Yield for class of 2011 rose 5%, acceptance rate for class of 2012 to drop

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tufts University
1

<p>The yield for the class of 2011 to Tufts rose 5 percent, according to an article published today by the Tufts Daily.</p>

<p>As a result, the head of Tufts admissions has said that the acceptance rate for the next class (and all future classes, I would imagine) is to drop. </p>

<p>You can read the article here: <a href="http://media.www.tuftsdaily.com/media/storage/paper856/news/2007/09/17/News/Housing.And.High.Yield.Expected.To.Drop.Enrollment-2971915.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://media.www.tuftsdaily.com/media/storage/paper856/news/2007/09/17/News/Housing.And.High.Yield.Expected.To.Drop.Enrollment-2971915.shtml&lt;/a>
(note that the headline is misleading -- it should read "Housing and high yield expected to drop ACCEPTANCE RATE" not enrollment. A fine job as always, Daily!)</p>

<p>It would make sense to drop from the current 26-27% acceptance rate to a 21-22% acceptance rate and then fill in the remaining spots with kids from the waitlist, if necessary.</p>

<p>Many of us in the Tufts community wondered why the Tufts acceptance rate has remained relatively stagnant for the past three years despite the fact that both the classes of 2009 and 2011 overenrolled and caused a housing shortage on-campus. As a side result, ZERO came off the waitlist for both those class years.</p>

<p>Glad to hear that Tufts admissions has finally learned its lesson!</p>

<p>Oh, and while I'm at it, I'd love to hear from the two Tufts admin reps on CC why this wasn't done earlier?</p>

2

<p>Well,</p>

<p>A rise like that in yield in just one year is pretty incredible, and while we're pleased to see the rest of the world coming around to how great Tufts is, we weren't expecting a shift quite so dramatic. Also, a certain amount of this is the result of entered uncharted ground with levels of financial aid. We've never had so much FinAid to award before, and it's changing the options for many of our admitted students in profound ways.</p>

<p>Your math is a little funky on the admit rate numbers, though. The admit rate will drop, but it's unlikely to be that severe in one year, since the yield is already a percentage of admitted students, as opposed to a percent of the applicant pool as a whole.</p>

<p>Of course, our applicant pool continues to grow/change/evolve quickly, so who knows. Of all the mistakes to make in admissions, this is a pretty good one - increased love for Tufts and greater amount of FinAid is something we can celebrate despite the adjustments that we have to make. </p>

<p>Thanks for posting this, Lolabelle. I'm traveling now, and so don't have my daily delivery of the Daily anymore.</p>

3

<p>The Daily's online, Dan. Remember? That's why Kelly would always come back at around 2 am with Brown and Brew ;-)</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
The admit rate will drop, but it's unlikely to be that severe in one year, since the yield is already a percentage of admitted students, as opposed to a percent of the applicant pool as a whole.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Ah yes that makes sense. So then how much can we expect the overall admit rate to drop then?</p>

5

<p>Tufts is one of the schools that is explicitly named here </p>

<p><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200109/fallows%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200109/fallows&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>as manipulating its yield and acceptance rate through the use of an ED program. Anyone from the admissions office care to provide the opposing view? The percentage that Tufts admits ED is pretty high, though I am eager to hear reasonable explanations...</p>

<p>P.S. Tufts is one of two schools that are at the top of my D's list, I happen to agree with her opinion, so I am in no way out to bash the school. However, not being able to make a clear choice between the two she will take her chances RD. There is something terribly inconsistent with colleges acknowledging that teens cannot always make good choices at a tender age (e.g., on major), yet asking them to commit to a school, sometimes sight unseen, particularly for candidates from the left coast with limited financial options.</p>

6

<p>GroovyGeek, </p>

<p>EVERY school's ED acceptance rate is higher than their RD acceeptance rate. The ED applicants are often more self-selecting and, of course, they're showing the ultimate commitment to the school.</p>

7

<p>To be honest, I'm surprised to be named in this article (though I didn't notice a date on it) and surprised to hear you say that we admit a high percentage of our class in early decision. Tufts has got to be one of the universities least interested in gaming ED in order to increase yield. If we were interested in using ED specifically to boost yield numbers, we would enroll half the class (or more) with Early Applicants - a practice that isn't hard to find at many most selective schools. Instead, we cap the number we'll enroll ED, and work intentionally to keep the standards for admission consistent across all rounds of selection. </p>

<p>By my reading, Tufts is only mentioned once in this article - in passing - and in the context of anecdotal evidence rather than in alongside useful or demonstrative information. The impression indicated by the guidance counselors consulted for this article is probably a reflection of the Tufts admissions office before The current Dean of Admissions, Lee Coffin (who has been at Tufts for several years now), when Tufts did, in fact, admit a large (too large) percentage of the class ED. </p>

<p>Since Dean Coffin's arrival, Tufts has changed a great many of its admissions practices (for the better, if you ask me). Included in this change is a belief that placing too much emphasis on ED sends a dangerous message, which is why Tufts policies and practices with respect to Early Applications are so different now versus 6 years ago. I've had more than one conversation with colleagues and management in my office on our desire to send a strong message that students are not "taking their chances" if they desire to have more options in the spring and forgo early decision. Our way of sending that message is to keep our standards the same and admit rates constant during early decision.</p>

<p>This article is reflective, actually, of one of the biggest challenges I face as an Admissions Counselor: Tufts' culture, academic strength, and admissions practices have changed dramatically in the last 5-10 years. Tufts when I graduated was a different place from Tufts when I matriculated. As we grow and evolve, we must make sure the rest of the world keeps up with Tufts Today, not Tufts Yesterday. Personally, I find that constant and tremendous growth to be exciting and a source of fantastic pride (especially as a Tufts alum), but it also leads to information - like what is presented in the article - that lags behind the times.</p>

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<p>Dan: I agree that Tufts is not among those that blatantly abuse the system (some schools have not one but two ED deadlines), but data is data</p>

<p><a href="http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/webex/Apply_earlynatudoc_brief.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/webex/Apply_earlynatudoc_brief.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>32% of the class admitted early, 6% difference in admission rates between ED and RD. This raises the yield more than the 5% cited in the article. I have no problem with a school showing the love to students who show it the love, but I do not accept the argument that schools do this for the benefit of the student. </p>

<p>Lolabelle: your statement that "EVERY school's ED acceptance rate is higher than their RD acceptance rate" is incorrect, check the above link. Georgetown and MIT are some of the more notable exceptions.</p>

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<p>I haven't read the links, but isn't Georgetown Early Action? Given that Early Action is non-binding, it doesn't tell the admissions officers that G-town is the applicant's first choice and they're ready to forsake all other colleges for it. Applying to Georgetown EA still lets you apply to BC EA, for example.</p>

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<p>Yes, Georgetown is EA. MIT is also EA. ED is binding and different, as bluirinka, above, noted.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Yes, Georgetown is EA. MIT is also EA. ED is binding and different, as bluirinka, above, noted.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I stand corrected on the specifics --- Georgetown and MIT are indeed EA. There are a few schools that are more selective ED than RD: BU, Tulane, URochester, Miami U-OH. Not exactly top-tier schools, but very respectable.</p>

<p>In the interest of full disclosure, I think that the data for BU is skewed by the fact that they are one of the schools with two ED deadlines that may be trying to manipulate their rankings - I alluded to that earlier. They probably accept the majority of their class through the ED programs, it is not a coincidence that they decline to provide this data to US News.</p>

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<p>Another thing I would just GUESS for BU, with absolutely nothing to back me up on - it's a big school. It's not really high up there enough for the best available candidates to apply there ED. Like think about it - if you're really qualified, you probably won't apply ED to BU. (No offense, BU. I know a lot of AWESOME people who go there). So perhaps if you're applying to BU ED, you're not very qualified and need the ED boost. Meanwhile, a LOT of qualified people will apply there RD, as a match or safety. BU is prob. right to accept a lot of those people, hoping to get a fair catch of the better-qualified kids.</p>

<p>That's just my take on it.</p>

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<p>Dan, I'd be really interested in hearing you elaborate on this, which you wrote above:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Tufts' culture, academic strength, and admissions practices have changed dramatically in the last 5-10 years. Tufts when I graduated was a different place from Tufts when I matriculated.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I just graduated with the class of 2007 and I would say I agree with that statement, but I'd be interested in seeing how a young alum who's also now working in the Admissions Office sees these changes.</p>

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<p>I read somewhere that Tufts' sat scores in the last 7 years so has risen over 80 points. Is this true? A few years ago, the sat average was around a 1330-1340. Does it now offer scholarships or something?</p>

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<p>It's true—Tufts' SAT scores have skyrocketed. I believe I saw an SAT average ranking somewhere on this site, and Tufts' scores were higher than half the Ivies.</p>

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<p>Lolabelle - I'm happy to elaborate on that idea, and in the process I think I'll end up answering the question that "Columbiahopeful!" posed as well. PREFACE: please bear in mind that these are my opinions from my own perspective, and are not meant to represent anything more that that. </p>

<p>The major changes, as I see it, are the result of the work that President Bacow began when he arrived at Tufts six years ago - namely the articulation of the identity of our school. </p>

<p>Among the first things that President Bacow did was to figure out what Tufts is. And in doing so, Bacow unearthed and articulated what Tufts has always been: a University dedicated to globalism, active citizenship, and an interdisciplinary outlook on education and research. It's amazing to me how many times older alums have come up after an information session to tell me, "I never would have thought to use those words, but hearing you speak about Tufts... It's true, that's what we've always been about." </p>

<p>I always tell applicants before they start their essays, "Take some time to really think about who you are; then reflect your identity to us through your writing and let us make an informed decision about who you are." Tufts never did that for itself before President Bacow. The University never before took the time to discover itself, and to reflect its defining qualities to prospective students or prospective faculty, which made it difficult for people to make an informed decision to select Tufts. For instance, when I applied to Tufts in 2001, I knew that Tufts was a good school, I knew it was medium sized, and I knew it was near a major city (Boston). I applied based purely on all these logistical concerns without knowing anything about the character of a Tufts education or anything about the culture of the students, faculty, and administration. Being able to tell people WHO WE ARE allows our applicants to actually make a decision about Tufts. Today's applicants can know how their classrooms will be full of different academic perspectives, understand the role-modeling that happens in a school full of global travelers and thinkers, and be aware that Tufts' and it denizens want education and passion to be used for the betterment of the communities that surround us. </p>

<p>This lets our applicants make a CHOICE. Students with tremendous academic strength are going to have options when they decide where to attend. Now, they can choose to approach learning and action the way that Tufts and our students see it, or they can choose a different vision. Students can pick Tufts based on the specifics of the intellectual environment, rather than simply picking Tufts on logistics. Students who matriculate know that Tufts will give them an education that another school couldn't and that creates a level of pride that Tufts students can share. </p>

<p>I really believe that the quality of experience that Tufts offers is unique amongst our peer institutions - not necessarily better or worse, but certainly different. Making others aware of those differences is both empowering and important, and has allowed Tufts to grow in a way that is really remarkable is just a short amount of time.</p>

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<p>Lolabelle, you said:

[quote]
I just graduated with the class of 2007 and I would say I agree with that statement

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm curious to hear your take on that change as well. Care to share?</p>

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<p>I believe Tufts has two rounds of Early Decision as well.</p>

<p>What is the Tufts yield this year? I skimmed the article and didn't see an exact number.</p>

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<p>I believe Tufts' yield is usually in the high thirties, so I would guess this year's yield was in the low forties if it rose 5 percent. </p>

<p>DanAdmiss@Tufts: Could you give us the exact number?</p>

20

<p>I did a Google search and didn't find any current numbers. I did find these numbers for Class of 2009.</p>

<p>A 27% admit rate; projected overall yield 31%; RD yield 22.3%</p>

<p>I'm not sure how accurate they are though.</p>