Colleges will definitely consider the rigor of courses that you are taking compared to the other students at your school.
I think you have a decent test score to get you into many schools, but your extra curricular activities aren’t the strongest. You should apply to schools that meet 100% financial need, but also apply to schools that give good merit scholarships. You can easily get into several top 50 schools, but I’m not so sure if they will give you too much merit, and only the very top schools give financial aid that is substantial.
This website is very helpful: https://scholarships360.org/resources/great-schools-great-scholarships/
First, none of the schools except for “State schools” will be possible if you don’t fix the precalculus problem.
I’m not talking about dual-enrollment during the year but the dual-enrollment program during the summer. You’d have to drive to the class several times a week and I realize it’s a pain, but it’s much easier in the summer than during the year and since the class is compressed into a few weeks so you’re done fast. High-achieving students frequently take one or even two CC classes. I am well-aware of “vocational training” CC’s, but even those have precalculus and other classes, often as “remedial” but whatever they call it, you could get rid of that requirement in six weeks and erase the D and subject shortage from your evaluation (= if you fix this and get a good grade, and your counselor writes about the problem in her recommendation, that D can be excused. If not… it’s a huge problem, probably too huge for the colleges listed above to overlook).
Since your record is great compared to other kids’ I suppose your teachers and advisers will be able to check “best in career” on the commonapp recommendation, and your adviser will be able to explain why.
Also, apply to McDermott at UTD (full ride + special perks).
You really need more colleges in the 35-45% range for acceptance.
I would add Rhodes and St Olaf, both are excellent in the sciences (St Olaf more globally), they meet need, and they’re easier to get into than the above. Gettysburg is better for social sciences, I’d remove it. Look into Dickinson, Franklin&Marshall, Trinity (CT), Connecticut College, Sewanee, Lafayette, Skidmore, Union, St Lawrence, Lawrence, Beloit, Wooster to your long list. Kenyon is easy to add, it doesn’t require an extra essay and they’ve been trying to beef up their science offerings.
CommonApp allows you to apply to 20 colleges but that’s a huge effort. 12 is probably doable. Anything more would require you to
Start with the easy ones (UA Honors College, Hendrix). Truman State is free to apply and you’d get automatic scholarships.
Bragsheet: call it a “resume” and bring it up politely.
Talk with your guidance counselor. Say that you’ve seen online that prep schools and schools that send a lot of students to selective universities that provide 100% need ask students to complete something called a sort of resume/ life story so the guidance counselor can write a detailed recommendation with lots of anecdotes, and if she’d be okay if you gave her one?
This site will offer you information more current than that in #57:
http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/college-profiles-new-sat/
So would for example a school like university of Rochester be more in line with what I need to look at or is that too selective considering my stats?
I’ll either get pre calculus done this summer, If not I’ll do it next school year.
Like I said ideally I’d like to go to a lac in the list , but if that’s not possible I’m perfectly fine with the colleges in my state.
URochester is possible. I’d add Rice, it’s a bit LAC-like, and if you’re done on time, I’d go Yale REA (they’re looking for strong applicants from lower income/rural states. Obviously as a high reach and odds are minuscule, but if you are done with everything else on time, it’s worth trying.)
Are you eligible for free SAT and SAT subjects? If so, you’re automatically eligible for fee-waivers for CommonApp and Coalition App.
Are you registered for June Subject tests?
Or are there any subjects you are taking this year and getting A’s?
Take the Fiske Guide from your town’s library and start reading on the colleges, those on your list and those suggested on this thread.
Don’t dismiss Hendrix as a safety, BTW 
it’s an excellent LAC that loses in rankings due to being located in Arkansas. It’s worth a visit if you can.
I’ve never been exposed to much SAT stuff but I’ll definitely take a look at it. I wouldn’t mind taking them.
SAT subjects are 1-hour multiple-choice tests in the subjects you want. Only Georgetown requires 3. You choose the subjects you’re best at and you can take 1, 2, or 3 at a sitting. The dates are the same as the SAT. The deadline is THIS TUESDAY so try to decide ASAP. (It’s best to take the subject test right after you finished the class.)
As a junior, you can probably safely take English Literature and US History, plus perhaps Math 2? Not sure what your best subjects are, but I’m guessing you ought to be good at English reading and math due to your ACT score, and most juniors take US history. Obviously you’d have to review but it’s a bit easier once school is done.
I’m strong in science, English, and history so I’ll look into those.
I found a good scholarship at Northeastern Univ but it is completive and not automatic:
http://www.northeastern.edu/torch/torch/#_ga=1.84083537.950118202.1461072692
Torch Scholars have the power to change the world.
Continuing Northeastern’s century-old commitment to educational opportunity, the Torch Scholars Program is a bold and innovative initiative that provides students with the opportunity to explore their passions and expand their global horizons. The program’s nomination and holistic review process identifies bright students from across the country
who have already succeeded against the odds, but who have not yet reached their full academic potential.
Torch is dedicated to supporting these talented, first-generation college students through an extensive full-scholarship program that includes:
a comprehensive summer immersion program,
intensive academic planning and assessments,
in-depth peer and professional mentoring,
and a wide array of social events that foster group identity and camaraderie.
Northeastern is well thought of for its coop program.
https://www.northeastern.edu/coop/students/overview/
Okay so , the best course of action for me I think is to look at colleges with 35+ admit rates, get my pre calculus problem fixed, and apply to schools in my state as safeties.
Are you comfortable with that plan or are you feeling pressured?
Shouldn’t be too difficult, just have to look for good colleges that offer substantial financial aid, have 35+ admit rate, and have a decent biology program. University of Rochester is probably the one that most appeals to me right now that fits those general categories. Even if none of them accept me with good aid I have state schools that I’ll be able to attend pretty cheaply so I think I’m on the right path. I’m having the mindset that my GPA really isn’t where it should be and my EC aren’t too great so I’m planning on going to my state flagship, anything else is just bonus.
I’ll apply to 3 or 4 reaches just for the heck of it. Who knows. I might get lucky.
You have a good attitude. Tell your mom and dad they have a great kid.
Edited: Rochester is a very nice place. My daughter’p classmate went there and has been thriving.
I love your EC of doing medical interpreting. If you are going to increase hours on anything, I would choose that. Colleges like community service.
Work is good too.
I think those of us in flyover land don’t have to be the finely honed college admissions machines that are the norm on the coasts and urban areas.
My older kid rode horses and did a lot of long bike rides the summer after her junior year. She was my oldest and fortunately our area doesn’t have the drama. She is deep so her essays were good, (but that is through a parent’s eyes!)
My list will look something like this, just need to refine it further.
Reach/slightly less of a reach
Case Western Reserve University
Colby College
Grinnell College
Lafayette College
Lehigh University
Northeastern University
Rice University
Swarthmore College
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
Safety/match
Hendrix
U of A/Honors
UCA
Arkansas tech
Probably some other state schools I can get near full tuition
Case really likes demonstrated interest. There is a thread from October discussing ways to show this.
Some colleges can tell if you have opened the emails that you have been sent and click on the article or photo or whatever.
Get the official brochures sent to you.
Make an email account for the college search process to keep it separate from your daily life emails. Check it frequently and check the spam folder in case something important went in there.
Thanks for the tip I’ll definitely do that.
I’ll check that out.
I think I’ll probably start trying to craft some awesome essays as soon as school gets out.