ahahahaha I may have just figured out which school you are in. 😛
So basically I felt pretty much as you do–except I had gone to a bit of a brainwashing high school and was therefore VERY prejudiced against seminary. But then one of the few high school teachers that I really respected convinced me that there were schools out there that were more my speed (she actually pushed me toward Darchei Binah) and that I should at least look into the whole matzav further. I decided on Machon Raaya for a lot of the reasons that you are hesitating over. I pretty much said it all HERE–you can read that and ask me any questions you may have.
and if you decide to go to Michlalah that is fine. as long as you get to take R’ Bernstein’s shorshei halacha class. ^_^
heavily edited