From personal experience, I would be sure to apply to Texas schools. You stand a much better chance being accepted as a Texas resident. Hypothetically, what happens if you don't get accepted to any of the schools you applied to out of state, and you didn't apply to your state schools? Then you would have to apply again. I think I can speak for a lot of people on this board that you want to do everything you possibly can to only apply once. Being from Texas and not applying to Texas schools will look stupid. Now, the only reason you don't apply is if you have absolutely no intention of attending if you are granted acceptance... but IMO, that would be dumb. It is only 4 years, and then you can pick up and move wherever you want, and not be in as much debt. The name does not matter. Also, from personal experience... I applied to several schools out of state and was only offered interviews at 2. I did not attend one of them because I had already been accepted to other 4 schools... the three Texas schools and Nova. And I like to think my stats were pretty good. On another note... on my Texas interviews, I was asked why I applied to out-of-state schools. So it can go both ways... your state schools wondering why you applied out-of-state and the out-of-state schools wondering why you didn't apply in-state. If it were me, I would apply to the Texas schools, and pick out 6-10 private schools. I also think it is a good idea (if possible) to go to a school in an area you might end up practicing in.
