<p>Whether Tufts or Vanderbilt is a harder admit depends on your region. Overall, Vanderbilt is harder to get into. But Tufts MAY be more difficult if you live in the northeast because they get so many “local” applicants and far fewer from other regions. Likewise, Vanderbilt may be a bit easier for a northeast student than one coming from, say, Georgia with an almost identical application. It’s just a numbers/diversity game.</p>
<p>To the OP: I understand that your parents are concerned about prestige, but it does no good to apply only to reaches (I think your list is mostly reaches) and have to stomach multiple rejections. Most of the schools you’ve listed expect applicants to be in the top 10% of their class–and often the top 5%. Yes, you could get lucky, but it is dangerous to rely on luck. Keep in mind that you have to take the statistics schools offer with some skepticism. Those GPA and score stats include ALL students, including athletes, wealthy legacies and URM students whose scores/GPAs are viewed more forgivingly than a student from a relatively comfortable (middle-class) home. I think it wisest to consider a school a match only if you are in the top 75% for GPA and SAT/ACT. </p>