<p>since your access to counselors is limited this year, I'd urge you to read the book by Franck I mentioned earlier before you go any farther. It will explain exactly how financial aid works, how colleges decide who to admit, etc. Its about $10 on amazon, money well spent in my opinion. Time is on your side here, you have more than a year before you need to make firm decisions. So I can't say this strongly enough, start the process cleanly from the very beginning instead of jumping into the middle (eg. "which colleges have good archeology programs"). Use this book to become informed about the whole college process and THEN start your explorations and choices.</p>
<p>While many students posting here are the "superstars" its wrong to conclude that if you don't match them you won't go to college at all. Maybe not HYPS, but a good college nonetheless.</p>
<p>And since you seem concerned with your grades and abilities, let me also recommend the book "What Smart Students Know". Its written by one of the cofounders of the Princeton Review test prep company, and explains how you should be studying different materials (math, history, literature, etc). Its ironic but in 12 years of schooling almost nobody gets lessons in HOW to study; its just something you're supposed to figure out on your own. The book explains what the best students do in order to learn various materials. It has things it took me years in college to realize, and things I never did get. Its no book of magic; you're not going to get top grades with 10 minutes of studying a day. But what it WILL do is ensure your time is being spent as effectively as possible.</p>