St Olaf/Reed/Connecticut College. International student, unusual situation, NEED YOUR OPINION

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

So I’m an international student applying for the class of 2020 after a 2-year gap. I’ve applied to several schools previously, but, sadly, I couldn’t accept any offer of admission due to the financial hardship.

Now let me tell you a little bit about myself:
GPA: 4.0/4.0
School valedictorian, 1/120
ACT: 29 (not going to submit)
TOEFL: 117/120
Family income: ~$18,000/year
*NOT an underrepresented minority

Gap year activities:
Last year, I went to Europe to learn a foreign language. Got A+ on all the exams.
Still undecided about my plans for this year, but I’ve got to earn some money, that’s for sure. So I’m probably just gonna find a job and do some self-education.

Now I’m trying to decide which one of these colleges to choose to apply ED:

  1. St. Olaf College (applied 2 years ago RD; waitlist -> rejection) St. Olaf’s average FA package is ~$35,000 for international students; they’ve accepted 80% of ED applicants for the class of 2019 (according to CollegeBoard)

  2. Reed College (applied last year RD; rejected) Reed’s average FA package is ~$50,000 for internationals; they’ve accepted 69% of ED applicants for the class of 2019. Plus, I feel like I could write a fantastic essay on the topic they have this year.

  3. Connecticut College (never applied) Their average FA package is ~$45,000 for international students, and it’s clearly stated on their website (unlike the websites of the majority of other schools) that they can provide a foreign student with a full-ride grant based on the family’s financial situation. BUT they don’t have any merit-based scholarships. They’ve accepted 70% of ED applicants for the class of 2019.

Of course, I will contact each of the schools on my list and discuss my situation with them; however, I want to hear what you guys think. What do you think my best option is? What’s your opinion on applying to a college for a second time? Is it going to ruin my chances? Or is it going to show my sincere interest? How much does interest matter in the admission process anyway? Any advice on improving my chances of getting in?