^ Somehow I find it hard to believe that every single rejected student at UCB/UCLA was in the top 12.5% of California seniors graduating that year.
And, about the Midwest thing: Californians have Stanford/UC's. East Coast-ers have a crapload of prestigious schools to choose from right near home. Kids in the Midwest who want great colleges have to go to either side of the country to find them (with a couple exceptions).
Plus, we have to live in the Midwest.
