<p>As an international student, the reason is clear: many are very ignorant about “good schools”.</p>
<p>There are many but not all int student who live in west or east states, and they mostly look up to Ivy league or other schools with similar levels. Based on my experience, unless it’s like UVa, UC schools or NYU, many international students
think state schools are jokes…such stereotype is particularly stronger among Asians. Go to states like NY or New jersey. You will many students who dont know any colleges but ivy league levels schools. It sounds too much generalizing, but this is based on my experience. I also used to be like that until I actually started to learn about how unique each college in USA is…I didn’t even know what liberal art college was until like June last year. Now I don’t want to make Asian students look bad, but many(again, not all!) asian int kids will just shout “IVY LEAGUE” whenever you ask them: where are you applying? This is because the concept of the university in home countries and that of the USA is really different. For example, in Korea, state universities are 'worthless to consider" unless its UC schools or NYU or UVa.</p>
<p>Besides, even non southern Americans view Southerns states with stereotypes. Then what would an international kid, who has no knowledge about USA, think about South? Most of the time they will absorb stereotypes as well, and will shun away from southern America. (besides unless they are white, int kids will be even more afraid because of the history…)</p>
<p>I think that if U of Alabama becomes much more selective in admission and becomes more prestigious(not that I want it to be necessarily) I think BAMA will be much stricter in scholarship and limit it to permanent residents or citizens…this is just my opinion.</p>