<p>You answered the most important question – can you pay – last! But that’s the FIRST thing schools will want to know. It sounds like you will need significant financial aid. So you need to apply to a wide variety of schools – not just “elite” ones, Ivies or LACs in the northeast. All these schools are HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, your competition will be other outstanding Asian students with outstanding stats/grades/CVs. To increase your chances, consider schools in less-popular parts of the US: the middle states (often called mid-west), mountain states, and the south. In order to be considered for financial aid, you must have very high test scores (SAT or ACT, SATII), a great essay and interesting ECs which show your interests and accomplishments outside the classroom. Schools will be asking themselves, what can this candidate contribute to our campus? What can she/he DO FOR US? </p>