@cptofthehouse- Judging kids unfavorably because their apps made them look advantaged, while judging other kids favorably because they appeared disadvantaged, is not “need blind” in my opinion.
Moreover, as the cost of college at elite institutions approaches 65k and 70k per year, the pool of no-need applicants is extremely tiny. The vast majority of even “advantaged” students will require some institutional aid, or the school will be unavailable to them. Therefore, I must conclude that the vast majority of applicants to these schools will be seeking some sort of aid. Maybe not full COA, but certainly a hefty discount.