<p>I would agree your background story is compelling. That you are obviously intelligent, articulate and multi-talented would make you a person of interest to many colleges and universities. </p>
<p>Your GPA will be an obstacle, so you’ll need a STRONG advocate – such as your counselor or a supportive teacher – to explain the disparity between your grades and your ability.</p>
<p>I would submit an arts supplement (I responded on your other thread) and I would also submit a music supplement. </p>
<p>Among the schools on your list, I would forget about Cornell, Claremont McKenna, Columbia, Rensselaer, Johns Hopkins.</p>
<p>Brown is an extreme reach but they like unusual so why not? Colby, Skidmore, Trinity, Whitman all sound good. I don’t know much about Pitzer and Scripps</p>
<p>I would add: Bowdoin, Hamilton, Smith, Mt.Holyoke, Hampshire. Colorado College if the block system appeals to you. Reed if the hyper-intellectual atmosphere sounds like something you’d like.</p>
<p>Williams, Amherst and Middlebury would all be extreme reaches but you seem to have a lot of the elements that they value. They all like outdoorsy, rugged individuals, but among the three I would say that Williams puts more weight on artistic involvement – both studio art and music.</p>
<p>I’m assuming that you don’t need financial aid. If you do, your list may be significantly different.</p>