Is University of Alabama that terrible for majoring in geology?
I am a high school junior who is deciding on which colleges to apply. I already read the sentiment "ditch Ivies, state schools often have strong geology departments", but I did additional research and remained under the impression that this is true for those going into industry more so than into academia. My non-negotiable is $0 cost of attendance because my parents earn less than$ 70,000/year, I don't want to bother them, and I don't want to work a menial job. I live in Alabama, obv. My stats are:
-4.0 GPA unweighted , took 10 APs so far (got 4 for Chem and haven't yet taken Calculus, which looks bad for selective colleges)
- 35 act (34 math, 36 eng, sci, reading, 11 writing); prob will be National Merit semi finalist also
-Several medals on regional and state Science Olympiad in Fossils and Geologic Mapping (the best of the worst, lol). I also keep a mineral collection. Helped my classmates and Ukrainian refugees (my mom is Ukrainian)
- I also have several quirky details that Ivy Leagues hunt for like still being 16, multilinguality, English being non-native language, winning "the funniest female junior poll", divorced parents and other crap like that
-ChatGPT said my personal essay is really fresh and original, but risque, emotionally distant, and "reads more like a scientific autobiography or 'manifesto'". An off-handed compliment.
So, I am trying to decide whether I should apply to top20s w/full cost of attendance covered like Yale. My extracurriculars and academics are steaming shit for Ivies and my only distinguishing feature is being a crackpot fanatic geology, philosophy, and history nerd with roots from a developing country. Applying to each Ivy costs over a hundred bucks. Is it worth it? I also read that graduate school is more important than BS, but isn't getting into Ivies for grad even harder, especially getting out of U of motherfucking Alabama? Maybe you would recommend to apply to state colleges w/competitive merit, but I'm not head over heels for the idea of participating in a battle royale. Maybe you will mention U of OK, but to me it seems like exchanging one bumfuck for another.
I actually liked the course options at UA, but I the only reviews about the geo department I found are "watch your liver (I will, Mr. Unhelpful and Unoriginal Clown)" and "the profs are too political (republican????) sometimes". Ofc if I go to UA, I will wear in agony a brand for life of sorority thots, partying, et shitera...But maybe I'm dramatizing.
Thoughts, comments?