<p>The problem with coming from NJ/NY is that there are many more from those states applying than somewhere like Alabama. I would actually believe that % for NJ/NY would be at a lower rate than other states. As wrong as this might seem, you need to realize that diversity matters, and NJ schools are nationally high ranking, but UMD does not want just the highest stat student, they want diversity. This is why they will take a lower stat (not much lower) student from Alabama over the NJ student. They don’t want UMDCP to also be known as the OOS Rutgers (NJ’s flagship university). UMD’s magazine back @6 months ago announced their new program of reducing to 25% OOS, that includes increasing International student pool from 150 to 600. Those 2 facts alone mean that @1500 less OOS admittances will occur this yr, now add into the equation that in the course of the next 2 yrs, 450 more will be Internationl, thus approx. 2000 less student acceptances will come from the national pool. At the same time they acknowledged that they wanted to increase their national appeal. How do you do that? You start accepting more students from other states. However, that does not mean there will be less students from those 2 states applying, all it means is that it will become more competitive because the same amount of students will be applying for much fewer spots. Basic econ principles, supply and demand. </p>
<p>Another business principle that they are employing is Marketing, they are diversifying their product. How do you get more people to buy your product, you diversify and expand. Look at it another way, many people will say if you are X race, it can hurt your chances because you are an ORM. DIVERSITY! If you are from NJ/NY you are an ORM when it comes from your OOS status. EXPANSION and DIVERSITY!</p>
<p>In the end UMD is a business because they must compete against other schools and answer to their board of directors why they “don’t have the market share”, and what their strategic plan will be to move up the USNWR rankings. Decades ago they realize that a negative aspect of their school was the “kid is a number” feeling. What did they do? They invented the Honors/Gemstone and Scholars program. Now people love those programs because it gives the students the best of both worlds, small school in a big university.</p>
<p>Bullet went to UMD over 20 yrs ago, it always had the NJ/NY pull, they are strongly entrenched in that market, thus, the strategic decision now is to expand the market.</p>