I 100% agree with @MOMANDBOYSTWO - The most stringent schools would not, for example, let you apply to Tulane’s most prestigious scholarship which requires an early action application, whereas Stanford’s would. (Without double-checking, I think that MIT is off the table for any of the SCEA or REA and there is no merit on the table there, although Miami is probably fine).
Shades of difference do matter. As @happy1 said, there are no shortcuts.