We’ve known since S21 was in middle school that he was going to be a research scientist in nanotechnology which means he’ll need a PhD. Challenge has been what does he do for undergrad and where.
Consensus is that he needs a solid STEM education at a school where he can do undergrad research. The research opportunities matter more than whether the school is elite or not.
And then goto graduate school where he can do the specific research that interests him.
There are many threads on CC that discuss that where you get your terminal degree matters much more than Where you get your Undergraduate.