Re: BU: " Applicants to the Accelerated Program will be considered only for admission to this program."
https://www.bu.edu/admissions/apply/first-year/accelerated-medical-requirements/
Schools like BU and Northeastern are aware that many applicants consider them as safeties given that the students’ stats put them in the top 25% of accepted students. Thus they will look for “demonstrated interest” which may include visiting campus and attending an infosession, registering at a college fair, submitting an optional essay etc. They don’t expect to be the first choice but rather a school a student would be happy to attend if HYPSM do not come through.