<p>So I've heard that a lot of Tufts students were very strong (academically and otherwise) in high school, and are bitter "rejectees" from the Ivys- known to some as "Tufts Syndrome".</p>
<p>I met a few students while I visited campus, and they all seemed very, very happy with the school. I know this is just one kid, but a girl who graduated from my HS in 08 had a 4.0gpa and 12 varsity letters (she might've been a captain, too), and was rejected from the Ivys she applied to (don't know which ones)- a lot of underclassmen knew about this, and she didn't seem too happy about it- and she ended up at Tufts. I don't know how she likes Tufts, but last year she didn't seem extremely excited about it. </p>
<p>So is "Tufts Syndrome" really true (are there a lot of kids like the girl from my school?), or is it just a myth?</p>
<p>I could be wrong, but I always thought that "Tufts Syndrome" referred to the idea that the university rejects "over-qualified" candiates, thinking they will be accepted by/attend Ivies instead. Thus, they don't want to be seen as the "Ivy reject" school. They want students who WANT to be there. Hence, the fact that they accept more than 1/3 of their class in the Early Decision round.</p>
<p>Yeah, CollegeMom's interpretation of "Tufts Syndrome" is the one I've always heard. I don't think Tufts rejects overqualified applicants though. Pretty much everyone I know here is very happy to be here, though. I haven't met anyone that is bitter about being rejected from the Ivy League.<br>
Aside from the fact that I think most people genuinely enjoy being here, even if you were bitter at first, continuing to be bitter while in college would be a really *****ty way to live.</p>
<p>I've known the "Tufts Syndrome" to be the one the OP described. </p>
<p>I think it's partially true, I know a girl who REALLY wanted to go to Yale, but ended up at Tufts instead. The part of the alleged syndrome that I think is untrue is that the students aren't happy; I've talked to that girl since going to Tufts and she loves it. It's still an awesome school, it just takes Ivy-bound kids a few weeks to realize that.</p>
<p>i always thought tufts syndrome was when schools rejected ridiculously strong students because they knew they were the backup choice of the student. this was to keep the % of students who are accepted and attend high. (and thus look better in the US news review ranking).</p>
<p>what they would end up doing is waitlisting the student, and if the student really want to attend the school (legacy or whatever), they would instantly offer them a spot off the waitlist (they wouldnt say this obviously). although ive heard that tufts doesnt actually practice this, so im a bit muffed as to why its called tufts syndrome.</p>