Kate, I would like to add my voice to those who are advocating for your mom’s college.
When you say that it’s small, I’m wondering how small? Is size the reason why neuroscience is only offered as a minor? Meaning that they don’t have enough faculty to offer the full range of courses? I’m wondering if there is a way to work around that. For example, many colleges allow for a semester or even a year at another college. Study abroad is the most common form of such a program, but many colleges allow for the same thing at colleges in this country. By studying at another college either abroad or domestically, you could probably get the courses you need to turn the minor into a major - and you may be able to do it at a college with top professors in the field.
Does your mom’s college provide the option for individualized or student designed majors as many colleges do these days? If so, you can use the semester or year at another college to have your coursework recognized as a full fledged major.
Obviously the tuition exchange program is also a fantastic option.
Yes, there are some schools in Indiana that participate in National Student Exchange (NSE). NSE is an exchange program (where you do not need to be the kid of a college employee) that covers a max of 2 semesters of domestic exchange. You still have to pay whatever you are paying at your home institution for tuition, but if that is zero, then it would be a great deal. Basically, I think of it as being like study abroad, but most of the participating schools are in the US (with a few in Canada and the Caribbean.) The Indiana schools that participate are Ball State, and University of Indiana at Indianapolis, and Purdue University at Fort Wayne. National Student Exchange - Campuses / Location
But, if it were me? The school I would 100% be applying to would be DePauw! In-state in Indiana, so it would be free, correct? Excellent Biology. I know one of the bio professors, and she is outstanding. I also think they have a neuroscience major (although I agree with those who say that you can totally go to neuroscience grad school with a combo of a bio major with some supporting psychology and linguistics classes etc.)