I think a key thing is to decide if you really are okay with LACs or not. If you took them off, you’d have a much smaller list. The benefit is the close knit community and all classes are small. Also, Asian applicants get an admissions boost at some LACs (e.g., Davidson) b/c they are under-represented. But you have to decide if college with about 2000 students is right for you. I’d recommend visiting at least one if at all possible. And yes, when students are in session b/c they are super quiet in the summer.
Agree you need to assume you’ll pay the NPC at all the selectives b/c either they don’t have merit or if they do, it doesn’t stack on top of need.
Vandy is pretty preppy – that may be why you didn’t like it. Since you’ve visited and it felt off, I’d take it off the list.