Did he check the box on the UC application for any other UCs besides UCB?
If he is highly motivated to self-study CS, he can go through the course materials at https://inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/classes-eecs.html (start with CS 61A, 61B, 61C, 70, or CS 10 if very minimal to no programming experience).
I agree with the question about what his 650 was in. If it was math or CR, he very well could be shut out of his entire list. It would be a shame to see him end up not getting into a four year college because he didn’t realize that he should have put some match schools in his list, and that he may have a significant flaw in his app with that score.
Need blind does not mean what you probably think it does. It merely means that they will admit without worrying about whether you can pay, and they don’t commit to providing enough aid. “Meets need” is what he wants. If he doesn’t get in anyplace this year, he will not be in a favorable position for admissions next year to meets need or close schools after 2 gap years.
Most schools that meet need have good research opportunities. They don’t have to be top 15 schools. A dose of admissions reality really seems in order here.
Thanks all, truly, for your input and suggestions for my son. He is definitely aware of odds and reality in college admissions. Husband and I will continue to encourage more applications to safeties and support from the sidelines. He is a bright, hardworking and independent kid and will work it out, I’m sure. My aim wasn’t so much to discuss my son’s credentials and options, chances, etc but to decompress a tad as a parent, away from the college application threads, about the nervous jitters of milestones and college admissions for me as a parent. Wondering if anyone else has moments as a parent where they are eager to see how their children’s futures will pan out, and processing at the same time the bittersweetness of letting them go and grow. It’s not my norm, but I felt like taking a moment to process it. I think the jitters have mostly passed. 
It was two years ago for my daughter and I had serious jitters. My daughter’s admissions year went on much longer than expected. We needed merit. She got offers from her first admission in early October until the competitive merit offer surprise in mid-April. It was stressful and a year of shifting sands, but it was worth it and she is now a sophomore at a school that is perfect for her. You can’t take the stress away, it is part of the process, hang in there.
Agree with the poster who pointed out if the 650 was in math or reading, that could be problematic for that list of schools.
Does he have more than 2 subject tests? Usually for home schooled kids, colleges like to see several.
He sounds like a great kid, but do think you could reduce your jitters by adding a match and a safety school. Good luck
Working and then going back to college at a later date may not be a bad path. And if everyone is OK with that path, then you can just kick back and not worry.
Yes. I wanted to chime in and extend you a virtual hug! We were a homeschooling family, and what you’re experiencing is consistent with many feelings that I had last year when our son was making his applications.
It’s a strange thing to be so extremely involved and invested in your child’s education, and then to have to pull away and let them take the wheel. There are many issues wrapped up in there, not the least of which is that your job in life is changing. And then, of course, you have all the conventional worrying that any first-time college parent will have.
Chances are, there are better days ahead. Our son is in his spring semester of freshman year, and doing well. I wanted to encourage you to look at some safety and state options where he could still get an excellent education. We followed more of a delight-directed learning path when son was younger but it has been good for him, in terms of university life, to be in a system that is more formatted, with a clear path on what he needs to do. It has helped to smooth out some of the rough edges of a non-traditional education (which was wonderful for him btw). I, too, think your net should cast a little wider.
Are you a member of any local homeschooling support groups? They often have veteran moms who have been through the college application and financing process. We had a mom who put together a booklet and ran a little consulting business on the side, helping families with all this stuff.
You are entering deep water, but luckily with technology and forums there are many maps and charts to follow! Fight your anxiety with solid, actionable steps. Make sure to look at different pathways. Have faith that all will be well. You have done your best. Great job!
I have occasionally homeschooled each of my three, for a year or 6 months, that kind of thing, so I know how much you have put into his education, yourself. Congratulations on raising a wonderful young man.
We all have trouble finding balance between honoring our kids’ autonomy and still guiding them when needed (if tolerated) toward the end of high school years. I understand you wanted to let your son direct the college application process, and he may have just taken the reins.
Honestly, I would say that applying to all reaches the first time around was not good judgment, not because of the possibility of being stranded so much as the lack of knowledge of the wide range of schools that his choices showed. For instance, check out the Colleges that Change Lives website (and book). Some of those schools are also consistent in approach with homeschooling (Hampshire for one, also add Marlboro, Bennington). There are also schools like Bard and Oberlin that are selective and a bit alternative. We loved Clark, which is on the list. And for science, many of the UC’s would probably be good, including UCSD.
To apply to all reaches the second time around, including some of the same schools, after being rejected, defies reason. Sorry, but it really does. I feel for him and for you. But why is he so stuck on prestige? I would look at that. Does he need validation after homeschooling, does he need to feel legitimized? Has he felt marginalized in some way ? There must be some reason he is only applying to these top schools because it is not, on the surface, reasonable. Is he afraid to go to college and sabotaging his chances of leaving?
I know this is not why you posted but maybe your jitters are related to what you know to be true, that he has mismanaged his applications to some extent. Of course, a second application shows persistence and he may very well get in- I hope so!
We all feel a lot of things as our kids reach this point. I personally found the leaving of the oldest to be the hardest. When I left him at college, it was just hard to believe. And coming home is never the same again, it is true. Even though many do come home!
Some of us have kids with health challenges or other challenges and worry a lot when they leave. But even without those, this may be the hardest thing you do in your life: letting go. But I would also caution, don’t let go too much! You will struggle with the rest of us to find that balance. Good luck!
Read this thread. It’s one that really should be a must read for everyone. Andison had everything it took to get into a top school. He, however, had NO safety schools on his first list either. He was rejected by all…after an agonizing time in a waitlist as well.
Second round…he retooled his list. He did apply again to one school…and was rejected. Period. However he did gain acceptance to a great school.
The differences…andison had consistent SAT scores and the three subtests. To be honest, a 650 is not going to rise to the top of the pack of applications if it is in CR or Math. Andison also had stellar SAT 2 scores. BUT most importantly, he had a very interesting gap year that he was able to highlight on his applications the second time around.
And for the record…the schools on andison’ list have become MORE competitive for admittions than they were 10 years ago.
If the 650 and 800 were his CR and math scores on the old SAT…that is 1450. These competitive schools have plenty of kids with scores of 1600 or close to it. 1450…sure…some…but not slam dunk for admission.
The 650 your son has, if in CR or Math could be an issue at top schools. You have said his gap year is really more of the same…not anything new that he could highlight to adcoms.
Maybe he will get accepted to Chicago…maybe. But if it was his top choice, why didn’t he get his act together for an ED 1 application?
Your kid needs a safety school or two on his application list. And Berkeley is NOT a safety school.
I do not know much on UCs’ admission standard. Would a 650 in math or CR create admission issues with UCB, UCLA, or UCSD?
In my opinion…for those UCs…yes…a 650 would,not be a guarantee for admissions. But I’m not an adcom.
^^great advice from @compmom.
Another suggestion - take a look at University of Alabama in Huntsville. He would qualify for the full tuition scholarship if the numbers above are accurate (but double check me on this). They take applications and updated stats through May IIRC. If you’re in California it would be very far away, obviously, which is a negative.
That being said, many parents (myself included) would love to have in-state access to California public universities. I would be hard-pressed to leave California without some good alternative option.
The great news is that everything you learn with your son, you will probably be able to apply - in some way, even if it’s knowing what NOT to do - with your younger children. 
If you don’t have a comfort level with the process seek out people who can help.
@SouthFloridaMom9 with the exception of Berkeley, ALL of the schools on this application list are very far away from California…so distance was not a criteria.
However, this student is looking for a prestige school…only…it seems.
That is risky business in the college application process.
^^true @thumper.
Perhaps OP was thinking the elites would meet need to a great extent and thus the travel would be worth it. They are great schools (obviously) for students who qualify under their income thresholds.
It is hard to wait, but the waiting will be over by the end of March - not that long now. For me, it would be even harder to accept all rejections and have my kid, who is clearly an excellent student, go to community college (not that this is a bad option) because he was unwilling to look beyond the tippy top schools. There are many great schools that are a step or two farther down the list that would still provide a great education and much better job prospects. Unfortunately, most of the application deadlines for such schools have passed.
Having options in April, even if he chooses to not attend, to me would be better than being shut out. Some very good schools have Feb 1 deadlines. Throwing in an application makes sense. If he finds it too overwhelming to do one more application, I would be concerned about his ability to handle the pressures of the colleges on his list.
OTOH, as you say, he is an adult and if he wants to keep this list and live with the results, that is his choice. He is only 19 and has a lot of time to figure this all out.
If you search for colleges with Feb 1 deadlines you will see quite a number, but it will take some doing to figure out if they are need blind and if they meet financial need.
Good luck!
@prof2dad – my DD was admitted to Berkeley & other UC’s with lower test scores, but she was coming out of a regular high school with A-G requirements met and ELC (eligible in a local context) status. So a homeschooler most likely would need to qualify for admission by examination - http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/examination/index.html - and as near as I can figure from the score translation table, that requires a score of at least 580 on each of the subtests (SATs +subject tests) and a combined average of 690 on each of 5 tests. So based on the scores reported for the SAT, he would have need an average score of 615 or above on the 2 subject tests to qualify.
That’s minimum qualification, not getting into a particular school – and as far as I can tell, students who qualify for admission by examination don’t get the guaranteed admission to the system that is offered to students who qualify with coursework (ELC or Statewide Path). It is possible for homeschoolers to qualify through those routes if they have completed the A-G requirements – essentially using online coursework or other avenues to get the state-approved coursework completed.
I don’t think we can predict one way or another based on test scores because I think that the UC’s generally look at the overall combined score, not individual scores - but agree that there is no particular reason to expect admission. Most California residents who are UC bound will specify a “safety” campus on their UC application as well as their target campus.
I feel you need to apply to some safety schools as one tends to get the best merit aid as a freshman and not a transfer. He has high marks to get him a great merit package. If you reach too high you may not get any. If he goes the CC route, then he is a transfer student and will not get good merit aid. Merit aid is the good stuff as this does not have to be paid back.
With those stats and the need for aid I would have included a school with automatic merit-like Alabama. Good luck to your son.
^ CA does have pretty good fin aid for residents and plenty have gone the CC->UC route in CA.
Not the same experience as starting out at a 4-year, but he made his choices.
I think we’re making the OP more jittery with the Monday morning quarterbacking.
OP, it’s a jittery process for all of us. The truth is none of us know where our kids will end up or if they will like it there. You’ve been through this before so you know: It’s just a waiting game until it’s not.