<p>Harvard does not consider “level of applicant’s interest”, and presumably knows that it is often the winner in cross-admit choices, or that if it is not an applicant’s first choice, the applicant’s first choice is probably another reach-for-everyone school that s/he may not be admitted to.</p>
<p>It is more of a concern at schools which consider “level of applicant’s interest” and which presumably do not like seeing that they are being used as a safety.</p>