applying to courses with point difference?

scored 14 nett and i really want common science programme nyp (COP:12),is it worth a shot to put csp as first choice and try my luck??I’m also going to put courses with COP of 14 and above for the rest of my choices as a safety net.However,my mom told me not to waste “the first choice” by putting a course that i cant meet its cop.And that I will enter courses ranked as the last few since i “wasted the first choice”.To what extent is this true? should I just not waste the first choice??