There’s nothing special about high achieving kids crashing and burning in college. All kids, whether they go to college or not, have to decide on their course of action. Many “make it” or “make it after some shakiness.” Others don’t and it’s always sad. A few of those can change their lives around later pending circumstances. Testimonials abound for them, but not as much for those who don’t make it.
It’s more or less a right of passage I suppose. I haven’t found any way to guarantee kids make the right choices once they are truly out on their own. For those who live at home, the passage is just kicked down the block a bit, but it comes.