Ummmm. Large merit at UCs , I’ve not heard. I know of some merit, but it sure as heck isn’t going to compare to what SUNY school costs are going to be. Especially with the STEM award which pretty much covers tuition that you look like you’ll qualify for. I cannot see the UCs coughing up $40k+ in merit money for an OOSer.
What can your family afford? Look at Cornell schools , the State Contract schools that run about $55k full freight. If you can find a life sciences type major in CALS or Human ecology, you would get about $7k from the NY STEM Incentive. That and loans and summer work/ part time work can bring the cost down to the $40k. Do read the conditions of the STEM Initiative. You would, of course, have to get into Cornell, but you do have the numbers and a bit of an advantage being in state. . ED would boost the advantage even more band if you apply for financial aid, if the package is little or none, you can be released from the ED contract.
There are also a number of other state schools that have much surer merit that the UCs. Arizona, Alabama, New Mexico, to name a few.