<p>Just so you know LOTS of high schools consider that A+= 4.3 since B+= 3.3, and the scale is still out of 4, and the total unweighted average is still out of 4 unless you ONLY get A+'s which is reduced to a 4; also an A+ in an AP class, weighted, may turn out to be 5.3. Some students here on CC have have weighted averages above 5 
due to taking lots of AP classes and getting A’s in all of them.
So your UW GPA IS 3.99.
As for the ACT score: prepare well (especially: take a practice test, look at all the places where you made mistakes, and review the concepts for these questions until you no longer miss points for them.) If you’re at 30 already, you could reach the threshold of 32 which serves as a “signal” for admission officers. (After 32, it’s all splitting hair between nuances of excellence :p).
For Boston, look into Simmons (safety) and Tufts (reach/match).
I agree that Barnard and Mount Holyoke are not impossible reaches for you; could you add Bryn Mawr (just outside Philadelphia, in a consortium with Haverford and Penn.) For a match, Agnes Scott in Atlanta - and are you not interested in Spellman? While it’s not in the Northeast, Atlanta is a major city :).
If you need considerable financial aid, look at Berea College: if you’re admitted, they (the school/donors) automatically pay for your tuition and you have an on-campus job to help cover the cost of room&board. For most students who are admitted, Berea is free, but only students whose parents make under a certain amount per year are allowed to apply in the first place.
I agree that you should try and apply to some of the “Top” schools (national universities and national liberal arts colleges) just to see. Make sure to go see your guidance counselor so that s/he fills out the fee waiver request for you (this way, applying to college would not be a burden for you).</p>
<p>I feel that you have a chance at BC do you may want to move it to the matches. If you like big cities and you like BU then you might also want to look at GWU in DC. GWU is very similar to BU except their campus is not one long line and they meet 100% need for financial aid. This would be great for you.</p>
<p>i almost forgot about this thread. thank you so much for your help, everyone! all your input is extremely appreciated and valuable to me as i don’t really have anyone else to help me with these things. i think i finally found a decent list of schools. </p>
<p>@Swimmer576 GWU doesn’t meet full need :(</p>
<p>@dodgersmom (or anyone else who can answer this): say my NPC for barnard is $6100. i don’t have a job or anything and we don’t have savings, etc. the student contribution included in that NPC is $2100. if i get a job next semester and/or into the summer, after i submit my financial aid information, would my earnings go toward the student contribution portion, or would they just be considered savings and end up making my NPC/EFC higher???</p>
<p>yes, your earnings would go toward the student contribution part.</p>