<p>The top northeast LACs typically draw the largest numbers of applicants from the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions, but they also tend to have good representation from California. The Midwest, South, and Southwest (excluding California) tend to be somewhat underrepresented. Haverford’s class of 2012, for example, is 17% from Pennsylvania, 36% “other Mid-Atlantic”, and 14% New England, for a whopping 67% from the Northeast. But next comes “Western” at 12% (I’ll bet disproportionately Californians), and only 6% Midwest, 6% Southeast, and 2% Southwest, with the remaining 6% Internationals and U.S, Territories. </p>
<p>[Haverford</a> College Office of Admission: Profile of Students Admitted to the Class of 2011](<a href=“http://www.haverford.edu/admission/2012profile.php]Haverford”>http://www.haverford.edu/admission/2012profile.php)</p>
<p>Wellesley is not quite as extreme in its home-region skew: 22.8% New England, 17.9% Mid-Atlantic (for a total of 49.7% Northeast), 21% Pacific and Mountain, 16.5% South, 11.9% Central, and 9.9% Internationals and Americans Abroad. But basically a similar picture: probably more of an advantage to be from the South or Midwest than the West.</p>
<p>[Statistics</a> 2012](<a href=“http://www.wellesley.edu/admission/admission/statistics.html]Statistics”>http://www.wellesley.edu/admission/admission/statistics.html)</p>
<p>Same at Wesleyan: 21% New England, 40% Mid-Atlantic (= 61% Northeast), 17% West, 6% Midwest, 6% South, 10% Internationals.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/admission/Profile2012.pdf[/url]”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/admission/Profile2012.pdf</a> </p>
<p>On the other hand, being from California may give you some geographic diversity points at top Midwestern LACs. I don’t have the stats but I’ll bet there re not very many Californians at Carleton, Macalester, Grinnell, Oberlin, or other top Midwestern LACs.</p>