I think it’d be useful to bring a laptop. From what I saw on revisit day, many teachers uploaded powerpoints or something like that to students’ laptops. Some schools sell laptops but they aren’t much cheaper than retail prices. However, some FA packages cover the cost of laptops. Hope this helps.
check education discounts on apple. I know I used one years back for the BS purchase.
If your son is a gamer, do leave the big monitor at home. Your roommates parents will thank you. I would never send my son with things that would make it easier for him to spend time gaming. Unfortunately, we found out the hard way that not all parents felt that way. 
@Payn4word Your DS reminds me of my youngest. He has strong opinions on Google, too, and well, just about everything else as well. But I wonder if your clever son is trying to get his hands on a PC laptop (PCs in general are far and away the preferred platform for gamers) and if that is prompting him to dismiss the other options 
When I was in high school, we were trying to figure out who shot JR. Gates and Jobs were unknown.
Short answer: yes
I’m curious about the laptop issue too. Our school (Mercersburg) requires all students to arrive with an iPad. It would seem to this luddite that a laptop would be easier to write and edit large papers on than an iPad, and so I’m wondering if a laptop is needed…and thus, should it be a MAC if the school is running on iPad operating systems. Twinsmama or anyone else have perspective on this?
Bumping this up to see if any of the Mburg parents have any advice.
True, but an iPad is less intrusive in the classroom. More and more classes are utilizing apps as teaching tools.
@twinsmama so she can answer Mburg question
When we were considering Mburg, I was planning to send DS with only an iPad (as he doesn’t have a laptop) and have him use computers at the library for homework etc and then let him figure out what he wants (laptop, desktop, none) after a few weeks. If a kid has his own laptop, I would send it with him.
@skieurope - How is a laptop intrusive? Honest question because I just don’t get it. I am biased as I am not a fan of ipads and other tablets.
They’re generally larger than tablets. The screen can block the sightline to/from the instructor/other students. The clickety clack of the keyboards can be disconcerting to the instructor.
I can see the point about the typing on the keyboard, especially for those that are aggressive typers. The size I would think would be less of an issue. My 2 kids have never had any issues or complaints using laptops in classes. I find laptops so much more versatile than tablets but maybe I’m too old school.
If you haven’t been on a college or prep school campus recently, laptops are everywhere. While tablets can serve as de facto textbooks and sometimes tools for specific projects, a laptop is pretty much mandatory for the life organization required at high octane institutions.
It depends on the school as well-- Deerfield requires all kids have Mac laptops, and they provide them, loaded with books and software. They either charge an IT fee to cover the cost or, if on significant FA, include it as part of your FA. Many classes ALSO require tablets. These are iPads, also provided by Deerfield, but just “on loan” for the year, to be returned before summer vacation (but no charge). I can’t imagine doing everything on a tablet-- even with an external keyboard, just in terms of writing papers. And, at least at Deerfield, evening study hall is usually in your room, so you wouldn’t have access to the library computers. But I’m sure every school is different-- just check the policy and requirements before you buy.
@hellomaisy, Sorry I didn’t notice this sooner. I wondered the same thing. We ended up getting our son an iPad keyboard, which has apparently worked out for him. There are computers in the dorms and library, as payn4ward mentioned. And I’m delighted to have another Mercersburg parent aboard!
My son has not yet decided whether he should buy a Mac laptop or another. Cate does not specifically say which they prefer. So we want something light, so that he can take it around the campus. We plan to buy it before joining the school in August. Can someone please tell me where I can get the education discount for laptop? We are not from US, and if before school year, how can we prove that he is a student? Thank you in advance for your advice.
Check with Cate. Many schools send info on educational discounts for computers-- but it often comes during the summer.