Penn and NYU are extremely selective. I suspect that whoever told you otherwise, was confusing Penn (highly selective Ivy) with Penn State (a good flagship state U, but definitely much easier to get into, and confusing NYU (a highly selective private U) with the CUNY system, to which you’d get accepted in a heartbeat.
If your goal is to stay in the US, reconsider what you study, because most students are expected by law to go back home after they finish their educations, although many do figure out a way to stay. Perhaps a consultation with a good immigration attorney now, so that you can make changes in your major while there’s still time. By the way, if you’re gay, trying to stay might be a really good idea, since China seems to be heading towards increasing social and gender-related authoritarianism as it belatedly realizes that their low birth rate is leading them into a demographic crisis. I read that the Chinese Communist Party is trying to push women back into the role of housewives and mothers, and when they cannot accomplish that by persuasion, they will do it by force, just as they have done in the past. Honestly, I would not be surprised to see abortion banned there within the next five years, and even contraception after that, if that isn’t enough to increase the birth rate.
Anyways, your list is full of high reaches, even with your excellent credentials and full pay status. Your test scores are fine - no need to retake anything. You will probably get into Illinois, and the UCs other than UCLA or UCB. Everything else is a reach. Unfortunately, UIUC’s notification date for EA is in January, after most highly selective schools’ application deadlines have passed. So let’s hope you get in there, and won’t have to worry. You are running the risk of not getting in anywhere, since UCD is still quite selective, and even though you’re full pay, you’re still not guaranteed to get in there - the other UCs you have listed are more selective than UCD.
I suggest that you consider adding some applications to less-selective flagship state U’s that you might be happy to attend. Some of them will have the programs you want, and will take you because you are very highly qualified, plus you’re full pay.