<p>I think there are a lot of good choices you are looking at. Some of the more selective ones may be just too much of a reach for you. But you can afford a few because you have affordable safeties. I’m curious about your schedule and why you saved all the hard science AP for Sr year when the colleges won’t be able to evaluate you for the full year. Like why not chem or physics instead of enviro now? And no math this year or yes? What level, since I see you are doing AP stats next year. Do you have AP Calc? These things will matter very much to the reach schools. As well as your test scores (and your EC’s.)</p>
<p>As far as the UAH automatic merit awards, yes they are real and you will get them as long as you apply by the priority deadline. Well worth an application. That award and a few others are listed in the financial aid forum pinned in a thread to the top.</p>