So i’m not sure what state you’re from - I thought Michigan but you went to a camp in MN.
You want to be out of the MW - so why Michigan?
So here’s the first issue. Your parents are willing to contribute $2K. The question then becomes - what type of aid do you qualify for, etc.? You should find a top school like Carnegie Mellon and have them run the net price calculator. Or a meets need school like Rice - just to see.
Them willing/not willing to spend doesn’t impact what you’re expected to spend. No one wants to spend as you can imagine. So if a college is $50K a year and you don’t qualify for aid, and they’ll only give you $2K, then you have a problem.
You can only get for you $5500 in loans the first year and frankly, you don’t want loans.
So I’d suggest setting a realistic budget and part of them is based on - will you qualify for need aid.
There are many schools with auto merit - or perceived high merit - like FSU that you mention - but without scholarships, FSU is still going to be $21K or so (tuition, room and board) and if you only have $2K, that’s not going to happen.
Anyway - that’s the first step - have your need determined. Need is what the school or via FAFSA (the government) says you can afford…which is different than what your parents want to afford…if that makes sense.
That would give us a better sense of what you’re playing with.
As for a leg up and pedigree, etc. you have your top schools - your Carnegie Mellons, MITs, Ga Techs, etc. but any state flagship will be just fine.
But at $2K - it’s not realistic - hence we need the other questions answered first.
thx