<p>I was talking to a private counselor about my college list, and he said Duke was nearly impossible for californians. According to him, Duke admissions tends to admit more from the south east percentage wise more than any other east coast school and has a bias against californians because he said they figured we wouldnt want to come to the east anyways (which isnt true)? has anyone heard this before?</p>
<p>not at all. why would they do that to people who apply who obviously show interest?</p>
<p>There are plenty of people from California here. I know it's a big state and all, but I doubt that's true.</p>
<p>I'm from California and I can see their point. It just means they are more likely to closely look at how much that Californian REALLY wants to come here. That's because, honestly, friends back home still have a bias against the south. It doesn't have nearly the reputation it does on the East Coast, but that is also changing. That is, almost all students would go to any Ivy, maybe even a UC, before going to Duke. It's about who's going to say, "yes I really want to go to Duke - and will go if I get in," and until there's a shift in the West Coast mentality, they won't be getting a good yield from our state.</p>
<p>That being said, just show your passion for what you do, why you want to come here, and what you want to BRING here that others might not....and you'll be fine. No bias against, just probably a bit more scrutiny of intent (i.e. not applying as a safety school).</p>
<p>And yes, there aren't really a lot of Californians here...in my class there are more students from New Jersey....but that's why I wanted to go here. Different people. It's not high school all over again.</p>
<p>Geographic Distribution of First-Year Students
North Carolina 13%<br>
Northeast (CT, NH, VT, NY, ME, RI, MA) 15%
Mid-Atlantic (PA, NJ, MD, DE, VA, WV, DC) 19%
Southeast (KY, TN, AL, MS, GA, FL, AR, LA, OK, SC, TX) 25%
Midwest (OH, MI, IL, IN, WI, MN, IA, MO, ND, SD, NE, KS) 12%
West and Pacific (WA, ID, MT, OR, WY, CA, NV, UT, CO, AZ, NM, AK, HI ) 10%
International (45 different countries) 6% </p>
<p>10% for the west coast doesn't seem like very much, but that's matriculation stats, not admit stats.</p>
<p>A few years ago admissions said they were focusing on CA. There was a spike in apps and admits which they said was a result of more active recruiting there. Anyway, it seemed to me that there was an edge not a bias if you were from CA.</p>
<p>i really hope not.. i'm from cali!!!</p>
<p>I kind of doubt it really matters at all...otherwise people would catch wind and start moving to other places</p>
<p>lol, to tell the truth, i am a freshman here from cali... and i am really dumb.......... so i don't think they hav bias against cali</p>