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James Farr, 18, has been accepted at Harvard and Princeton in America, as well as Cambridge University, University College London and the University of York in the UK. He has become the first student from his school to get a scholarship for Harvard, which receives 57,435 applications for just 1,900 places each year.

And the teenager admits his “gut says America” – despite being close to his family in the UK.

Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live, James said: “It’s pretty crazy trying to decide, there are so many options to weigh up.

“But my gut is saying Harvard, I quite fancy the adventure of going to America.

“They have pretty much offered me a full scholarship. I never thought I would even get an offer, it is ridiculous.”

The student, from Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire, wrote his personal statement when he was having a cup of tea with his beloved grandmother.

I wrote my personal statement essay about having a cup of tea with my grandma who I am very close to. She cried when I read her the essay

James Farr

James added: “I wrote my personal statement essay about having a cup of tea with my grandma who I am very close to.

“She cried when I read her the essay. All these top universities in the world have been reading about her.”

The teen’s mum Suzanna Daykin Farr, 52, is proud of her boy.

Suzanna, a performance analyst for the police, said: “When he got the acceptance email, we looked at each other and said ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’.

“His teachers have no knowledge of anyone achieving this, it is unprecedented.

“He’s a normal, working-class, lad. It is mind-blowing.

“James had a normal upbringing, his father and I split when he was three. He went to Abbey Gates Primary School where I went.

“He was a tenacious lad but not academic at all. He threw himself into anything sporty or to do with performing arts.

“My mantra has always been if you’ve done your best that’s enough for me.”

James achieved the top-performing GCSEs in the year group and is now taking his A-Level exams this week.

He has until May 3 to make the all-important decision about the university which will shape his future.

The teenager only started looking at universities a few months back, after being predicted the equivalent of A* grades.

James saved his wages as a part-time waiter to pay the application fees for each university which amounts to a few hundred pounds each.

“Some achievers never have these opportunities but James has proven you can do it,” Suzanna added.

“First, he decided he would apply to Oxbridge and then the American universities too. Why shouldn’t he have the same opportunities as other students?

“He spent hours filling in application forms. When he got into Cambridge to study English Literature it was the most fantastic, surreal moment. That felt like the highest honour.”

She continued: “But with Cambridge, he would end up in £80,000 of debt. But with the American universities, he has scholarships worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, so he can come home debt-free.

“As a mother, I don’t want my only child to go abroad for four years but he is 18 and I tell him he has to make his own decisions.

“I think he will go to Harvard and have the most amazing experience. It’s just phenomenal.”

James offered some advice to young people who might aspire to go to some of the top universities in the world.

He said: “The main thing is being authentic with your application.

“I have written 35 different essays for all the schools I applied for and I have done it completely independently.

“I want people to know that you can get into these places from any background.”

Andrew Jacques, Head of Sixth Form for The Joseph Whitaker School, said: “We’re proud that it’s not uncommon for pupils here at Joseph Whitaker to receive offers from Oxford and Cambridge. However, it is unprecedented for a student to be holding offers from this many prestigious universities, including Harvard and Princeton in the US.

“It is a truly outstanding achievement for James, who has our emphatic congratulations, although it’s hard to be surprised knowing what a dedicated and talented young man he has proven himself to be.”

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