They’re not in the Ivy League, so they are happy not to be included in this insanity. For that matter, they, and “the Big 3,” likely roll their eyes at the moniker HYPSM
To be clear, each college defines “demonstrated interest” as it chooses. Penn’s definition is applying ED. And that is the only way interest can be demonstrated in the admissions sense. Otherwise, they don’t care if you visit, go in a tour, ask a question, etc.
Hi Linda, thank you for your response. You have to consider that:
out of the US Harvard’s brand is huge. There are funds that only hire people from Harvard. If you do your homework, you find out that Dartmouth’s network is huge for banking in Wall Street, but the brand factor is different if you think you are coming back to Europe. Is a silly selection proccess? Sure, I agree, but that is how it is. Not in the movies, not so big brand. Once you do your homework, you learn that Harvard is a better place for professional schools than undergraduate, that Carnegie Mellon is number 1 in robotics, and Cornell has te most comprenhensive engineering program. But then you go back to Paris and tell a potential employer you come from Cornell or Harvard, and it makes a world of difference.
The exclusion of the other big 5 is based on the idea of financial aid which I think is easier in the 3 mentioned, and Stanford is west coast, which makes everything harder from Europe. But I can be wrong, thank you very much for your help.
The core of my question is, being harvard a clear and definite number one (fair or unfair): Is there any college where one makes better use of your only “Early” bullet, I mean, is there any comparable institution where applying early period is going to give you a much bigger relative advantage?
Thank you very much!
I was surprised to see both list interest on their CDS.
That said, any school that doesn’t include demonstrated interest - like Emory and WUSTL no longer do - it’s kind of bs because as @skieurope says, applying early - unless they state that it makes zero impact in doing so - that alone is demonstrated interest whether they claim it matters or not. WUSTL still has it on the last year (21/22 CDS) but website says they don’t track any longer - just as a foot note - but assuming the unhooked student has a better chance ED than note - then of course they do.
No doubt. As you are aware though, those five letters are simply easier to type. 
Sure, ED is the ultimate expression of interest. As far as indicating interest in their assessment criteria, only Penn and Dartmouth have that box ticked in section C7 of the CDS so that’s what I refer to.
OP, you haven’t yet mentioned how you will pay. Please share how you plan to address that part of your plan.
This sentence from OP is telling -
“The exclusion of the other big 5 is based on the idea of financial aid which I think is easier in the 3 mentioned”
To me then, OP should include Dartmouth, Amherst, Bowdoin, and I’m missing one…and a hail mary at the W&L Johnson.
But he says he would only study in the US at “top schools” as he has great options elsewhere.
But it sounds like aid will be needed.
@linda the HYP list is because they work on demonstrated need and take in the internationals. Thank you all for your help, I didn’t know about Penn’s policy on interest, but they don’t work blind + demonstrated need for internationals.
thank you all, this is great help.
yes of course, financial aid is needed.
I will look Armherst inmediately thank you.
Just because a school isn’t need blind doesn’t mean they don’t meet demonstrated need.
So your three and Amherst, Bowdoin, Dartmouth - and the 7th escapes me but someone will chime in are need blind.
But schools like Washington & Lee (and it has the Johnson which is better than demonstrated need in the sense that 10% of the class gets - but they also meet need too (on an aware basis) and Franklin & Marshall and others meet 100% - but are not blind in admission.
Still worth a shot unless back to your statement - only certain schools are worth it reputationally.
Good luck.
MIT
well! sure they are worth. The more I study and contact american academic institutions, the more I like them all, how they care for people etc.
It’s just my personal situation / options, I don’t pretend to judge what is worth or not, I just compare to my “best home option” for my personal circumstances. Consider that big brand names are a passport to a great job anywhere, but some objetively great colleges bind you to staying in the US at least at the beginning of your career.
Thank you very much indeed for your help and luck 
None do that. And TBH, staying in the US after university is not a viable option for most.
Well maybe I could express myself in english better than I do. What I mean is: An american’s point of view is not the same as a european’s.
After doing my research, I am closer to you and have similar information, but not my prospective employers. Case A → deciding going to study abroad to the US for a worldwide recognized “brand” makes you a good prospect for any company anywhere. Case B → deciding to go abroad for college to a brand that is BETTER but does not have such a recognition may get you a good job in an american firm, even UK firm, but not in Paris. So you are “tied” to them even if your college experience is better.
You never know where life is going to take you, but, at the present moment, It is a very different decision.
Your point is clear. I don’t know enough to know if it’s valid but it’s clear.
Getting a job in America itself would require sponsorship and be unlikely, but not impossible. An American firm abroad…of course.
What is your major or end goal career wise ?
I understood it well enough.
As an Argentine national, there are challenges for all 3. Getting a job offer in the US is complicated for any foreign national. Getting a job offer from a UK company without a UK degree and an Argentine passport is unlikely. Ditto for France and most EU nations.
And additionally: pretty much impossible if you don’t speak the local language fluently.
engeniering / data / business in college → business / finance industry
The 3 ivies you picked are not pre professional in the way you are looking at things. None of them offer business. Data is not something you should tout when you are applying to them. And only Princeton in that list (with Harvard far away) has any presence in Engg. Are you sure you know why you are getting into these places?
He is applying because people have heard of them - I think
Clearly if he wants Engg, MIT / Cornell should be on the list. And maybe Berkeley.
OP needs FA, so Berkeley is not an option