<p>bluedog: I fully agree with your first paragraph. However, with respect, I largely disagree with your second paragraph. Specifically, while what you have indicated re low-representation states was certainly true some years ago, I doubt its current validity – and, more important, its current applicability.</p>
<p>Duke is now overwhelmingly focused on achieving true diversity – not “census demographics” such as domestic geography, gender and/or race, per se, but rather what each potential undergraduate class member will uniquely contribute to his classmates, to the faculty, and to the university. Therefore, the admissions benefit provided by being from a North Dakota or a Montana approaches zero.</p>
<p>I suppose that it might conceivably provide the most marginal advantage in rare circumstances, but no more than that. In sum, the prodigy-violinist is an attractive candidate regardless of his geographic home, whereas being from a rural, underrepresented state really does not add much (if anything) to the applicant’s portfolio.</p>
<p>Obviously and crucially, ALL this presumes outstanding – more than just quite competitive – grades, standardized test scores, recommendations, and so forth.</p>