I would apply for need everywhere. If you need a lot of aid the digging ditches scenario really isn’t going to work. There’s only so much you can borrow. If you don’t need much aid it won’t hurt you much with fully need aware schools, not at all at need blind schools, and possibly not at all at partially need aware schools (e.g. Bates, mentioned in #16.) At the latter category of schools most of the class is composed need blind, and it’s only when the FA budget is almost maxed out that admissions takes into account the ability to pay. At this point it’s the applicants who requires full funding who are at a distinct disadvantage, while full pay students are at an advantage and those with little need are probably in a neutral position.