? Harvard vs Williams is not the same as Andover vs LA but I get your point. Sure safety has a negative conotation but I think that was part of the point @417WHB was making. Don’t apply to schools you don’t really like just because you think you will definitely get in. If you are choosing a less rigorous/intense school for your own personality reasons that is fit and that’s great. If you apply to such a school as a “safety” but would not actually be happy there what’s the point? My son is like that. He would not be happy so he chose not to apply to a “safety” school.