<p>FWIW, most of the top 10 kids in my school are going to our state flagship. The salutatorian and I (#3) are the only ones going OOS if I recall correctly. The val was WL’d at UChicago and got into Cornell, but it was too pricey compared to the full ride (!) she got at the state U. But my high school is not very good (normal to sub-par public, small, low priority in the community), so that may not be the best indication.</p>
<p>I know that in my small suburban community, the majority of the top kids (and the middling kids) are going to the flagship because it’s the best school they got into and could afford. Admissions for the top schools for financial aid can be really competitive, and being in the top 5 of a 250-something class doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get into a full-need school in this day and age.</p>
<p>@skrlvr, at MIT it is about 8%. I know that MIT has said its international admissions has a strict % because they must pay all financial aid for international students out of pocket – no US government money is used to subsidize the educations of non-citizens – so admitting too many internationals would be extremely costly (as MIT practices need-blind admissions, even internationally). I believe the case is similar for other HYPS-level schools.</p>