<p>I've heard this a bit but I'm not quite sure what it means. Does it have anything to do with making it easier/harder to get into the elite schools?</p>
<p>I'm from Western Mass, in an economically-depressed city surrounded by fairly rich towns.</p>
<p>Mass is not an underrepresented state</p>
<p>I'm not sure how much the economic status of your area would affect your acceptances... It depends more on your location. The fact that you live in Massachusetts won't give you an edge when applying to many Northeast schools, but you may have a slight advantage applying to schools in the South or on the West Coast. Colleges like to be geographically diverse and have students from all parts of the country and all 50 states if possible.</p>
<p>states like north dakota, idaho etc are under represented because very few students come from these states, and universities like having students from 50 states. So if you're a first generation, under represented minority, from south dakota, with a low socio economic level and ok grades you'd have a good shot at alot of places.</p>
<p>So the "area" thing doesn't go by city or region (sub-state level)? I read something about northern Virginia being different from southern or something.</p>
<p>Dang, I don't want to go anywhere out of New England! I want to be close to home.</p>
<p>ok judging from the post i concluded that you definitely live in Springfield i live in springfield too and i got to commerce what school do u go to?</p>