<p>Two more points.</p>
<p>First, you are far more likely to get merit aid from private colleges, and also from ones where you are in the upper 20% or so on SAT and ACT scores. In other words, even if you got into say Yale or Stanford, then you would likely not get as much money as if you got into Tulane. So, look at typical SAT and ACT scores for different colleges and target a few where you would be very high compared to other students.</p>
<p>Second, since you are Hispanic, I am assuming that you might also be Catholic. If so, you might consider Loyola University in New Orleans (literally next door to Tulane), or St. Louis University, or University of Dallas. Most other good Catholic colleges are in the Midwest and Northeast, where the weather is cold in winter. Notre Dame and Georgetown are the most elite Catholic colleges, with Boston College not far behind. Here in Ohio, you might consider University of Dayton or Xavier University in Cincinnati. Both are quite good and you might get some good scholarships.</p>