<p>Be careful with your “safeties.” Lafayette, Lehigh et al may be sensitive to being “used as a safety.” You don’t want to get a reject letter because a school thought you were not seriously interested. Make sure that your essays show solid knowledge of each school and why it is a fit for you (and you for it). Visit or have other forms of contact, which some of these schools track, again to ensure that you have demonstrated interest in the ways Admissions is watching for.</p>