<p>That is true in Virginia as well. Many top kids do not bother to apply outside our very good instate schools. The ones that do have already shown they would quite possibly pick another school, like an Ivy, if they are admitted. For anyone in Virginia whose EFC is above about 22,000 these days , our state schools are a great deal . Unless a kid gets lucky and gets into one of the top schools with great financial aid or who pursues merit aid elsewhere, state schools can be a good choice.</p>