Do you have a guidance counselor at school? Seems to me that if they are going to discourage you from doing grad work there, they should at least help you find something appropriate for your desires. If not, maybe talk to one of the professors that you like and trust?

Searching the route is a good idea and the one I would probably start with... but a "personal recommendation" from a professor who knows what you want and need would hold much more weight, even a recommendation from someone here would be good.

In the end though follow your gut instinct, even if is just one you found on the web that "feels" right... or even if it means going against their "strong discouragement" .

------------------------------------
--http://www.idexter.com