I've experienced the opposite. At Grammar school I was a soprano - usually being asked to sing solos which contained notes that no-one else could reach. Two of these were the opening solo line from "The Peat Fire Flame" from "Songs Of The Hebrides" songbook and "Balulalow" from Benjamin Britten's "Ceremony Of carols".

Nowadays I'm VERY alto! The singing lessons were good though because I was taught how to relax and to breathe properly. I think my teacher was a bit ahead of her time.