Just wanted to give an update. My son applied to 15 schools in the end.
Accepted at:
Eckerd College (scholarship + honors program)
New College of Florida (scholarship)
University of Miami (scholarship)
Bates College
University of Texas at Austin (in-state)
University of Hawai’i at Hilo
University of Hawai’i at Manoa (in-state tuition scholarship + honors)
UCSC (regent + dean’s scholarships)
UCLA
UCSB
UCSD
Waitlisted at: Bowdoin College
Denied at: Duke, Stanford and Swarthmore
All were admits to Marine Biology programs. We visited all schools, but as the year progressed his priorities started to change, and in the end he fell in love with the school that is not the strongest in Marine Biology, but has excellent academics, and where he simply felt the most at home. We are happy with his choice (although it surprised us), especially since he wants to stay in academia, and go on to a Ph.D, in the future, so UCLA will give him a good foundation.
Thank you all again for all your input!