@dadof4kids S19’s list was almost all LACs. All RD. The deal is this - one has to show that they fit. Those essays are very important. The AOs have to see that the student fits on the campus. LACs are small and have certain vibes. I know it’s hard to impossible to visit now but I would have your D spend as much time on schools’ websites as she can. Reach out to students if she knows any at the schools.
For the LACs, they need athletes, musicians, writers, etc. and they need to fill up each sort of cohort. Can’t have even a tiny dance dept without a few dancers. These schools accept kids who they think will get what they need from the school. If a student is an outdoor enthusiast and their app shows they like to hike or ski, it seems they are more likely to be admitted to a school that could offer that environment. This also might have something to do with yield. They want to accept kids who will enroll so they need to see the fit.
If the app has a way to show your D knows the school well by offering up a supplemental question asking “why our school”, have her dig deep and be very personal in her answer and show she understands what the school stands for and give specific examples of what she would like to do once on campus.
I don’t know if your D is limiting her apps and I hate to be the one who says send a lot, but that would be my advice. Lol. But she will need to really spend time on those essays.