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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]]
ECE (Electrical/Computer Engineering): If you want to design and program the chips that are used in computers and devices
CS: If you want design the progamming languages of computers. For example, if you want to implement a better algorithm for sort data.
IS: If you want to use existing programming languages and tools to solve business problems.

I steer the people who are good writers and well-spoken to IS, and those who aren't to CS. It's really difficult to find well-rounded individuals in the tech industry, who understand tech well but can also speak to managers and understand the business issues.. so your nephew will really flourish if he's got those skills also.[/quote]

This is not a good description of Computer Science.  Designing programming languages is just one subfield of CS, and whether or not you use an existing programming language is not a way of distinguishing between IS and CS.  Computer science is much broader than that, and you will find both good and bad communicators in the field, as you will in most fields.

A focus on business applications is a defining characteristic of IS, though.
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Agree fully.  Computer science is also a science with a deep theory bent.  A major component is designing and analyzing algorithms, for example, not just programming languages.  This interpretation is hugely relevant at a top CS school, especially if the alternative is studying math.

In terms of CS vs math, it depends on your nephew.  I actually have degrees in both, because I liked the mathy aspects of computer science.  However, many computer scientists are not fond of math, so it's really a personal preference.

Computer science pervades a lot of the ethos of CS at Carnegie Mellon, so it would be fine, but what are the other options?  Your nephew might have a better time at a strong school for CS that actually allows him to major in what he wants.   Does he have options like UMd, U Michigan, UCLA, or Harvey Mudd?

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