<p>I live in Wisconsin. I currently have a 3.8 unweighted GPA and I got a 28 on my practice ACT (which I’m hoping I can improve to a 30 or 31 before spring). I’m trying to narrow down my college search. It’s hard to find colleges using online college search tools since there are several different names for similar majors, so I figured I’d try here. 
Here are some things I’m looking for:
-Majors in something that would allow me to study physical therapy, pharmacy or something similar (in the medical field)
-In the Midwest or on the East Coast (where I have family)
-Marching band
-Concert bands
-Education program
-Larger school (6,000+)
-German classes
-Under $30,000 is preferable, but if I really wanted to go to a more expensive school we could stretch
-Preferably a classics department, but not a requirement</p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>Hi twirler girl - You got my interest because of marching band - it is a hobby of mine looking for schools that offer marching bands. That said, Pharmacy, in most places is a discipline that nearly all schools can say they prepare you for because typically a student goes about 3-4 years in a traditional college and then applies and goes to a specialized Pharmacy graduate program for 3-4 years after that. In a sense it is like Med school in that you can be ‘Pre-Med’ at most any school and the same goes for ‘Pre-Pharmacy’. Physical Therapy is not something I know much about but I think it operates similarly. So…long story short, your majors don’t present much of an issue. The bigger one would be larger schools under 30k for costs. </p>
<p>I’ve seen both the Wisconsin and Eau-Falls bands and they are marvelous, so you could definitely consider those.</p>
<p>I think out of state tuition is going to cause most of the area’s state schools to be a bit out of reach once you leave Wisconsin, but if you get your ACT up to a 31, you may have a few options at schools in adjoining states as many will waive out of state tuition for students from nearby states if their ACT score is high enough. Western Illinois, Southern Illinois - Carbondale and Eastern Illinois University both have marvelous bands. Murray State University in Kentucky does a great job of getting music students good scholarships. </p>
<p>Private schools of note are the ones at Lindenwood University in St. Louis, McKendree College in Illinois (probably too small for your tastes), I’m partial to LU as my son will be going there in the Fall and playing in its marching band, so take my advice on that with a grain of salt, but it is a great school that offers incredible financial incentives on top of some of the lowest private school tuition in the US.</p>
<p>Wisconsin and Minnesota public schools should be within your price limit. The two states have a tuition reciprocity agreement.</p>
<p>There may also be some schools in the Midwest Student Exchange Program that are within your price limit: [Midwest</a> Student Exchange Program |](<a href=“http://msep.mhec.org/]Midwest”>http://msep.mhec.org/)</p>
<p>U Wisconsin-Madison, U Michigan, Ohio State U, Penn State (all safeties/matches)</p>