<p>sbroy, I know this doesn't answer your question, which I addressed in a PM, but I just want to say based on your post #34, you'll do great at whichever college you end up choosing.</p>
<p>The only misconception I want to mention is that your "fellow middle class applicants" are "comfy" (by comparison, you meant). Probably most, certainly not all. Plenty have been through different kinds of hells -- in most cases probably less Extreme than your situations, but you would be surprised at the number & types of challenges which do not appear on the surfaces of middle class students.</p>
<p>Anyway, again congratulations.</p>