@417WHB Sorry but your words are confusing, so kids will be happy at a #4 but not at a "safety? OK, that’s confusing to me.
Actually many kids on this board have been happy with their #2 or #3 “safety” and some if you look at posters on for a long time have really thrived. Whether they attended due to acceptances or FA, or other reasons, we can only guess.
Kids often go for the name school and then when faced with the choice between their top school and no BS, chose the latter. I honestly think most of the schools can offer kids a great education.
Any kid that thinks they are too good for anything is usually going to be unhappy anywhere. There are lots of entitled kids these days and BS do get some of those. I honestly think BS are trying to screen out kids who have this entitled attitude. You can sure see it a mile away ( in kids at private or public).
Schools cannot “guess” who is serious or not about the school. Many students are nervous during interviews or go to multiple schools in a day. This is very common and the AO’s know it. They do try to determine if a kid is likely to attend by asking pointed questions.
Agree kids should only apply to schools they would be happy to attend. But please folks don’t fall for the false assumption that only PA or PEA or only a list of the very top schools is the only place for you or that you shouldn’t keep an open mind. Applying and not receiving an acceptance means a year going elsewhere and all that entails.
And the idea that you should not apply to a wide variety of schools because you have high stats is erroneous. This is especially true if you need FA or have an unusual talent. A school might love you but not have a place for you. Broadening your search is wise. And schools know that it’s a process. They will pick the best kids.
My advice would be to have a broad list of different schools at different levels. Pick some safeties (I’m going to define a safety as a school where you have much better than average stats). And if you have high stats pick schools in the next tier down just in case.