@gmf001 please read this linked thread. It’s old…from 2007…but is on point…and admissions have become more competitive since 2006 when this story started. As a forward….the student was a NMF, top student at his high school, award winner, top SAT scores, etc. He got no acceptances (and yes, @ucbalumnus will remind me that he really had no sure things on his list the first time). No one expected this outcome for such a very strong student.
He did land on his feet quite well after taking a gap year…but let’s just say…the last part of his senior year of high school wasn’t a happy time.
Please read…and think about those safety sure thing schools…