<p>I will be very interested to see how he likes it, I hope you let us know. These kids sometimes do the unexpected. When my husband visited SCU, he decided it was perfect in every way (I’m guessing…for himself?) But when I visited, I thought it wasn’t going to be a good fit for this kid.Though perfect for my other son.</p>
<p>I still think CMU would be an excellent fit for your son, it is the extreme ECE/CS environment. Gaming, computers, high tech immersion. If only he didn’t like the sun so much! Kinda miss out on that for the winters in Pittsburgh, so it would be a tough transition.</p>
<p>Busdriver, will definitely let you all know how it goes. CMU is the only cold weather college he has applied to. I do not have much hope that he will get in there. But we have to wait and see what happens.</p>
<p>Okay, I know I’m totally biased…but on your list of schools I think CMU is by far the best for your son (except for snowy winters)! But besides that…I am actually pretty lucky at guessing…I predict that he will get into CMU depending upon what schools he applied for. Definitely H&SS, IS, CIT, MCS. If he applied for those. As far as ECE and SCS goes, that’s a long shot for anyone, so I can’t predict. Maybe waitlist ECE at least. It is very common for kids to get into CIT (but not ECE) and just take the weeder ECE course and get in, as so many kids take that and say forget it, I’m out.</p>
<p>None of my business, but of course at cc we are always asking more questions…why is CMU not on your visit list? Is he fairly disinterested because of the snow, or? It seems like the perfect school for any serious techie.</p>
<p>And I second the comment, he MUST, MUST send an update to the schools-all of them–with his latest achievement!!! He should do it ASAP!</p>
<p>Busdriver-- I like CMU also. I have been fascinated by the computer science program at there ever since I watched the video of Randy Pausch’s ‘Last Lecture’. Alas, none of my kids are headed into that field.</p>
<p>There are alot of other very strong programs there too…notably business, science and fine arts, so many others. That was a compelling video. So sad that he died, you almost felt like he was going to make it.</p>
<p>Just want to throw this out there…if your kid is interested in CS, like fast pace environment and have mind for finance, IT within IB could be quite challenging and lucrative. Technology is the back bone to all of those banks, from executing trades to settlement and risk management, they are all looking for faster/efficient way of doing it.</p>
<p>To OP: The field of CS is very fast in terms of employability and it doesn’t matter where your son go for college, he will find employment if he has the passion and knowledge.</p>
<p>Then why bother about college at all?</p>
<p>There is one subtle catch. The jobs that are most interesting and also most lucrative are generally in complex algorithm development whether it is wall street stock analysis programs or Google search engine. </p>
<p>And developing efficient algorithm to most complex problems (generally NP hard/complete) is not an easy cup of tea and not meant for everyone. These are the jobs where quality of CS program matters a lot. What you learn at good CS program is not how to program but how to think to solve complex problem.</p>
<p>I don’t say that you won’t be able to develop algorithm to complex problems if you have not attended a top CS program but it will be much difficult. </p>
<p>Industry knows it well, so only graduates of top CS program lands such jobs right after college. </p>
<p>So if your son aspire to be a complex algorithm developer than he should strive to get into a good CS program even if it has to be at the graduate level before entering the industry.</p>
<p>A few thoughts about SCU, since it was a campus I LOVED when we toured but ultimately S declined to attend USC:</p>
<p>I thought it was a very charming campus and really liked it. It definitely has its own character and I know many kids who are very happy there.</p>
<p>They have a very strict attendance policy (according to them). Our S has a documented chronic medical condition that has caused him to have prolonged absences at times. The school indicated that if he missed 2 weeks of school in a quarter, they would likely require him to withdraw, leave the dorm & lose his merit awards! We found this extremely unreasonable and harsh but it was non-negotiable. (The school he is attending has promised to work with him and said they have had other kids with chronic medical conditions they have worked with who have successfully graduated from their school; S will be graduating in May after enjoying his 4 years at this school.)</p>
<p>It is a Jesuit school and I believe the kids take at least one course together with the others in their dorm. S was “on the fence” about this aspect of the school as well, but the deal-breaker was the attendance policy.</p>
<p>I have since spoken with other SCU parents who have kids in sports there who say their kids have missed > 2 weeks of school in a quarter due to sports with no problem.</p>
<p>When I told the SCU folks why S was declining their offer of admission and generous merit award, they said they were surprised to learn tbat their office had such a punitive absence policy.</p>
<p>Son is interested in CMU…he has applied to SCS, MCS(math) and CIT. It seems like a long shot and is one of his reaches, but if he gets in he is going. I do feel that he will be happy there despite the weather. Its just that we are not visiting since we are so tight on time.</p>
<p>We are also not visiting U of Miami (should we?). It is one of he safety/match schools. But we would have to drop visiting one of the other reaches.</p>
<p>I hope today he will send the newspaper article to the colleges, mid year grades have already been sent by the school.</p>
<p>He is also aware of the core requirement at SCU and seems fine with it. He can take advantage and foray into courses he normally would not and get a break from heavy CS and Math courses. One every quarter would be a nice thing.</p>