First off, I respect your son's decision. I have wondered about choosing Tech myself for similar reasons you mentioned, but it worked out for me the opposite of the above anecdote... My grades were not great by med school admissions standards, but the dean of admissions at my med school specifically cited the rigor of Tech as a reason why they placed less weight on them in my application. I do think that I would have gone to medical school if I had gone elsewhere, and I might have actually gotten in more easily, but I believe that medical school was way easier and less of an adjustment for me as a result of having my attitude adjusted by Tech.