It sounds like your S24 liked the vibe a lot more at the lower ranked school and as a result, everything just sort of “clicked” for him. That’s a success!
Just remember what the YCBK podcast says: College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.
My oldest did. She’s 2 years in and couldn’t be happier. She turned down UVA and Michigan for Saint Louis University. She got lots of insensitive reactions but thankfully she couldn’t care less about prestige and was not fazed. When we visited Saint Louis University everything clicked for her. She loved the vibe and the academic program for her major (she’s in a direct admit 6 year Doctorate of Physical Therapy program- no grad school applications for her and saving a year of of schooling). One big pro of going to a school where you are on the high end academically is that I think it’s far easier to remain one of the very top performers.
There’s a local outbreak of whooping cough around here. Pretty sure my kid has it but the test result isn’t back yet. The urgent-care doctor says this is one of the weaker vaccines, so you can get it even if vaxxed. The window for the awful whooping-sounding cough is 1 to 10 weeks, which takes us through all the fun graduation day trips, parties, ceremonies, plus the family beach trip.
There is a case of whooping cough at our high school as well!
Just FYI, our doctor said it’s pretty contagious and the contagious period lasts up to 3 weeks if not treated with an antibiotic. So tell your kid to be careful!
Ugh. I was just thinking today as I sat in the urgent care that I am overdue for my tetanus/pertussis vaccine update. I remember I got my last booster when my S24 was a baby, so that’s been at least 16 years ago. 
ETA: now that I think about it, aren’t you on the South Shore or Cape Cod? I remember you’re somewhere in state here. I have a friend who lives on the North Shore and she sent me a note on Monday that her son’s high school had a case of pertussis also. I guess it is going around Massachusetts.
ETA2: I remember at some point, I think it’s when I was in college, I had to have a test to see if I had pertussis. That was the worst “swab” I have ever had and I hope none of you or your children have to have it. 
There is a fantastic book called Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be.
It’s a really good read and will help ease your mind. Your kid will do fine. Big fish in a small pond.
Oregon has an outbreak too.
My kid chose the 3rd ranked school out of the acceptances but it was by far the best fit and an excellent university. The differences in rank weren’t huge though.
Also taking AP Lit today but she is very happy it doesn’t matter, her college only gives credit for one AP English course and she passed Lang last year.
Yup- all close contacts have already been contacted and thankfully she is not one of them.
LOL maybe she has a kid at the same school- I am on the North Shore.
S back from AP lit exam. He didn’t realize it was going to be digital (he’s homeschooled, so took it at a school nearby that let him test (instead of, say, at the school my husband TEACHES AT right down the street that won’t let him. But that’s a different story); presumably the AP lit teachers told their own students it would be digital, but no one told us) so there was a tense moment where they told him he wouldn’t be able to test because he didn’t know his college board login. But then they let him look it up on his phone.
My son is also homeschooled but unfortunately our local PS where he tested did paper tests. 
He’s just glad it is done.
Now to finish his DE classes—one physics homework; about 10 calculus homeworks (all digital; one is assigned for each section they cover and none are due until the day of the final; he wasn’t careful about keeping up with them 
); and studying for and taking 4 finals.
A week from tomorrow at 8:30 am he will be done with his senior year!
AP Lit is done and no drama today! This is D24s least favorite subject and she was dreading 3hrs of lit testing. She said it went okay and she might have gotten the 4 she needs for college credit. She’s thrilled it’s done. Now just Calc BC to go on Monday and perhaps a makeup Chem exam if Monday’s gets invalidated which we are assuming will be the case (there were 2 student activated fire alarms 
).
Ugh I’m so sorry! A make up AP chem exam sounds dreadful!
My kid did not chose highly ranked prestigious schools but the one that was best for him. It stings a little for me when other parents try to brag to me that their kids are in our big state school and I almost want to tell them- yeah my kid got in there as well but chose what was best for them- but then I realize that nobody else really cares. It is so much more important how they do once they go to college than which college they go to…
My DC has not committed yet. our two choices are Purdue and UCLA. His intended major is biology on premed track. Financially UCLA is more expensive. we are told to not spend too much on undergrad if grad school is in the plan. cost wise Purdue is 2 times cheaper than UCLA.
And outstanding in its own right.
Don’t spend too much, especially if affordability is at play - i.e. loans or future loans that could be avoided or minimized.
D24 had AP Lit and Comp Gov today after Stats yesterday - she felt like her hand was going to fall off from all of the writing! Tomorrow is her last day of classes, AP physics and prom next Friday, then just some fun end of year activities. On top of all that - D20 graduates this weekend. I’m on the edge of tears it seems every day - so proud of both of them but unsure of how to handle all of the emotions.
As a Bruin alum, I loved my time there and got a great education. But I wouldn’t (and, if I’m honest, couldn’t) pay OOS for UCLA over half price at Purdue. And, most frustratingly, Purdue currently has a better basketball program. 