You’ll be fine. Perhaps your ego might take a hit from not being top dog but so isn’t everyone else except, well the top dog, at a school as good as cmu .
Enjoy the competition and the learning for learning’s sake.
Perhaps a bit of self reflection is needed. What is motivating you. Being held out as as special or being good at something in a practical sense. You may not receive the same adulation and satisfying sense of being lauded and praised as special as you have been to date. Who cares. Let that go and transform.
Become great as you can be and run with it.
You have gifts and if you are grateful for them you can find happiness outside of praise. You’re really bright. You have a great and supportive family. You’re going to the best school in the world for your major. You’ll have little financial worry. You can really write beautifully. However. Make peace with yourself and be honest with what’s driving your fear.
Is it really fear of failure or fear of being more ordinary than you’re used to feeling?
I don’t know.
On a side note.
But I think it’s too bad when people suggest their children has to give up all ecs and fun components of college to make it work. If makes me crazy actually. Life is short. College is not just about being a good coder. Yes it’s hard work first. There’s so much to learn and explore at a place like cmu. Don’t forget to smell the roses along the way. That’s what I would regret more at 50 than the b-