<p>You should only apply ED if a school is your absolute first choice. Dont’ use an ED simply to work the system to your advantage. I’d apply to Harvard SCEA if that is your top choice.</p>
<p>I would also consider applying to couple of other school in between VT and your top choices. If you didn’t like JHU (the obvious choice to me but I see you didn’t like it), perhaps Carnegie Mellon? Vanderbilt? GA Tech? UMichigan?</p>