Make sure not to go to Southern California; that's the worst school in the world.
This fact cannot be stressed enough. If that's the only college I get into my senior year, I'll have to do a complete 180 on my hatred of the Trojans -- something I do not wish to do. Plus, I doubt that Antonio would like it very much...
If I was in your shoes, Antonio, I would personally try for Columbia, Chicago, Penn, or Princeton; though we might have different interests. If you really want the quintessential "American" college experience, do as Xahar said, and go to
Michigan. It's a shame Stanford isn't on your list; it's one of our top universities, has laid back Californian-weather, and has a great football program to boot. I would have chosen there.
I agree with Torie's list (except for #14, there's no reason to go to the state of Arizona).
Also I assume George Washington's political science program is good, and you'd be in DC, so that would be good choice. I'd definitely try for Princeton, Columbia or NYU if I were in your shoes though.
Torie didn't notice Northwestern. That would be up there with my alma mater, the University of Chicago, but I suspect Antonio would be happier with Northwestern. The U of C is for eggheads. Antonio however seems to want a more intimate place than a large university, although the college at the University of Chicago is quite intimate, about 3,000 students or something.
As you know, I'm interested in UChicago... is it really that small, though? I always assumed it was around five thousand students. Still, a lot smaller than Northwestern.
