<p>Your parents will probably be pleased and proud if you are awarded a scholarship that covers most of your expenses. Visiting in advance is not absolutely essential-Brown will give you an alumni interview instead of one on-campus.</p>
<p>In addition to Brown and Amherst, you will need some safety schools that would likely give you merit aid. Consider Tufts and Brandeis as slightly less difficult to get into or possibly Johns Hopkins and Emory–these could be match rather than reach schools. Closer to home there are Grinnell, Kenyon, Carelton, Oberlin. Beloit and Earlham as possible safties? All these would offer you the Liberal Arts experience and perhaps one or two would offer merit aid?</p>
<p>No harm in trying. You could save the visiting until you know where you have been accepted and then are making a final choice also based on financial aid offers.</p>