<p>I mean, yeah, it does help. I dunno what bruno is talking about. Coming in with a solid programming background can only help you in SCS, and some (though not most) of your peers will come in with that background. It also shows that you have a demonstrated interest in the subject, know what you’re getting into (a lot of SCS accepts have no freakin’ clue and end up dropping or switching out) and you understand what the workload will be like in some fashion. It also demonstrates that you have a bit of a head start, so you won’t need to clog up a basic programming class and can start at a higher level.</p>