It should be mandatory for every high school freshman to read @Lindagaf’s “Average Excellent Kid” post, and @MITChris’s “Applying Sideways” post. My son was in a similar situation to OP, but having had the benefit of reading these two excellent articles, and he ended up with a great list of schools to apply to, and will go to a school he is thrilled about. I hate seeing how many kids are looking at what should be a great time of their life with disappointment.