How to improve my chance of getting merit aid?

The most important thing to do is maintain your Gpa while taking the more challenging AP classes and see if you can increase the ACT score (a prep class would help). Many schools award merit based on a GPA/ACT formula.

You can use the net price calculator at the colleges you have listed to see possible merit awards for your stats. DePauw for example shows $19k in merit, but it is an expensive school. You’d still have to come up with $42,000 to go there (When I ran the NPC I assumed there would be no need based financial aid - you should enter your parents income to get a better picture). Allegheny would give you more for those stats and I think their cost of attendance is lower.

Show your parents the NPC results and start the money conversation with them now.

Consider an instate public option. Even a $20k parent contribution doesn’t completely cover costs at most publics these days. (Although there are merit awards at publics too).

It is great that you are thinking about this now while you have time to construct a list of colleges you can afford!