That's a tough one because he sounds like a great kid. He appears to have balance between work and fun and what's important. Since I don't have teenagers I would suggest that if you know someone who is currently attending the college he wants to attend, to have him talk to them about getting in. i.e. what he needs to focus on, with emphasis on why this person LOVES the college he/she is attending. That way he can see from a real person what it's like. Or likewise, maybe do the same with a person you know who wishes they had gotten into the college of their choice, and ended up attending somewhere else. Like I said, it may not be the best advice, I just know that sometimes our kids will listen to ANYBODY other than their parents, and it has a bigger impact. Best of Luck!