu/admstat.htm</a> that Tufts breaks down admissions by state geographic distribution. Only four kids from Oregon were admitted to Tufts. That's gotta help you! Hope you mentioned your visit to campus. I think they will appreciate your effort to go cross country to spend time and get a feel for Tufts.</p>
<p>I think that the "Tufts Syndrome" thing is completely overblown. In a lot of ways, when 16,000 people apply for 1,150 slots - you're going to get 1450 3.8 kids who get a thin envelope. Tufts, quite quickly, got really hard to get into, which, IMO, started the rumour. You wouldn't say that it's Georgetown Syndrome or Northwestern Syndrome, although it's just as tough to get into those schools. </p>
<p>I do think that some of it is how Tufts evaluates applicants. They just aren't as number-driven as other schools - they like athletes and community service types. I think that almost everyone admitted does some type of long-standing activity, whether it be sports, dancing, community service, or science team. They really will prefer the kid with slightly worse stats and much more extensive activities than the kid who stays inside all day and studies.</p>
<p>Finally, let's be honest. No school in their right mind will admit a student who doesn't want to be there. Tufts students are also all amazing people - so they're not going to admit someone who is a jerk. As such - you get a ton of really nice people who want to be there. </p>
<p>And I'll defer to Aries, who, as an alum and Tufts interviewer, would know, compared to my guesses as to what is going on with Tufts admissions.</p>
<p>They are anything but competitive. (that definite enough for you?) Seriously though - it's one of the rare schools with a very rigourous (i.e. people find med school easier) programme but where everyone loves each other. The professors do a lot to ensure that things stay civil.</p>
<p>I can attest to that. My son is on the pre-med track (well, there's no pre-med major per se, but he's prepping himself for applying to med school) and in his honors chem class he found his classmates extremely supportive of one another, lots of study groups available and so on. He deliberately chose Tufts because it was NOT a cut throat atmosphere (e.g. Johns Hopkins).</p>