Reply to Tech Prodigy and College Choices: Balancing Advanced Skills with Less Prestigious Schools

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, here I'd like to add that when weighing the value of an Ivy League education against standing out through coding tests and a strong resume, it prompts a reconsideration of priorities. I'm thinking of helping my son stand out by adding side projects to his resume and showcasing his impressive GitHub repository, which he initiated at the age of 10. His dedication to tech is exceptional and could be pivotal for his future career.

Additionally, it's fascinating that despite his lack of interest in non-tech subjects, managing and motivating him is surprisingly easy when it comes to tech-related pursuits. He exhibits an entirely different level of attention, engagement, and openness, which highlights the significance of these skills in his future. I also forgot to mention that he began creating bots in Minecraft and Roblox during his tweens, incorporating AI libraries and delving into machine learning. He's more inclined to create programs and enhance them rather than play games. This makes me wonder if top Ivy League CS programs might be overlooking kids like him, who bring a unique blend of innovation and coding talent into the picture. It's certainly worth contemplating.[/quote]

This sounds exactly like my child, who is autistic (I'm of course not saying your child is autistic, but I don't think this asynchronous development/pattern of strengths is unusual). Because of her autism, my child gets overwhelmed easily and so will do much better at a "lower ranked" college. She could shine at any school's CS classes, but college is not exclusively about classes in your major. It sounds like your child might be similar.

Support your child in developing study skills and encourage them to take on additional challenges in CS. That's really all you can do -- what would you do to enforce a "no Cs" policy anyway?[/quote]

Wow, you totally picked up on it. He's on the spectrum and highly functioning. I've been wondering if there are any schools that would provide the right support for someone like him. It's an interesting perspective, and maybe it's something to consider as a DEI for Ivy League school admissions. sorry still trying to find a way for ivy lol

I appreciate your advice about supporting him in developing study skills and taking on additional challenges in CS. You're right; enforcing a "no Cs" policy isn't really the way to go. It's about finding the right balance and nurturing his strengths.

And just to clarify, the Cs he's getting aren't in his core subjects; it's mostly in things like foreign language, which he sometimes finds a bit silly and not very helpful. Maybe I should frame it like this: it's similar to him coding in a different language, but a language he's not really excited about! 😄 Thanks for sharing your insights![/quote]

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