<p>Alright, here it goes: I have never posted on the internet before, and I am sure this will be quickly forgotten and go down in history like the thousands of other posts similar to this on the College Confidential forums, but I really hope you can answer me.</p>
<p>I just received my rejection letter from Tufts. I am so unbelievably disappointed and sad. I am going to eternally debate what was wrong or missing in my application. But frankly, I'd like to know. I need closure because truly I am not sure what went wrong.I know there are a ridiculous amount of qualified applicants, and it should not be taken personally, but in the end something had to be missing or lacking in my application. Basically, I want to know why, Tufts is/was my dream school and I just feel crushed. I know the admissions office is going to be bombarded with requests, calls, emails, etc. in the next couple of days, but I really want to call and talk to my admission representative. Respectfully, I want to talk about my file and the decision, and why I was rejected. Can I call within the week and review my file with the admissions rep? My restless mind will forever be in turmoil if I do not know. My heart hurts :(
Is there anything I can do?</p>
<p>My first post here, too. Sorry for your bad news. Before you call anyone at admissions, please do some talking with family and friends. I don’t know that talking to anyone at Tufts is going to end up making you feel any better. It sounds trite, but you’re just as smart and worthwhile a person as you were an hour ago. Where else are you looking as an alternative? Give yourself a chance to absorb this change in plans.</p>
<p>You’ll need your son’s username and password, though. We received an e-mail about an hour and a half ago stating that results were available on TAMS, and giving us the username and password again. </p>
<p>My son had good news on TAMS, and he’s thrilled to be in at Tufts! Fingers crossed for your son!</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone- I had a couple hours at work to mull things over. My stats are the usual: ACT 32, 8 AP’s (all 5’s for tests taken), part-time job all year since the day I turned 16, 3.9 GPA, started community service organization, extremely difficult and unique sport/passion, varsity XC, excellent interviews… the usual. I guess nothing about my application was stellar. I almost feel foolish for thinking I could get into these kinds of schools… Tufts was not the first to reject me. I was extremely proud of my essays, which is it why these decisions make me wonder. I’ll always want to know what part of application was lacking and why I wasn’t good enough. Do you guys really not recommend calling admissions? I really just want to know (esp. for improvement for the future). Has anyone done this before? </p>
<p>I guess I’m off to Kenyon! I just feel empty inside because I know I do not belong there. I hope by some miracle I get off the waitlist for the University of Chicago or BC. I wish I could redo everything…</p>
<p>I feel badly when I read the posts of applicants who got denied or even wait-listed from the schools that they yearned to attend. Today, many of the best students were turned down by many of the most selective colleges, including Tufts. Can I offer some perspective?</p>
<p>If you were a good enough student to apply to Tufts (and/or any other highly competitive school) in the first place, the overwhelming likelihood is that you are very intelligent, studious, committed, and talented. You probably applied to at least a few other exceptional institutions and the chances are that you were accepted someplace else. Ultimately, you will enroll at a top-notch college, work very hard, have tons of fun, make precious friends, graduate all too soon, and go on to have a successful, wonderful life. It is entirely probable that many of you were (and are) even more academically accomplished than some of the applicants who were admitted to your “dream” school(s). As you can from any article about the admissions process at highly selective institutions, acceptance or rejection can be arbitrary and premised on factors that many would consider to be questionable. I promise you . . . the “name” of the school that you attend will not define you, either now or in the future. </p>
<p>If you don’t believe me, here’s another entirely valid way to look at it. The school didn’t admit you. Screw them. Who needs 'em? They don’t know who (whom?) they passed up. There are other schools (probably really, really good schools) who do appreciate you, who do want you and covet you, and who will be just as good for you (if not better) than the school(s) that turned you down. Count on it.</p>
<p>As an aside to TilRog: Kenyon is a beautiful, fantastic school that is widely respected for its stellar liberal arts education. In my opinion, it is every bit the equal of Tufts in its areas of particular strength, including English, writing, journalism, languages, and humanities. Based upon your impressive stats and background, you are going to do well and have an incredible college experience wherever you choose to enroll.</p>
<p>You will not get any closure from looking at your supposed shortcomings. Instead, focus on the fact that it was probably just bad luck that you didn’t get in. Everyone needs luck, and you didn’t have any. Move on. Your other college choice will be a great time.</p>