“How about Ohio State? Academics similar…”
You lost me right there.
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Oh please, the constant Michigan boosterism gets a bit tiresome.
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Yes, schwal, it helps. Thanks. I would suggest doing more research on your own, and getting some initial test scores, then posting more queries. There will be much more useful help for you at that point.
I can definitely help you on the marching band experience. If you are going for a big-time band experience, and you choose to leave Michigan (which also has a great band experience), Wisconsin would be probably be the best choice. As I’m an alum of several institutions, I don’t say this as a Wisconsin booster per se; it’s actually the case that the Badgers marching band, and the renowned “fifth quarter”, is a nationally recognized institution in and of itself. And these days you can verify for yourself by youtube-ing various game day (and Rose Bowl) band experiences.
I don’t know Cal’s band as well; they do have big time football, and I think I’d like them better than Stanford’s band (Stanford’s amazing in so many ways, but I just do not care for Stanford’s rag-tag, D.I.Y. marching band style at all; YMMV), but I don’t think Cal’s marching band can approach Wisconsin’s or Michigan’s. Cornell doesn’t have the big time football experience, as they play other ivy leagues. Cornell would be fun, but again, not the same level (though Cornell is also a wonderful institution, so if you were admitted, you should seriously consider it). UW-Seattle, not the same band level. I’d reckon UT-Austin band would probably be pretty great, but you’d have to look into it more.
As a rule of thumb, not too many urban institutions of Michigan-type caliber are going to have great marching band/football (kind of a prerequisite for a marching band) experiences. Maybe UCLA / USC. I’d focus on the smaller urban / big college towns, whose atmosphere and offerings gear more often to the ideal collegiate experience.
All these beg the question of admissions, however. Nothing mentioned above is really a “safety” anymore. But so far, your prospects look pretty good.
I lived near the rock…and decided to go OOS for all of the same reasons. I went to another great Big10 school, but really missed AA (still do now). My sibling chose UofM and had a great experience (our family moved away right before the freshman year). I’d recommend living on campus and then off, but not at home, for the full experience. School will be whatever you put into it and try to get out of it regardless of the school itself. Your investment in school should be a concern and there really is probably no better choice than UofM unless you have fantastic scholarships to OOS schools.