<p>I currently reside in Georgia- the state ranked 49-50th SAT wise. Although I have pretty decent Stats with 2180 SAT, I know that they are no match in comparison to students living in, for example, New York, California, or Maryland. I currently attend a public high school ranked third to fifth in GA. Would the fact that I am applying from GA turn me into a disadvantage when applying to prestigious universities such as JHU, Cornell, and NYU? I will greatly appreciate your responses.</p>
<p>I am from Alabama and am going to Dartmouth. Nuff said</p>
<p>LOL, Greensleeves. That's pretty funny, but to the OP-schools will recognize your background. If you come from a poor as red dirt South West Georgia high school like I did , maybe they'll take that into consideration. OTOH, if you're from suburban Atlanta-no points added just because you are from Georgia. You can use your "geographic diversity" at Northern or Western schools who are looking to attract a more national student body.</p>
<p>A high school ranked third to fifth in GA is in suburban Atlanta.</p>
<p>My S graduated from a HS in Gwinnett Co with similar stats to yours, and just graduated from Penn. He was also admitted to Cornell and UVA. He has friends from HS who went to Princeton, NYU, Duke, etc.</p>
<p>I don't think you have anything to worry about. Schools look for geographic diversity, and have admissions people who work just with specific areas and know the schools there.</p>
<p>Your problem may be turning down free tuition in GA!</p>
<p>I'm the Mom of the terse Greensleeves - geographic diversity is a stronger pull than many realize, I agree with Curmudge, that being from suburban Atlanta dilutes the impact of geography somewhat, but not entirely - public school helps, a lot of the Ivy candidates are coming from Westminister and Pace. Binx also has a good point many admissions people will be familiar with the Atlanta area, which helps.
To get the most leverage out of geography, look at smaller privates in the NE and Midwest, even the West if you are feeling adventurous - it is important for these schools to be able to say they are "national" and draw from all 50 states.
Asdad is right though, those HOPE scholarships are hard to turn down.</p>
<p>Yeah westminster is effing crazy, they had like 6 people at princeton ED? I was talking to a few people from westminster at my interview and that's what they told me.<br>
I came from a public suburban Atlanta (cobb county) school, and I don't think it hurts you at all. It probably helps a little, as to be honest, you will still have a pretty different background to bring to most schools. . .the admissions officers you talk to will probably know your school and the kind of diversity it has if it is public.
I will be attending Penn in the fall btw. got a pretty good financial aid offer and it was too good to turn down, though UGA would have been a good back up (the girls are pretty there)</p>
<p>Advantage, not disadvantage.</p>