🚫 Colleges I've STOPPED Recommending to My Ohio Clients

You'll need this to wipe away the tears. 😭

I've been "in the biz" of college admissions for over two decades now. I say two decades because saying 20 years doesn't make me so obviously old. However, whether it's decades or years, I can say that I've acquired a wealth of wisdom and expertise over time, and it's that knowledge that benefits my clients and those who read my blog posts 😉. A lot changes within the world of college admissions with lightning speed, and unless you're within that world day in and day out, it would be impossible to keep up as a casual observer.

During these professional years, I've had to modify my clients' best-fit college lists because admission into many colleges has become increasingly difficult for students who are not residents of the states where the colleges are located. DON'T SEND ME EMAILS ~ I KNOW there are exceptions, and I get it. Okay! However, for the most part, I have a list of colleges that I no longer recommend to my private clients, as the likelihood of acceptance has diminished significantly over the years.

Now, I will say emphatically that I AM NOT A DREAM SQUASHER! If my client's heart is set on applying to a school that happens to be on my 'avoid list,' by all means, I will support that application in the best way I know how to help earn an acceptance. However, I do so by informing the student of the reality of the situation. Despite their odds, if they still want to give it a shot, I'm on board 100%!

To reiterate, I'm mainly referring to my clients who live and school in Ohio. I work with students from around the country and around the world, so each case is different, each situation has an exception. But, if you are an Ohio student in particular (or not a resident of the state school you'll see below), then this list should be your cautionary warning to maybe not spend the money on filling out a college application that might easily lead to a rejection. If you still want to, then I say GO FOR IT and GOOD LUCK! 🍀

Any University of California schools

When I first started my college admissions company, my very first client (from Ohio btw) ended up attending UCLA. Did you read that? U.C.L.A. And, tbh, he was not at the top of his class, but he still had a decent GPA. His extracurricular activities weren't anything spectacular, but he got in! Gosh! I remember his excitement. I still smile thinking back on that day. But, today is another story. Getting into ANY UC school is an uphill battle for many out-of-state applicants. But, take heart, it's not you, it's them. The California system has its own goals and aims to meet them. I recall reading that by 2030, UC aims to increase the in-state acceptance rate to nearly 80%. Even if you took the route of applying to a lesser prestigious UC school with plans to transfer to the bigger name later, the odds are not in your favor. But, if you still want to try, GO FOR IT!

UNC-Chapel Hill, Georgia Tech

Several years ago, a client of mine was extremely interested in University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. She and her family drove down there to take the college tour. The student shared with me that during the tour, the tour guide passed a garbage can and announced, "For all of you out-of-staters applying, this is where your application goes." 😳 Yeah! Pretty brutal, but also pretty true, unfortunately.

Georgia Tech seems to increase the number of in-state acceptances every year. By the time we get to 2030, their numbers may look like California's. Again, it's not YOU, it's them. Legislative guidelines and laws require these schools to accept a significantly high number of in-state applicants. So, think about it...in-state students who fall below your own stats have a better chance of getting in than you do. If these colleges fail to comply with the requirements, they will lose their state's institutional funding. But, if you want to apply, GO FOR IT!

University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin-Madison

These schools are similar to the ones mentioned above with UVA accepting 67% of in-state applicants, but there is a way to crack the code, even for out-of-state students. Are you a legacy? Did mom or dad attend? If they both did, even better! The caveat is that you do still have to have high stats, but that goes without saying. So, if you can speak to the campus traditions you've grown to know through your parents' experiences, they consider you family, and your chances increase despite your out-of-state status. So, if you're a strong student who bleeds your parents' alma mater colors and you still want to apply, GO FOR IT!

University of Tennessee-Knoxville, University of Texas-Austin, Texas A&M-College Station

These schools are outliers, and it depends on how badly you want to attend. You can get there in a roundabout fashion. For instance, as an out-of-stater applying to TN, you'll get in, but not necessarily into the main Knoxville campus. You're more likely to get into the Chattanooga campus (which I really like btw, nice, slow acclimation into the college scene), but are welcome to transfer to Knoxville the following year if you keep a decent GPA. Texas A&M is very similar. You'll get into Texas A&M, but not likely at College Station. You may have to begin your A&M college career at a satellite campus, instead.

UT-Austin is a strange beast in and of itself. Texas has this weird Top 10% Rule. They essentially accept all students in the state who rank in the top 10% of their high school class, regardless of whether they attend a public or private school. That doesn't leave a lot of room for you, but if you want to apply, GO FOR IT!

You may see a pattern and think that all state schools are like this, but that's inaccurate. I've had success supporting students who have received acceptances from University of Georgia, University of Alabama, Indiana University, University of Michigan, University of Maryland-College Park, just to name a few. Some state schools want to diversify their student body, but some don't. It's a matter of "institutional priorities" and you don't really know what those are until you experience it (and I've a great number of experiences to draw from in proving this).

I don't want this list to be a deterrent, but I do want to share with you the reality of the situation. This isn't just me spewing words or doing an internet search. My advice above is based on actual experiences with clients. I mean, how does a student of mine get into MIT, CMU, and Cornell, but gets rejected from Georgia Tech? True situation. And, it's not as if the colleges listed above wouldn't be considered a best-fit for you; they very well could be. But at the crux of the issue, as an out-of-stater, you may not be the best fit for them. But, if you want to prove it to yourself and still apply, GO FOR IT!

If you want to get the vibe on campus as to whether they want an out-of-stater or not, be sure to book a college tour and find out. Not sure where to start? Download this FREE Ultimate College Visit Guidebook and make it easy on yourself. This should be a fun journey, remember?

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