Over the summer, I am supposed to be working with a professor at my local university on computer science research. He said that if all goes well, we will get a paper published under my name. Does this significantly help my chances of admissions to top 20 CS programs?
If you are a junior and will be applying this fall, there is no way that the paper will be published in time for your applications. That said, it sounds like a great opportunity and you should definitely mention your work on your application. Some schools will accept an additional letter of recommendation from someone who you did research with so that should help too.
I’m gonna be a junior this fall.