I would highly recommend University of Iowa and Iowa State. Both schools use a simple scoring system to determine admission, which is done on a rolling basis. As long as you get a high enough score, you are in. Both schools offered merit, and honestly their cost even without merit were cheaper than our in state flagship school (U of Illinois). Both schools are big and fun and known as powerhouses for various academic interests (engineering, medicine, veterinary science, creative writing). Ames is a smallish town and a little isolated, but Iowa city is really quirky and fun.