<p>What is an underrepresented state?</p>
<p>I'm planning to apply to top colleges and I'm from Vermont (tiny). Will this in any way affect my admissions? Is Vermont underrepresented (tiny population = few applicants) or over-represented (part of New England)?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I hear states like Wyoming and Montana are usually in the mix. Not sure Vermont is.</p>
<p>I heard Alaska helps too</p>
<p>Depends on what top colleges you are applying to. I'd expect Vermont to be less represented at a top college outside of New England than one inside of New England.</p>
<p>For most schools it does not matter what state you come from (unless in state vs. OOS). They do not care if all states get represented. If they do, that's great but if not, that is fine too. The college is not going to let in someone from one state because that state is underrepresented, if someone else is a better match for the school and deserves to be let in more.</p>
<p>Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, the Dakotas, etc</p>
<p>Usually, these are states that are able to offer a lot in the way of specific URMs (Native peoples). Also, there just aren't many people in a couple of these states!</p>
<p>Population Estimates:</p>
<p>Wyoming - 500,000
Montana - 960,000
North Dakota - 640,000
South Dakota - 800,000
Alaska - 680,000</p>
<p>as compared to:</p>
<p>California - 36.7 million
New York - 19.5 million</p>
<p>ReachForDreams: Yea, I was just wondering on a general basis because I do know some schools care.</p>
<p>hellojan: Thanks for the list. Population of Vermont: 621,270. Of course, we're also the whitest state in the nation. :(</p>
<p>Welcome to my world... Delaware is a pretty small state too: 853,476. What I have gleaned from my research is that different schools have different emphases (who would have thought?). For instance, Carleton has been pretty open about wanting geographic diversity, and their profile includes a by-state breakdown instead of by-region (contrast to Pomona, which told me explicitly that state residency is irrelevant). The Vassar rep also told me that they'd "like" to have more DE students. Your best bet is to ask, probably.</p>