<p>When looking at applicants, does Mac try to build a strong class of people from all 50 states? Is a lesser qualified student from a lesser represented state more likely to get in over a MN, WA, or OR applicant?</p>
<p>Clearly Mac strives for geo-diversity among its students.
From [Class</a> Profile - Welcome Admitted Students - Macalester College](<a href=“http://www.macalester.edu/admissions/admittedstudents/classprofile/]Class”>http://www.macalester.edu/admissions/admittedstudents/classprofile/)
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<p>I also remember seeing a statistic that MN applicants are admitted at a below-average rate. However none of this means that out-of-staters get a break on required qualifications because only the admissions offices know the quality of the applicant pool from each state. For example, it is probably true that the MN pool is, on average, weaker because proximity provides incentive for less-qualified students to apply.</p>
<p>So the answer to your question is “maybe, but we can’t know for sure”.</p>
<p>Mac’s common data set indicates that admissions does not take state residency or geographical residence into consideration at all in the decision process. See Item C7:
[Macalester</a> Common Data Set](<a href=“http://www.macalester.edu/ir/cds/cds11.htm#CCC]Macalester”>http://www.macalester.edu/ir/cds/cds11.htm#CCC)</p>
<p>Niceday I saw that too, is it possible that policy has changed over the years or is a mistake? I’m just surprised Mac can get applicants from all 50 states.</p>
<p>You should believe it. The common data set information is produced and published fresh annually. Mac does a great job of reaching out for applicants beyond the midwest. As an example, they are a perennial part of the 8 of the Best tour. The school is high on our D’s radar here in Texas.</p>
<p>“Is a lesser qualified student from a lesser represented state more likely to get in over a MN, WA, or OR applicant?”</p>
<p>I am wondering why you decided Oregon and Washington students apply the most besides those from Minnesota. From Descartesz’s list they are #7 and #8 to get admitted. This just struck me as odd.</p>
<p>I see many applicants applying from OR and WA on the forums and I know family and friends out west that is aware of the school while in my area no one has heard of Mac. It’s not that strange, like it has already been posted applicants from that state are in the top 10 accepted.</p>
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I believe checking this box is still compatible with seeking geo-diversity. I interpret this to mean that Mac doesn’t favor MN or midwestern residents or, indeed, any applicant from any particular set of areas in their admission process (unlike most state publics whose mission commits them to doing so). But it does not mean they don’t favor a widely-sourced student of diverse geographic origin. Hence there could be decisions which made in which a candidate from an “underrepresented area” is favored over an otherwise equally-qualifed overrepresented area.</p>
<p>Weather aside, the section of St. Paul that Mac is in does sort of have a touch of a Pacific NW vibe. Not exactly alike, but I can see where the attraction is. We used to live in the Mac neighborhood, and it is quite unique for a college area. I am not at all surprised that Mac draws a national pool of applicants. It is a great little college (as my older D said, “If it were 600 miles away from our house, it would have been my top choice!”). She did not apply, though, because she wanted to “leave the neighborhood”. D2 is not as concerned about traveling far from the nest, and has applied in the RD pool.</p>