<p>I applied ED with absolutely no help, completely self-funded (I have to say the process is astronomically expensive!). I wouldn't call myself disadvantaged but I go to a state school in the UK and don't belong to any institution/trust so in relation to most other British applicants I haven't had the same level of support, financially or otherwise (eg. coaching for SAT and SATIIs and essay help)</p>
<p>SAT I: 2150 (M: 720 CR: 730 W: 700)
SAT IIs: MathI: 770, MathII: 760, Physics: 760</p>
<p>GCSE grades: 8A<em>s, 3As (highest possible A</em>)
AS grades: 6As (highest possible A)
Predicted A2s: 5A<em>s (highest possible A</em>)
(so you know, the standard Cambridge University student gets about 2/3 A*s at A2 level)</p>
<p>ECs:
Soccer player for county (state), National Cup semi-finalist, captain of school team, MVP etc
Regional Model United Nations winner two years consecutively - presented my proposals to MPs in Houses of Parliament (UK centre of government)
And quite a few more but these are not really the limiting factor in my application (i know this is open to debate but they compare reasonably to other applicants' ECs)</p>
<p>I don't hold out much hope for my application so don't worry about disappointing me, just wanted to get a few opinions! I've got an interview at Cambridge University next week but I would definitely choose Harvard! Critique away... ;)</p>
<p>those schools are a reach for everyone, but in my opinion, your application won’t be very competitive compared to that of many other applicants at those schools.</p>
<p>your stats are still stellar, though! 
good luck!</p>
<p>When you apply as an international student you will be ranked against your peers from your country/region. So if a particular school receives 10 applicants from England, they will normally pick 5 students whose applications stand out. Your grades and SAT score look reasonable and should allow your application to at least get a serious look. Make sure your admissions essays are amazing as that will probably be your saving grace.</p>
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<p>Well, you can’t have done that.</p>
<p>First of all, none of those 3 has Early Decision; they all have Single Choice Early Action.</p>
<p>I suppose you could have applied to all three under their Single Choice Early Action programs, but I hope you didn’t. That would have been a huge blunder. The terms of SCEA at each of those universities would prohibit you from applying under SCEA to the other two.</p>
<p>If you did submit three SCEA applications, you should rectify the situation immediately. Decide which of the three is your top choice. Then contact the other two at once and ask to have your application moved from the SCEA pool to the Regular Decision applicant pool.</p>
<p>@Sikorsky apologies, I have indeed applied to Harvard SCEA and shall apply to Yale and Princeton RD if that falls through. If anybody would like to read my essays PM me? (:</p>
<p>That’s a relief!</p>
<p>That brings us around to your original question, then, but unfortunately, I have no expertise in that area. I could offer you an opinion, but it would be utterly uninformed–as opposed to the opinions I normally give on College Confidential, which are merely somewhat uninformed!</p>
<p>So I think I’ll simply offer the usual platitudes about your seeming to be an extremely well qualified applicant, but the competition for admission being exceedingly intense among international applicants, and then wish you success and happiness wherever you eventually attend university.</p>