Inside Look into Admissions: Tufts & Amherst

Parents Forum
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<p>Absolutely, absolutely true, jonri! Each school has its own institutional needs, needs that can change from year to year. Unfortunately, applicants don't know what those needs are, so the results seem "random." But to the adcoms, the results aren't random at all.</p>

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<p>Jonri: BINGO!!! And I love the analogy of college admssions and trying out for the school musical, especially being from a musical family myself.</p>

<p>When my kids are trying out for roles, I always tell them: The director is looking for something specific and you either have it or you don't. In most instances, it is out of your control once you put your best foot forward during your audition. Right time, right place, right role. If you don't get the part, it just means that you didn't have what they were looking for at that time. It's a hard lesson to learn especially since so much self-worth is wrapped up in it. But soon enough, there is another part in another show and they move on.</p>

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<p>Stitchintime, thank you for the admissions lottery quote. SO true. I don't think it's a lottery, at least not in the sense that the admissions look random to those shaping a class but it most certainly is a lottery as it pertains to unhooked, highly qualified applicants--particularly those whose numbers are overrepresented in the applicant pool. </p>

<p>I only wish we, as parents, could internalize this truth sufficiently so that our kids could believe it. We continue to refer to the HYPSM group of schools as enrolling the very best and the brightest and it's just not true. The schools have so many institutional priorities (geographic, economic, social, racial diversity, athletic prowess, development candidate, legacy, professor's kid, etc.) that the process is simply not a meritocracy. Sure, there are plenty of bright, bright kids who attend but there are plenty of equally bright, even brilliant kids who don't. And perhaps more important, given the institutional priorities of the schools, there are plenty of not-as-bright kids enrolled as well....</p>

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<p>I think it's a mix of both -- you're perfect for the part but there are a hundred other kids who could play the role of Annie equally well. As I've said to S: You are a wonderful student who will have graduated from a great school near the top of your class. While you are clearly qualified for all the schools to which you applied, so are thousands of others similarly qualified. Logically, he knows this. But rejection is still rejection, regardless of the reasons. However, if a kid gets in, they conclude they are the fortunate and deserving and the whole idea that there were plenty of others just like them rejected goes flying out the proverbial window!</p>

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<p>A great thread! And this year throw in another factor--the economic chaos. No doubt that is also playing a role in the selection process.</p>

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<p>There is also a parallel thread in the Tufts area, where “Dan from Tufts” has made a few comments on his reactions having been present for the reporter’s visits.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tufts-university/673795-boston-globe-article.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tufts-university/673795-boston-globe-article.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;