OK, maybe not a safety. Wrong word. More like with mid 1500s (1550?) she will likely also have acceptances at other colleges that are considered more prestigious.
@momo2x2018 It happened with my daughter a few years ago. Deferred from EA. D was very upset. GC asked her if this is where she will definitely go if accepted, and made her understand the seriousness of saying yes. (If D said yes, and GC went out on a limb for her, and then D did not enroll, it would not be good for GC.) Anyway, D said yes, I said yes, GC called her contact at UMich, and about a week or two later D got her acceptance. I’ve told a few others in our HS to do this after being deferred from EA if they were absolutely sure this is where they wanted to go. Worked like a charm every time.
@brantly I agree. Our GC at my kids schools had solid contacts at various known schools. But you are correct. The kids have to be perfectly sure they will attend or that favor to look at a certain students more seriously will just go away the next time. Gc’s commonly recommend students that they feel would be a good fit for certain schools. If I think about it… It’s sort of part of their jobs to do so.
That may well be the case. If your GC can contact the adcom and assure your interest to attend while you are within the range, that may help your chance. That would be a more direct indication of your interest than guessing from your essay.
Add me to the waiting list and this will be the last school pending!