<p>There are plenty of colleges that love quirky kids, and they’re not all as hard to get into as Princeton or MIT! I think that OP really needs suggestions of good fits beyond this most selective tier and some support for recognizing that he will make plenty of good, like-minded friends at schools that aren’t as prestigious, but will offer as good an education!! Marite, every time I read a post from you, it seems like you’re always suggesting a top-tier school. There is a vibrant intellectual life at many, many schools beyond these! And, in fact, might be a better fit for the kid whose high school record doesn’t reflect their intellectual capabilities.</p>