Run Net Price Calculators. They will give you a breakdown of how much aid to expect in grants and loans. I suspect a couple of schools on your list would leave you with more debt than you would expect or want. As long as you have a couple of affordable safeties, go for the expensive and wealthy private colleges that truly meet need. But you might want to remove a couple of the single-digit admissions schools in favor of others where your odds are more favorable. Also, and not Northeast but not West either: I think Carleton is on the quarter system. My daughter is insisting on applying there despite its location (far from the mid-Atlantic where we are). And I think the person who mentioned liquid in connection with Dartmouth was talking about its drinking culture, not the local terrain. Try to be mindful of social as well as academic concerns when making your final choices. Good luck!