Another recommendation for GW. I guess if it’s not too late it should go on the list.
I’m not one of the students I’m asking this question for, but my personal choices based purely on general information I’ve gleaned here and there are: UMich (yes, huge, impersonal, but rigor and brand are not questionable), NYU (great program & NYC offers a lot for teen to learn and grow from), Georgetown (for future policy work, but hard to get in & probably not realistic).
If the student wants to go to graduate school, my understanding is that any of these universities would do a good job of preparing them for it. Or are there shades of gradations among them that one should consider?