<p>“Washington University at St. Louis and some other schools (The Tufts syndrome) are reputed to reject candidates who they think will go a higher rated institution.”
What I have heard in the 6 years I have been on CC, and have derived from the data at my own son’s HS, is that Wash U has the reputation of also WAIT LISTING top students who DON’T apply there ED. Wash U really wants to “feel the love” of an applicant. For them applying ED is the best way to indicate that intent, and they reject or wait list thousands of RD tip top students who are accepted at other top colleges, partially in order to keep their yield numbers up.</p>