<p>Rochester is an excellent school with great programs in both the sciences and humanities, and it has very significant merit aid scholarships, for which I think you would be competitive. Key point for major scholarship consideration there: INTERVIEW!! Their admissions people conduct local interviews all over the country in the fall. If you go to their web site, you’ll be able to find a schedule. It would also be a good idea to apply reasonably early, don’t wait until after Christmas.</p>
<p>The U of C does have some highly-competitive merit scholarships, and if would be great if you got one, but other than that their FA has a somewhat poor rep. I believe that the University of Pittsburgh also has some excellent merit aid, and their Honors College is supposed to be very good.</p>
<p>With your stats, you should be looking seriously at some of the schools that meet 100% of need for students with family incomes that are quite high: HYP and others. Your family may be favorably surprised at how much FA you would qualify for at those schools, <em>if</em> you can get in. On stats alone, you certainly have a shot.</p>
<p>If you added Rochester, Pitt, and one or two of the above to your list, you would probably be giving yourself a decent chance at getting the money you need.</p>