<p>^^Again, bigp9998, you are not addressing MSU's Honors College which has many students with that ACT. How can you, with absolutely no knowledge whatsoever, sit there and say that MSU wouldn't challenge the OP? And how could you say any super-large state U, even U-M, and esp Wisconsin, which is THAT much higher, stat-wise than MSU, be so much more "challenging than MSU, when MSU Honors have HYPSM-caliber kids working in Ivy-charged small settings? You make no sense... I hardly think, for example, a top student in small-group or 1-on-1 research -- perhaps with a coveted Professorial Assistance scholarship, perhaps not -- in MSU's Cyclotron (most powerful accelerator in the US, 2nd-rated program behind MIT for over a decade) would be "unchallenged" working with one of the world's top physicists! And you could say the same for HC students in other top MSU nationally renowned programs, like James Madison or Lyman Briggs residential colleges, materials research, political science, physics (generally), supply chain management, education, an so on...</p>
<p>But how many students actually have the opportunity to work with one of the world's top physicists? A few, as you mention. Sure, there are some extra opportunities that most students don't have, but the program is essentially just a few extra honors classes with research. Far from 'Ivy-charged'.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the OP is a valedictorian with a perfect ACT who WILL get into many top schools. There is no need to apply to Michigan State unless the OP feels some sort of strong pull to it because UMich and Madison are better schools overall and guaranteed acceptances (not quite for Mich, but almost).</p>
<p>I wasn't saying that Michigan State is a bad school, I was just saying that it's not the best school for a valedictorian with perfect scores who wants to be challenged and immersed in college.</p>
<p>Surprisingly, no one mentioned Univ of Texas at Austin. It is in second place, right behind #1 Harvard U., in acceptance of National Merit finalists. In fact, they admitted 2 fewer NMFs than Harvard did. That says something about the quality of the education there. They seem to have outstanding science and engineering, etc. programs. (they are ranked #44 in that USNWR ranking)</p>
<p>A NMF will get in-state tuition and 1,000 a year. So it will cost $15,000 a year.</p>
<p>However, you might be eligible for other merit aid. You might email to get more info.</p>
<p>University of Florida also gives in-state tuition to out of state NMF. At one time they were also attracting a large # of NMFs, and still do get many. You could email them to get more details.</p>
<p>U. Southern Mississippi will pay everything plus give $4,000 for study abroad and a free laptop to any NMF who goes to their college.</p>