<p>The answer is simple. If Harvard is your first choice, apply early there. You can apply to QB and just ask them to forward your application to the RD, without ever going through the Match process. Unfortunately, you’re required to submit the Common App for all the schools you’re interested in, and there’s evidence that they don’t look at or take the QB app into consideration. It’s unclear.</p>
<p>On the other hand, you’d have the opportunity to apply to four schools early, but of course you can only get Matched to one. So whether you do Harvard EA or the Match process, you will get into at most 1 school early. Since Harvard is your first choice, it makes more sense to apply to it early. If you’re so inclined, apply to QB and, if chosen as a finalist, opt out of the Match and ask them to forward your application to the RD round. I think you can also ask them to send it to the RD round for other schools as well (and they might be more likely to look at the QB app).</p>
<p>(For the record, I participated in QB programs in high school and have worked for them while at Stanford)</p>