If Tufts is a better fit than UPenn, then Tufts will offer more opportunities for OP’s son than Penn.
If UPenn is a better fit than Tufts, then UPenn will offer more opportunities for OP’s son than Tufts.
It is as simple as that.
Successful people make their own decisions - they don’t chase other people’s perceptions.
Tufts will in no way limit your son’s opportunities:
One of the most accomplished young science students in America is attending Tufts for pre-med:
http://as.tufts.edu/news/2015WhiteHouseFair.htm
Four of Forbes “30 under 30” movers and shakers are Tufts Alums
http://as.tufts.edu/news/2015Forbes.htm
Tufts, Wesleyan and NYU are on the list of 10 schools visited by Malia Obama. Penn, Dartmouth and Cornell are not.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2015/03/26/malia-obama-spotted-touring-harvard-tufts/NU7CrGqEoXQRUZWRIofDJL/story.html
In terms of USNews rankings, even academics don’t believe in them:
A prominent Med School (Yale) dean says he bases his USNews Rank input on 30-year old data.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/WorkForce/29333
Clemson explains to the highered community how they enhanced their rank (they made the top 20 last year)
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/06/03/rankings
College professors prefer to send their kids to undergrad/teaching focused schools (i.e. NESCAC = Tufts, Wesleyan) rather than graduate/research focused schools (i.e. Ivy).
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/where-professors-send-their-children-to-college/
Getting caught up in the notion that the college selection process is a competition with a prize to be won and some sort of “level of prestigiousity” at stake is like choosing a trophy wife. It usually doesn’t end in up in a happy marriage.
This is a good time for your son to reflect on what is important to him, gather data (not perceptions), exercise critical thinking skills and make the choice that best fits his personality and interests.
Tufts, Brandeis, Wesleyan, and UPenn are all good schools worthy of consideration and none of them is “absolutely a level above” any of the others.