I am kind of curious about your contact telling you that you weren't on the terminal list.... Maybe they selected you for ATL TRACON or ARTCC because of your high AT-SAT score and maybe other factors as well(I.E. Not perfect vision). Surely if your contact can tell you your not on a terminal list, they can tell you if your on another list, right? (not trying to be a smart-ass)
I picked the terminal only option, Geo preferences: 1st) LAX ATCT also other SO CAL counties. 2) ATL ATCT. I scored a 93.8 on my AT-SAT. I was a UAV Pilot in the USMC with combat flight experience so I have VRA preference as well. From one DAWG to another Dawg: I would love to get some info from your "contact" on the Terminal lists' as well.
-Patrick