<p>Cash’d: Because Tufts takes only 27% of the kids who apply, there’s no such thing as it being a safety FOR ANYONE, even the kids with 1600 SATs, perfect GPAs, valedictorians, and so on. Tufts, like most of the most competitive schools in the US, builds a class based upon their needs. Say Tufts takes a kid with great stats like yours ED, and this kid happens to have been devoted to community service, perhaps even starting his own philanthropic organization. Now its RD, and you apply. Another kid who is also applying RD with slightly lower SAT scores and GPA/class rank as you is a well regarded coxswain in his high school’s crew team. Tufts just graduated its best coxswain and didn’t get a coxswain during the ED round. This guy may take your slot.</p>
<p>Now, say this guy has visited Tufts twice, has been in contact with the captain of the crew team and wrote a great essay about what he learned about the Tufts crew team from his correspondence, how much he loved visiting, and so on. This guy will definitely take your slot.</p>
<p>Also: You’ve heard the expression “Tufts Syndrome.” That means colleges rejecting kids who you would think would easily get accepted, based upon the published SAT, GPA, and class rank for the school. I don’t think there really is a Tufts Syndrome, but what I do think happens is (a) Tufts builds a class around its needs and (b) Tufts wants kids who want them. If they already have 20 french horn players and you play french horn, you may be rejected for the kid who plays oboe. If they sense you are using them as a safety, they will take a more enthusiastic kid who has lesser SATs. That may surprise kids who had expected a fat envelope based upon stats.</p>
<p>FWIW, my son’s stats surpassed yours, yet knowing a school as difficult to get into as Tufts could never be a “lock” he used his ED round 2 option to improve his chances of acceptance. No one gets into Tufts easily. But your stats are definitely in the ball park. Showing real interest by visiting, asking questions of faculty, and writing thoughtful and enthusiastic essays about how you can contribute to the Tufts community and/or ESPECIALLY applying ED will improve your chances. That’s what Snuffles and I were referring to in our original posts.</p>
<p>I am not saying you won’t get accepted. I’m saying you look like a great candidate, but who knows what the other great candidates are bringing to the table?</p>