Also, don’t underestimate the marketing drive that St Andrews has been making in the US. They are at nearly every college fair, with pictures of historic buildings, students in Harry Potterish scholars gowns (though theirs are red), and talk of traditions hundreds of years old. US student can apply through the Common App, the StAs people will talk about ECs and GPAs in a way most UK unis won’t- all making it a safe, easy way to have a big adventure. I have seen US student’s who get into StAs post “I’m going to Hogwarts!!” on their fb pages.