<p>I think that the OP should apply to Swarthmore, which has shown a willingness to go to some lengths to attract URMs who are likely to succeed there academically. Which, if the AP scores are 4/5 and the grades continue to be at their current level. would clearly include the OP. Last year, Swarthmore sent a letter to URMs–possibly those who had shown interest at some point, but not necessarily only them–<em>after</em> the regular application deadline had passed inviting them to apply. (I consider this to be grossly unfair to all of those who had already applied, both URM and not, especially on the part of a school with an acceptance rate somewhere in the vicinity of 13%, but that’s another matter. )</p>
<p>hmom5, I agree that the GPA is the most important factor at top schools for MOST candidates, which makes the OP’s chances a bit iffy at Ivies and the like. But on your other point I must disagree: from what I have seen, the top schools LIKE middle-class, private school URM candidates precisely because it enables them to add ostensible “diversity” without taking a chance on a kid who may need a lot of support to succeed because of the lousy schools s/he has struggled through.</p>
<p>OP, what do your school’s guidance counselors say?</p>