<p>Somebody said that Florida is an overrepresented state, since I live in Florida I'd like to know what that means. Is it good or bad?</p>
<p>overrepresented means alot of kids are applying to that school from your state, or in general your state is a more competitive academic state. I know for sure New York, Massachusetts, and California are considered overrepresented, and I know for sure rural states (nebraska, north dakota, south dakota, wyoming, oklahoma, pretty much any state without a fairly well known private school. Or farming!).</p>
<p>It’s a bad thing.</p>
<p>Yup, overrepresented is no good… 
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<p>Yeaahh Bay Area! (Not…so overrepresented…)</p>
<p>really? why?</p>
<p>Let’s say you are from NJ, a competitive state, and Billy Bob is from Montana, an underrepresented state. Both of you have the exact same stats, great essays, stellar recommendations, and solid extracurriculars. 9 times out of 10, Billy Bob would get admitted to College XYZ or ABC over you, simply to fulfill the geographic quota. If both of you are neck and neck, the underrepresented state would probably be favored more. Does that make sense, and does anyone else agree with me?</p>
<p>Thats pretty much it aajjc</p>
<p>Yeah, I agree aajjc.</p>
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<p>Are you kidding? The Bay Area is as overrepresented as it gets. Much more so than Fla.</p>
<p>ok, so should geographic distribution be looked at when i’m looking for colleges?</p>
<p>What types of schools are you looking at? Only very highly applied schools worry about things such as “geographic distribution”. Most colleges in the US don’t give a darn.</p>
<p>I live in Virginia - is that an overrepresented state?</p>
<p>Extremely so – you were kidding right? Underrepresented would be like the Dakotas, Hawaii, AK, MS, AR, WY, MO.</p>
<p>Well… don’t worry about it. Not your fault your parents decided to live somewhere worth living.</p>
<p>^ haahahhahahhhahaha. That’s seriously awesome. I wish my parents decided to live somewhere worth living. But at least it may give me a tip!</p>
<p>Also, for some colleges have a “regional reputation” (I use that term loosely for reasons I’m not going to delve into at this moment), so if you live in the region it’s popular in, you’re also out of luck.</p>
<p>Example - Kenyon College. A decent number of well-educated people in Ohio/the Midwest know about it, and apply. Chances are, if you’re not from Ohio, you have a slightly better chance of getting in, simply because a bunch of people from Ohio apply.</p>
<p>Kenyon may not have been the best example, but I tried. Carleton/Mac may be another one?</p>
<p>P.S. - kiterunner18, nice location. 
I’m guessing you’re from the midwest?</p>
<p>South Carolina is underrepresented right?</p>
<p>I think it depends on where you’re applying.</p>
<p>At Furman, most likely not. At Carleton, most likely.</p>
<p>Hah I mean at new englnd schools</p>
<p>At most New England LACs, probably. Most of the students there come from New England.</p>
<p>HYP? I’d guess that you wouldn’t be in the majority, but I highly doubt that the adcoms would care either way…</p>