I’m from Wisconsin and a lot of my classmates and I are told to apply to schools in the UW system because its easier to get into an in-state school than an out of state one. Is this true?
Yes.
Yes it’s true and your instate schools will be most cost effective. You are lucky to be in a state with an amazing flagship.
This is usually true. In-state admissions also tends to be relatively predictable. The in-state schools do not want the political cost of turning down very high stats in-state students. Just as important, in-state public schools tend to be affordable.
With your being from Wisconsin, you also have a really good in-state public flagship. I have worked with some people who first were students at U.Wisconsin (on a research project where my company was working with a group from U.Wisconsin) and later as graduates (I continued to work with some of the same people). I have been quite impressed.
It does tend to be true.
I see from a previous thread that you’re interested in UW- Stout, which sounds like it could be a good choice for you. Your ACT is a little lower than their average, but you might still get in; you could also consider studying and retaking it this fall.
No question it is far easier to get into an instate school than an OOS school.
Beside having a good system in Wisconsin, you can also apply to Minnesota universities.
If you want to apply OOS you need specific stats and should focus on private colleges which won’t care that you’re from a nearby state. So you could apply to Hamline, Luther, Earlham, Ohio Wesleyan, Kalamazoo, Allegheny… And be seen positively for being from Wisconsin because you’re a bit different from their average applicant.