The question is: Is he really self-reliant enough to go away to college?
Perhaps he is…but perhaps the parents are doing more than they realize for the student.
Does he do homework without prompting?
Does he know what homework to do?
Does he forget to write homework down?
Does he get up by himself?
Can he keep track of when he needs to do things? In HS, you go from one class to another. In college, classes are not necessarily sequential.
Does he remember to eat?
Just saying that in HS and at home there are usually people telling you/reminding you to do things but at college you are all on your own.