I currently attend the University of Montana (the one in Missoula), where I major in Parks, Tourism, and Rec management. I strongly encourage you to apply to the Davidson Honors College of the University of Montana. I was like you, stat-wise in high school, good but not Ivy. The UM is happy to have anyone smart with the capability to graduate- just from having good grades and a solid essay you can get some really good scholarships. You’d be prioritized here, and can do a ton of amazing things with your life. The UM boasts the best Wildlife Bio program in the US. The education is killer, and you’re in a location unlike any other, with opportunities that you can’t get in the rest of the country. I’m taking whitewater rafting and intro to bouldering this year, and I spend time backpacking in Glacier Nat. Park. The UM set me up with a Wilderness Conservation Corps job in the Bob Marshall Wilderness (Next to, and as beautiful as Glacier), which I’ll get credit for. IN SUM: if you want to do as you please, while having an amazing education that is paid for, all while living in one of the most outdoorsy communities in the nation- check out the UM.
Example of smart kids doing cool stuff at the UM: UM senior heads to remote Alaskan fishing village for student teaching experience
Honors College Program: “Wilderness and Civilization”: Wilderness and Civilization