Can someone please explain ? I’ve heard this term a lot. I have a general idea but would like for someone to define it for me and tell me if Tufts has actually been doing this… Thanks!!!
Several years ago, Tufts rejected some students whose stats were above the top quartile, and who did not show interest in Tufts or have essays that showed their knowledge of and commitment to attending Tufts. This concept of a college rejecting overqualified students became known as “Tufts Syndrome”. Colleges need to protect their yield, so when they have a strong sense that a highly qualified applicant is using them as a safety and has no real intention of attending, they may outright reject them.
I’m not familiar enough with Tufts’ acceptance policies these days to know if this is still an issue, but I’m sure others will weigh in.
Tufts University is a highly selective school with an acceptance rate of 14.8%, Mid-50% SAT being 1410 to 1540.
Many students with 33-34 ACT/ 1500+ SAT score who apply ED I get denied. Remember that Tufts fills out half of its incoming freshman from ED applicants, with the yield rate that hovers around 45-50%, comparable to that of Williams College.
Ironically, Tufts syndrome, a practice to keep the yield rate high, no longer exists at Tufts.
Yield protection is alive and well. Close friend’s non-STEM D (ACT 36, 4.0 UW, all 5’s AP exams) accepted to 9 out of 10 colleges including Harvard, UPenn, Cornell, Duke and was waitlisted at University of Michigan?! Unreal…
@socaldad2002 Did friend’s non-STEM D visit Tufts or show any interest? Were her essays good? I really don’t know if the same type of student that wants to go to Harvard, UPenn, Cornell and Duke would be the same student who really wants Tufts. It isn’t all about stats and I think that is why many students are drawn to Tufts.
@apdns19 Sorry, wasn’t talking about Tufts University but the phenomenon of yield protection. My friends kid got waitlisted at a big state flagship, University of Michigan, but accepted to all the other schools like Harvard and UPenn, Cornell, etc. Seems like a classic case of “Tufts Syndrome”?
@socaldad2002 It appears that this kid had no intention of attending Michigan given his other acceptances. So Michigan told him to cool his heels on the waitlist. What’s wrong with that? Why should Michigan waste an acceptance on someone who has no intention of attending unless he is denied elsewhere? If he had been denied elsewhere he would write a LOCI and tell Michigan how they are (belatedly) his dream school.