<p>NB1, I think you’d be a reasonable contendor for any college in the country, so you should concentrate on what you want. Of course there’s no guarantee so make sure you have a good balance of reach/match/safety.</p>
<p>The most important point is to clarify your financial situation. Most of the top selective colleges and universities cost around $50 to $60,000 a year. If you qualify for NEED based aid (and you get admitted) top schools will usually make it work for you financially. However, if you do not qualify for any or enough need based aid, you either have to ask your parents take out loans or find colleges that offer MERIT aid. Most of the selective colleges on either coast do not offer merit aid, period. But they are generous with need based aid. So you first step is to know the difference.</p>
<p>If you like Pomona other LACs I’d suggest are Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Hamilton, Kenyon, Davidson, Carleton, Grinnell, Macalester, Rhodes. Many of these are nowhere near a city (though some are) and many get a fair amount of snow, but I’m focusing ambience and general personality. All have excellent academics and very good to excellent sciences and medical school admissions.</p>