I know location has some impact on the college admission process, but can anyone tell me how much it will help? For example, I’m from West Virginia, where a majority of students attend WVU/Marshall. Will being from a state where few people attend college outside the state help the admission process?
It might be a tip factor for schools that care to advertise they have students from all states. Not too many schools, and not much of a factor.
It will be almost irrelevant, unless you are lucky enough to be the only applicant from WV at certain colleges as mentioned above. Don’t factor it in when calculating your chances.
It is a boost, not quite a hook but a big help if everything else is on par. It won’t make up for deficiencies but it definitely tips the scales if you apply 400+miles from home AND are from a less populated state. This ONLY applies to private colleges, NOT public ones, unless you can be “full pay” (ie., if your parents have a college fund for you or can easily pay 50K each year!)
Applying to VA, OH, PA, or KY wouldn’t help much. Applying to WI, WA, ME, MA it definitely would.
It could regarded as a favorable attribute by some schools but it won’t get you into a school you are not otherwise qualified for.