The U of Delaware Insect Ecology & Conservation major seems like it could be a good fit, and I’m pretty sure you’d get in; Honors College would be a reach but not entirely out out of the question. (UDel is also particularly strong in all things chem-adjacent, because of its DuPont ties.) Rutgers could be a good option too; you won’t get into honors there, but you could elect the Douglass Residential College which has fantastic programs and supports for women in STEM. (Douglass was once a separate, degree-granting women’s college; it became a Residential College when it was absorbed into Rutgers.) It looks like double-majors are supported/encouraged for entomology majors.
Texas A&M has pretty generous merit for NMF, I believe. So does UNL, which I was thinking could be a good safety, but it looks like they’ve eliminated their insect science major (though there are workarounds to still concentrate in the field). Kansas State is widely loved as a “happy” campus; I just wonder whether their entomology would be too ag-ish for you.
I agree that both UW-Madison and Michigan State are worth applying to. Cornell… probably not gonna happen, and anyway, would it be financially feasible if it did?
In one sense, entomology is “niche,” but then again, it’s a highly relevant and important field that isn’t going anywhere. It isn’t niche in the manner of, say, game design, where a niche degree feels more fun and engaging than a broader CS degree but the latter can lay a more robust foundation for career success. In my opinion it’s a terrific thing to specialize in if you know you have the interest, and I don’t see any reason to compromise on attending a school where you can fully pursue that specialty as an undergrad. The schools where you can do an entomology-type major vary in competitiveness, but there are plenty you could get into which still have excellent reputations. The research and mentorship opportunities are there; if you continue your trajectory and distinguish yourself as an undergrad, it isn’t ultimately going to matter whether the college you attended accepts 9% of applicants or 50% or 75%. You’ll be a top performer from a well-regarded program; “how hard was it to get in four years ago?” is not going to be the question anyone cares about as you pursue opportunities after graduation.