Regardless of any impact on admission from full-pay status, many state flagships would be similar in admission selectivity to many of the private, need-aware colleges I listed in #10. With the possible exception of a few “public Ivies”, state flagships are less selective than most of the top 20 universities or top 20 LACs, but offer good quality and cover a very wide range of majors. Furthermore, state flagships (again, with the possible exception of a few “public Ivies”) are much cheaper (even at OOS rates) than those private schools, if financial aid is not in the picture.
As for the “public Ivies” like Michigan and UVa, being full-pay might give you a small boost compared to other OOS applicants. I wouldn’t know how to verify and quantify that benefit, so I wouldn’t really count on it. If you’re going to apply, it should of course be a school that you like and where your stats otherwise give you a realistic shot.
Just anecdotally, I’ve seen wealthy kids in our neighborhood get into Michigan (as OOS and full-pay) and rejected by less selective schools. Everyone seems to think being full-pay may have helped these kids get admitted.
Good advice here about finding schools, my advice is for after you’ve gotten an initial list. Once you have your list, definitely visit the schools as many of these schools track interest, and if you can afford to travel to the schools while they are in session, do it. It will give you the best sense of how you’ll fit.
Work on figuring out which one school, even if it is a bit of a reach, you could apply to ED. It is a big advantage at many schools as it shows two things: (1) you’re committed to attending; and (2) you can afford it without any aid.
Columbia GS–anecdotally and I have no direct evidence–has taken some students who have had less than a year’s break in their studies. I think I read a post on CC about that . . . . you may want to read through the Columbia GS threads on this forum to see if you find that person’s reference to being admitted earlier than a year
Columbia GS has some programs geared towards students right out of HS like the dual BA program with Sciences PO. It also enrolls younger students who have not had a traditional HS experience. Generally Columbia GS is not open to most students right out of regular public/private HS.