@lesjubilants, it’s evident your journey to this decision has been a bumpy one, but I am so glad you found yourself in the right place at the end. Congratulations on your accomplishments. I am sure your parents are very proud of you, and are thrilled you’ll be taking advantage of all the opportunties being offered to you by the University of South Carolina and its highly regarded Honors College.
Unfortunately, this application process includes a grieving period for many kids, and some parents too. Not getting accepted, the constant comparison of hard, objective stats, and less subjective ECs, and ultimately rejection and waiting listing. Even with an acceptance, the financial reality can strike hard, and is equally painful as not getting accepted. It is, hopefully, a time of growth, soon to be followed by and even greater time of growth and personal development. Best to all.
@lesjubilants, I feel you fam! I almost sent you a PM but this has been such an interesting thread because of you and your honest writing that I decided to publicly respond to some of your earlier statements. I know exactly how you feel about being surrounded by people in HS who don’t care to do the work. I know exactly the feeling of wanting to discuss passionately the issues of the day (the more controversial the better!) and dreaming about college days so you can finally engage intellectually with your peers. I was that 17 year old in the 80s! 
You will find your intellectual conversations because once you get to college (any college) the suffocating conformity of HS is behind you. And for all of your collegiate peers. (Full disclosure: I went to a southern public university for undergrad and had many intellectual conversations into the wee hours with a total frat boy, who later became my husband. We still have those convos 30 years later. It’s possible!) So, you will find your people and more quickly than most because you are in small “scholars college” within a larger university. I also think that someone with a searching spirit such as yours would sincerely benefit from the tutorial system at Oxford. Perhaps begin your college career seeking to be tapped for the IB Oxford Scholars program your senior year. If that doesn’t work (you decide to major outside of the IB program), you can always pursue a Master’s degree there after graduation. Your future is bright (and debt free!) and I wish the very best.
@lesjubilants Have you made your decision yet?