I don't know where to go

I am a senior in high school. I go to a tiny high school in the Chicago suburbs. I’m just looking for a school where I can fit in more. Not a big fan of this area. I’m a conservative who likes to hunt and fish. I obviously don’t really fit in around here. I have been trying to research schools but I am still unsure. I know education comes before everything but I want to be able to where my cowboy hat and not get stares from everyone around. I want to study Geology and go to a larger school. I didn’t like my high school at all because it was so small. Maybe a college with 7k enrollment minimum. Does anyone know of any schools with a lot of outdoors/country people that stick out. I know probably every school is going to have some people like that, but i’m trying to get away from here and change the way I live. I want to be around more people like me. Any suggestions would be helpful.

As a senior, have you already applied to any colleges? Have you got any acceptances yet? What is your annual budget for tuition?

There are plenty of colleges where you would fit in, but it is late in the game for new applications. Is a gap year a possibility?

West Virginia. Friend of mine went there from a small HS in NYC suburbs and ended up an expert bow hunter. He now lives in North Carolina.

I have applied to Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois, Wyoming, Northern Colorado, Oklahoma State, Stephen F Austin, Georgia Southern, Sam Houston, and Northwest Missouri. I have been accepted by all of them other than Stephen F Austin which I am waiting a most likely acceptance on.

Also don’t want to spend the most amount but I have some money to work with.

Check out Texas State in San Marcos, Texas. The Geology Department is supposed to be excellent.

How about Montana State in Bozeman? Great, great western town. Top outdoors school. Science and engineering. I don’t know, seems like a great fit. Check out the school, check out the town, check out the region. Good luck!

There are lots of threads on outdoorsy colleges, but country is different.

You should be able to find your people somewhere in TX or other southern or southwestern states. A large college will have all types.

Either don’t be afraid to be different or switch to a baseball cap for while.

You can join a hunting/fishing club or start one.

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/18-sportsman-colleges/
If they delete this link google colleges for sportsmen or hunters.

Wyoming is a good choice - the strongest geology program on your list (based on the USNews list for Earth Sciences, for what that’s worth) and highly affordable too. Alaska-Fairbanks is strong in earth sciences too, and is still taking applications, if you really want to put some serious distance between college and Chicago! Montana State is definitely worth a look too - I agree with TTG that it may have the perfect blend of outdoorsy + STEM.

This school offers a scholarship for hunting:

https://www.montevallo.edu/porter-james-receives-buckmasters-scholarship/

A list of fishing colleges:
https://www.flwfishing.com/tips/2010-02-01-top-25-bass-fishing-colleges

Kansas State University

Boise St, Univ of Montana but unsure if those are still accepting apps.

Agree that Univ of Wyoming seems like a great choice!

Sounds like you have several schools that will be a good fit, especially Wyoming & the ones in Texas. Oklahoma State should be a good fit too…their mascot is the cowboy. I visited OSU last summer–beautiful campus & there is cowboy stuff everywhere, even shrubbery sculpted in the form of cowboy boots & hats.

https://www.google.com/search?q=oklahoma+state+university+cowboy+boot+shrubbery&client=ms-android-sprint-us-revc&prmd=simvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjY3PjGjs3gAhUJFXwKHQ5qBHAQ_AUoAnoECAwQAg&biw=360&bih=560#imgrc=aNamq8HZAWUPwM&imgdii=-3MLG9Q2CrMv7M

I second Kansas State. My son loves it there! It fits all your criteria.

https://www.k-state.edu/geology/

Wyoming, Montana State, U of Montana, Boise State, Washington State all come to mind. They have lower cost of living and great outdoor activities. Good luck

U of Wyoming, its pretty far to the airport but I agree that its a good choice for geology and what you are looking for. Its located at 7000 feet above sea level and near the Colorado border, so most would fly into Denver International and get a bus, but it is 161 miles from the airport, you drive through Fort Collins and keep gong north. Its a long ride. You could try to fly into Cheyenne WY as well which is about 50 miles east of Laramie. Check on flights and buses.

Also U of Northern Colorado is a school for nurses and K-12 teachers. Its not for scientists, and I don’t recommend it.

Colorado State in Fort Collins, or U of Colorado or Colorado School of Mines are all very strong in geology.

Western Illinois U has a great geology department, and offers job placement in Denver, Houston and Illinois
at energy firms. Its in rural Illinois, near Iowa, and really a good place for research too in geology.
http://www.wiu.edu/academics/majors/arts_and_sciences/geology.php

Look into how you can travel there, I think there are buses from Chicago. Its rural, so you should feel that you can fit in OK I think.

Also U of Illinois is in central Illinois, and offers a lot of hunting and fishing. I would also look at UIUC, as its one
of the best universities in the USA, and you can get in state tuition.
https://www.geology.illinois.edu

Colorado School of Mines, South Dakota School of Mines, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology… You get the picture. They’re all rural, smaller, decent schools where no one will notice your hat and you’ll find your major.

Seconding Wyoming both for environment/vibe and your major

Of the schools you listed, Wyoming makes the most sense to me.

You mentioned fitting in in a cowboy hat. Well, you have two schools on your list with Cowboys as the mascot – OK State and Wyo. You would fit in at both. Probably also (at least) SFA and Sam Houston.