<p>So, basically I am applying to a lot of East Coast schools.
My test scores, ECs, gpa, etc are pretty good.
Do out of state schools prefer students from out of state or from in state?</p>
<p>Thanks for answering! I have always wondered about this.</p>
<p>Many schools want to be considered national universities, so they love geographic diversity. I don’t think too many schools have a challenge getting a few students from California, however.</p>
<p>It is my impression that, for example, it is better to apply to a Boston school if you are from California than if you are from Boston.</p>
<p>But to get the biggest bang for your buck, perhaps apply to some good southern and midwest schools.</p>
<p>Everyone wants to be on the east coast and the west coast, so the competition is more intense. Plus, there are a lot of smart kids on the east coast, and the west coast.</p>
<p>So, for example, you might want to look at a Washington University at St Louis, or Michigan. At least to diversify your risk. </p>
<p>Last year, my friend’s son, from San Francisco, who had a 740 on his math sat, got rejected at all the east coast schools, and also at Berkeley and UCLA, but got into Wash U and Michigan.</p>
<p>Thanks! I am actually considering those school!</p>
<p>Many schools do strive for a degree of geographic diversity in their student bodies. So if you are apply to regional colleges back east, being from CA might be a bit unusual and give you a small boost in admissions. But if by east coast schools you mean national universities such as the Ivy League, MIT, Duke, etc., it won’t help. They already have tons of CA kids and many hundreds if not thousands more apply every year</p>
<p>Agree with Coureur: There are a huge number of kids from California applying to the “name” Eastern schools. If you were from Visalia, maybe you’d get a boost, but LA or Bay Area–nah.</p>