@Publisher Yes and no. There are some qualities all colleges are going to like - intellectual curiosity would be one.
But for example, it was really clear from the info sessions and the website that Tufts talks a lot about Global leadership and that they believe you can start changing the world before you graduate. It’s not as much of a life of the mind place as say U of Chicago. My younger son is pretty much of a bloom where you are planted kid, and liked both schools, but in the end he chose Tufts. And his current occupation as a Naval officer, reflects that interest in doing, not just thinking.
When we were at Caltech (for my other kid) it was all about the intellectual challenges you would face. Being clever and fast-witted and a certain kind of nerdy sense of humor were obviously appreciated. Nobody talked about changing the world, or volunteering over the summer with Engineers without Borders. The Engineers at Tufts - they were going abroad to do volunteer work - the ones at Caltech - not that we heard about - though I’m sure some do.