<p>This has been an issue that has always bothered me, so I thought I'd ask the CC community. Because there are various degrees of the quality and number of competitors in competitions such as All-State, Science Fair, Science Olympiad, etc., would advancing to or winning at a state competition in a bigger state, such as New York or California, look more impressive than the equivalent at smaller states?</p>
<p>To my knowledge, it is, first and foremost, relative to your school. If others in your school have the same level of qualifications as you do (as in, they’re coming from the same state as you and also have state-level recognition to your specific state), I don’t believe you will stand out solely in these terms. This may seem like an unfair system, but that’s simply how most competition processes work. I remember at my own all-region competition, many qualified musicians from my area couldn’t make it to state simply because there was a cut-off, where other people from other areas that may have been worse than mine in the big picture still advanced. In the end, it may affect your chances of getting off of some waitlists, but as we all know it’s preferable that you get in from the very beginning 
In sum, I don’t think it would, unfortunately.</p>
<p>To my knowledge, it is, first and foremost, relative to your school. If others in your school have the same level of qualifications as you do (as in, they’re coming from the same state as you and also have state-level recognition to your specific state), I don’t believe you will stand out solely in these terms. This may seem like an unfair system, but that’s simply how most competition processes work. I remember at my own all-region competition, many qualified musicians from my area couldn’t make it to state simply because there was a cut-off, where other people from other areas that may have been worse than mine in the big picture still advanced. In the end, it may affect your chances of getting off of some waitlists, but as we all know it’s preferable that you get in from the very beginning In sum, I don’t think it would, unfortunately.</p>
<p>Ah, I see 
Thanks! Any other opinions and takes on this?</p>
<p>See, in mock trial, California’s really, really hard to get out of in first place. But in Oregon, a school where my friend attends wins state almost every year as it isn’t too high of a competition level there. </p>
<p>I don’t know if colleges can weight it against you because it’s not your decision to live in a less competitive state, but the level of competition is definitely different.</p>