Uncommon state, will this help me?

Applying to College
1

<p>I am from Missouri. Is this something that will increase my chances a little bit at the top colleges?</p>

<p>When I asked for my chances, is seemed like people thought it would.</p>

2

<p>1] Students from unusual states may receive a slight boost from colleges seeking geographic diversity.</p>

<p>2] Missouri is not an unusual state.</p>

3

<p>^ What’s considered an unusual state, for that matter?</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the input. I didn’t think it was that odd either, but some of the people that chanced me thought it was a wee bit different. I don’t know. Would either of you be willing to chance me and tell me what you think?</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/755553-chance-please-ill-chance-back-asap.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/755553-chance-please-ill-chance-back-asap.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>IMO, Missouri is an underrepresented state. I’m from MO, too. I went to an admissions session at a top-ivy, and it was mentioned as an underrepresented state. Mind you, it’s no Montana. But on the flip-side, it’s not CA, NJ, etc.</p>

6

<p>It’s a tip factor. If you read much the same as a candidate from NY, NJ, CA, MA etc., you would be the one to get in.</p>

7

<p>Alaska would certainly be an underrepresented state, I would think. I don’t think this factor is anywhere near as great as race, though.</p>

8

<p>Most colleges don’t worry a bit about “geographic distribution” so no bonus is conferred whatsoever. What type of schools are you targeting?</p>

9

<p>Almost all colleges have a thing on their website called a Common Data Set. In the freshmen applicants section, under Institutional Research, you will find a table of several items which are considered by the individual college. Here is the link for Colorado State: <a href=“http://www.ir.colostate.edu/pdf/cds/cds0809.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ir.colostate.edu/pdf/cds/cds0809.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>So at Colorado State, rank, rigor, test scores, and GPA are the most important things. State residency is on the third tier of importance, after essays, but above race.</p>

<p>Essentially my point is that if you do a little research (google common data set “college name”) you can answer this question definitively.</p>

10

<p>At the top 5 schools the State you are from increases or decreases your chances
of getting admitted but necessarily for state-diversity reasons.</p>

<p>Specifically if you are from MO, you will see lesser competition from fellow MO applicants
at east coast schools and obviously more competition from fellow state applicants
at Wash. Univ of St.Louis.</p>

<p>MO-residency does not get you brownie points, it is the fact that the number of applicants from your state are relatively lesser that may give you decidedly better odds. </p>

<p>As an example from MO ~15 applicants are admitted to Harvard. If less than 200 apply
you already have better than average odds. From CT ~60 students are admitted
(~45 matriculate); there are probably much more than 850 students applying from CT.</p>