Here is my understanding: Me, you and mom are probably more nervous and upset than the young man. I think he does not really want to go to college and he will be fine working and learning on his own. Eventually he might change his mind but right now I think he does not want to for whatever reason. It looks to me that he would give a very top school a chance but that’s as far as he is willing to go. Besides we don’t even know that if he gets accepted and goes to the college of his choice he would like it and stay and graduate. Perhaps he finds the structure of college life and learning limiting or constricting. That’s probably why he does not mind to start with CC as that will give him the freedom to keep on with his personal academic interests.
The situation reminds me of the kid that built the nuclear reactor in his garage and did not get in to MIT, everybody assuming MIT was not that impressed. My interpretation is that MIT saw in his app that the kid did not really want to “do” college and I think they were right as that student never went to college and he is very successful on his own (ok assuming the kid is who everyone thinks he is)
Anyhow, I wish the young man best of luck!