This has been my first post and am grateful for your suggestions. Thank you.
In general, it appears that I have more options in the midwest. Grinnell,Carleton, Denison, Oberlin, Wooster, Earlham, Case Western and Honors at Ohio University - all seem like wonderful colleges.
In my preferred location in the mid atlantic and north east, the choices seem slimmer, more selective and offer less merit. Wesleyan, Brown, Clark U and Rochester.