how does band in college work exactly? auditions or anyone can join? possible athletic scholarships? please keep the thread friendly 
At my daughter’s school there is a concert band that pretty much anyone who wants to can join. There’s an orchestra that you have to audition for. She plays in both. There are also some jazz band and other small ensembles. I am not sure how one gets into those. I think there are a merit scholarship specifically for a small number of strings players. There isn’t a music school at her college. It’s an extracurricular activity. Her college is small.
I know that at some of the big colleges that she applied to where there was a music school, it sounded like it might be harder for non-majors to get into some of the bands, or that it might be harder to fit it into a class schedule, especially a demanding schedule.
Depends on the school. Some you have to audition, some you join. This is a good question to ask at your visits.
There also might be a marching bank if the school has a large enough football program. IIRK, our bank members received small scholarship each semester and had the opportunity to travel
S1 was in the marching band and got $350 per year his first two years, $1000 the last two as a section leader. This varies wildly by college. He got about $150 each for volleyball and basketball pep bands. They had tryouts for all though I don’t think anyone is ever cut from their marching band. Other colleges are much more exclusive.
He also took classes (as an elective) and performed in ensembles with the music majors. These were higher level and cost money.
Athletic scholarships…you would need to be a recruited athlete in a sport that offers scholarships. Are you?
In terms of playing in band in college…the answer is…it depends. Some colleges have open ensembles meaning any student, regardless of major, can audition to play. Some colleges even have ensembles for non-music majors that don’t require an audition at all.
Sometimes it’s instrument dependent…like they might need a tuba player but don’t need any more flutes.
You would need to contact the colleges and ask.