Certainly the most hotly contested issue - do competitive state schools (UNC, UVA, W&M, etc…) take into account geography. None will say anything directly on the subject - but all discuss having a diverse class which in this context is not really just ethnic or socio economic. They are “building a class” based on some set of parameters.
I was told directly by a former admissions committee member of a VA state school that if they took the best qualified students every year 90+ % of the instate class would come from Northern Virginia, Richmond and Virginia Beach. And that the state legislature would simply not stand for that. Every year they turned down better qualified students from those areas in favor of less qualified students from less populous areas.
I can say that when compared to students from a high ranking Charlotte high school my son has a punchers chance of admission. Compared to all admitted students he should have a very good chance of admissions. All this is from Naviance. So at least regarding my son’s school - clearly there are students denied admission with statistics higher than the average. I would assume Wake and perhaps to a lesser degree Guilford/Forsyth county students face the same dilemma.
Having said that - any student still has to qualify regardless of geography but by any indication being a student from Mecklenburg or Wake means you need to be above or well above the average to stand a chance.
Different times for sure - I applied to UNC out of state early decision and never really thought that I wouldn’t get in. I don’t know that I’d stand a chance today.