Preparing for SCS freshman

Dad_of_3
Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:33:44 +0000

This is my first post - I wish I had found this resource a year ago - the info here is tremendous.

My son got accepted to the SCS at CMU. Do you have tips on anything he should he doing/preparing this summer? Any suggestions for course scheduling in fall? Is it a good or bad idea to try to skip any introductory courses using AP exam scores? Is there any forward planning that he needs to start to do for his freshman year? I dont think he still has his dorm request form yet - any thoughts on what to seek and what to avoid?

Background - he’s strong in math and programming - enjoyed doing a lot of contests in HS - AMC, ARML, Topcoder.com. Has also dabbled in comp sci in research oriented science projects. Scores: Five 5s in AP: Phy, Calc A/B, B/C, and the two Comp Sci Java APs - hasn’t taken any non math/sci AP exams. Last year he had a 35 in the ACT and just over 2000 in the SAT, but he did have an 800 math score in the old SAT while in 7th & 8th grades for the Johns Hopkins talent search program. He’s done reasonably well in social studies, arts, languages, biology,… in HS but not with the same passion.