Just realize that you will be paying more than 50k a year (total cost) at the universities your looking at.
@rosered55 Currently leaning towards a major in Bio/Chem/Physics and a minor in Philosophy.
"Money is of no concern. " It should be since you say you would have to pay 100% for graduate school. Not everyone, of course though, goes to graduate school.
@sevmom If I go to graduate school I would have to get a scholarship or it would be paid for by my the company I work for. I probably will not attend graduate school though.
@OP, you seem like a very mature and well-grounded kid. I hope you get into Michigan!
I’m a very pro-community college guy, even though I went away to college as a freshman. If Michigan is your dream school, as it was among a handful of dream schools for me, and you don’t get in as a frosh, I’d consider the cc route.
USC and Michigan, despite the obvious differences, share a major elite-academics + amazing school spirit combo. I was so at home at both schools. USC, however, is extremely selective (moreso than Michigan), so I’d caution against thinking of either school as a “safety.”
Let us know where you land and GO BLUE!
I was kidding in case you missed it. Good luck with you application.
I actually chuckled when I read your post, @WISdad23! In part bc I kinda like the Badgers, but also, sadly, bc my Wolverines, in fact, haven’t been so hot in football for many a year now. Hopefully that all changes this September 
You can probably say that about any public university. I’m not hearing about the same kind of budget issues with the UCs that existed 9 or 10 years ago, though.
This would seem to require countervailing swings of at least seven points on all four main sections (or another improbable combination). Are you certain your superscore has been calculated accurately?
@merc81 It has been calculated accurately. I dropped 11 points in English and gained 9 in Science the second time I took it. I honestly have no idea how I got a 25 in English after getting a 36.
@USCWolverine Is it easier to transfer into Michigan? Would it help if I attended the Dearborn campus (Full Scholarship)?
Thank you everyone for your replies. They have been most helpful.
First of all: retake the ACT. You have time and definitely have the capability to get a higher composite. As to true safety school, U of Iowa would fit the bill. Beautiful campus, happy students, cute surrounding campus town, and regents admissions: you can be accepted in August with an assured merit scholarship and pay under $35 K total OOS with your current stats. Nice fallback. My daughter’s very fond safety–tiny bit sad that she can’t go there as well as her top pick. Maybe grad school–place has good vibes!
@bobo44 I know Iowa is a great school. However, I always thought it is primarily focused on writing/liberal arts and that Iowa State is the flagship science/engineering school in Iowa. Is Iowa strong in bio/chem/physics?
All things medical are centered at U of Iowa. Agriculture is at Iowa State. My daughter was planning to major in Human Physiology at U of Iowa and attended a special recruitment visit for undergrads interested in medicine and the opportunities seemed excellent (she is interested in PA or PT potentially for grad school). I don’t know anything about chem/physics at either school.
@LLAMALOVER101: Based on those results, you certainly have the potential to score higher on your ACT if you were to retake it in the fall.
@merc81 I am going to retake it one more time in June. I think I got lucky getting 36 in English/Science and will not be able to replicate the scores. Will colleges look favorably upon my low (25) English score if they see I got a perfect score before?
They may want more data. If you were to score, say, a 31-33 on your next English section, then I’d think colleges would be inclined to look beyond the 25. You do not need to replicate your 36, @LLAMALOVER101.
Also, as referenced earlier, colleges that superscore the ACT would not, in most cases, see your 25 at the committee level. Your testing could actually be considered finished for that group.
Look at the University of Virginia or the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill)–both are state flagships with strong academic offerings like U of M. That being said, neither one offers Big-Ten type football games; plus both admit fewer out-of-state residents than instate. If Big-Ten type football is important to you–look at Penn State. Do you want to stay in the Midwest?
@Bromfield2 I do not really care about location. I prefer a college town or close to a major city. I prefer colder weather, although it is not necessary. Locations with good skiing would also be nice. I want to eventually live in a major city on the West/East coast. Penn State seems like a good balance between Midwestern feel and East Coast alumni connections. However, I have heard it is very rural.
@LLAMALOVER101, other than the trash-talk rivalry stuff, why shouldn’t MSU be an option?
@Quincy4 MSU is a fantastic school academically and has a beautiful campus. IMO MSU is very underrated compared to other schools because it is overshadowed by UMich. I know a few people who chose MSU Honors and Lyman Briggs over UMich. It is not an option because I dislike the surrounding area, East Lansing, and I would know way too many people there. I seriously considered applying. However, I decided my financial safety will be University of Alabama because it would cost less and let me experience a different culture/part of the country. I hope I did not come off very elitist. MSU is a phenomenal school academically and I know many bright students there.