I agree with @merc81 - if you are looking at ending up with a PhD, liberal arts colleges are the best choice, and that list is excellent.
I also agree that, for your interests, MIT, Harvard, and Stanford are not good choices. Either Yale’s Forestry, Cornell, Duke, or UMichigan for reach universities. I would also recommend U Washington, U Georgia, Ohio State, SUNY ESF, and Wisconsin for national universities which are matches or safeties.
Basically, you are competitive for any school, but reaches are reaches for everybody, and, unless you are a legacy or athlete, no reach is 50/50.
Essay tips:
A. Essays are to show something about yourself which isn’t on your application.
B. That something should be the sort of thing which makes them want you to be their student
C. Show, don’t tell
D. Your essay should show why you are a great person to have around.
E. The focus of your essay should NOT be how you Persevered Despite Difficulties, despite what everybody seems to think. Your letters of recommendations should speak to that.
F. Show, don’t tell.
G. Present a story which showcases what you consider to be the the personality features which best demonstrate why you would be a great addition to their college.
H. Your essay should show them why they should want you, not why you want them.
I. Show, don’t tell
PS. Even in the “Why our college” prompt, you can likely be able to insert a bit of showcasing, so things like “your college is a place which nurtures intellectual curiosity like no other” indicates that you value intellectual curiosity. That is of course a cliche, but you get the gist.