Advice for a high school freshman in a competitive College Prep in SF

Applying to College
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I am parent of a freshman in HS in SF. He goes to Saint Ignatius, and is placed in their honors class for Math/English-I believe that is the max SI offers freshmen. He is academically not bad-got into Lick Wilmerding, University, SCH with regent scholarship but decided to go to SI ( he has always wanted to go there since MS . we were ok with it since I believe students perform their best when they make their own choice and take accountability for their choices). He is loving it there and is being challenged. My question is ( if there any SI parent/upper classmen) reading this, what is some advice you would give a freshman especially in STEM department. He is aspiring for a CS major. Thank you!

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SI’s course catalog: https://www.siprep.org/si-academics/course-catalog

Besides completing the usual college prep base curriculum including English, history and social studies, foreign language to a high level, and art, students intending CS should consider:

  • Math to the highest level available to the student.
  • At least high school chemistry and physics (engineering-based CS majors often require college versions which may recommend the high school versions as prerequisites). Note that SI requires all three of biology, chemistry, and physics before taking an AP science.
  • Computer science courses to determine or confirm interest in the subject. SI offers AP CS principles or an equivalent Exploring Computer Science sequence that is best suited for this purpose. It also offers AP CS A which is a programming and data structures course covering material that beginning college CS majors are likely to cover.
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Thank you!- He is taking Algebra 2 honors this year, taking Geometry in the Summer with SI , hopefully with these two, he plans to do PreCalc honors and then off to Precalc AB/BC. He will be definitely taking all AP comp sci classes( He has been coding since 6th grade in Python/Java and is currently UASCO bronze). Took a UCLA python course this summer( i know this will not count, but got a 4.0 in his transcript). He is taking biology, if they allow him he will take Chem honors in sophomore( looks like he has to take physics in his summer before Juinor) to do physics honors in Junior and then APC in Senior?
He is first in the family to attend college in our family ( in US) , so navigating the courses is a bit a new to us. Thanks for responding!

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This post is frequently shared when this topic is brought up:

I also found out that there is now an update (or different take) on this topic. Although it’s from the perspective of a college student/grad, I think the lessons could still very easily be applied while still in high school.

As your student is a high school freshman, rather than a college freshman, I will edit your title to reflect that.

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Friends / social

Activities - get involved - they don’t need to be techy. it’s nice if they can build tenure and impact and do something they enjoy whether it’s walking dogs at the shelter, playing a sport, working or otherwise.

Challenge themselves academically but no need to go over the top.

There will be many a great college for your student.

They should enjoy the next four years.

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