Geez, I tend to think I'm fairly intelligent, but I cannot for the life of me follow the issue here. High school requirements and college admissions must have really changed. I had a 4.0 in high school, and chose to go to community college because of the cost and also I do better in a smaller, less competitive environment. Also, students get more feedback from instructors than a big uni. I then took a year off to travel, applied to a prestigious university and was offered a scholarship.

I share this as a way to say that there are all sorts of possibilities out there and some are not known until you're in it. They can't be predicted and nailed down. In fact, I think it's good to be flexible and not make things so overly complicated. Your son is only in the 8th grade. Let him make the most of that, and continue to support his mental health. The later is the biggest investment in his future success.

I went on to get my masters, by the way. My route was anything by conventional or speedy, but it suited me and my mh challenges. Let your son determine his own future, and focus on a healthy body and mind first.