[alum]

I agree with BamaDad to some extent. One major difference with UVA/UNC/Emory/Duke vs. the Bama/UGa/OleMiss population is the geographic diversity. Kids from the Northeast/New England area have no qualms about applying to the first 4 schools. These are schools all very high in the national research university rankings. The key word is national. The admissions offices of these schools want students from all over and thus send their admissions staff across the country on recruiting trips.

The great thing for the taxpayers of North Carolina is that the state-supported public universities are required by state legislature to cap the OOS population at 18%. The 2 Virginia flagship schools (UVa and William and Mary) each have about 1/3 OOS. Emory and Duke are private but definitely have a greater non-South population than Vandy or Wake. Both Duke and Wake have specific merit-based scholarships earmarked for NC residents