As an update, I’m doing option #2. Parents basically straight up told me option #1 was never an option, regardless of modifiers. At least I tried though.
There are some things about #1 I liked more, but I am genuinely excited about the school’s research/project programs and the other STEM kids. Those are the best available, above what option #1 has.
It also seems like they are willing to bend heavily on some things (new equipment, classes, materials, etc.) if multiple students are interested. I’m hoping the two main STEM clubs’ members would be willing to work together on petitioning for things.
I’d like to lobby for new materials and equipment this way, but also some intensive noncredit classes. I’m not sure if the department would allow it, but I’d like it if we could have to opportunity to learn supplemental/focused topics over a few weeks. Eg, rather than a full-on writing class we learn over two weeks how to write decent lab and technical reports based on material we are doing in our regular classes or how to integrate a specific circuit element (eg radio receivers) into our projects. Supplemental materials that could take our projects and self-study efforts to the next level.
For college, I’m not really sure what I want to do anymore. The thing is that even though I still abstractly want to go to the big names, my state flagship is actually … good? I actually kind of love it there and wouldn’t mind going for four years, especially considering I’d be an automatic admit into the honors college from GPA alone and would likely get a full ride from option #2.
I would like it if the various schools out there had 1.5-week residential programs where you could dive into a single subject (within regular hours) and then see what the campus and surrounding area was actually like. I’ve seen now that campus tours don’t give you anything compared to actually studying at the school.
I think Missouri S&T or my state flagship are my safeties right now.