Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is interested in computer science and is a rising sophomore. Her team won 2nd place in the ACSL (American Computer Science league) competition this year. How important are these competitions in college apps? Are they considered the same level as AIME, USAMO for math? What else should my DD be doing if she is interested in computer science?

The equivalent to USAMO is (unsurprisingly) called USACO: http://usaco.org/
Every year, they nominate 25 finalists (here is the 2019 list which doesn't contain any DMV student - there are no good programs here). These students are invited to a training camp where the top 4 are chosen to present USA at IMO.

Yes, I'd mention on my college application if I were a USACO finalist...

ACSL, on the other hand, seems more of an EC. (BTW, 2nd place at her school or 2nd place at the All-Stars?)
I note that students from TJHSST were at this year's All-Stars competition but it's not something any USACO-level students would find it worth their time.
USACO's website is open to anyone so anyone can register and get a taste of the level of competition.

There are only 25 USACO finalists vs thousands of spots to study CS around the country? I'd put down any CS extra curricular I'd done and any prize I'd won.

USACO finals aren't very important. But USACO is the most open/accessible non-competitive of these competitions. Anyone can participate, at home, many options throughout the year. It's more of a skill certificate than a contest. You progress from Bronze to Silver to Gold to Platinum as your skill progresses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is interested in computer science and is a rising sophomore. Her team won 2nd place in the ACSL (American Computer Science league) competition this year. How important are these competitions in college apps? Are they considered the same level as AIME, USAMO for math? What else should my DD be doing if she is interested in computer science?

The equivalent to USAMO is (unsurprisingly) called USACO: http://usaco.org/
Every year, they nominate 25 finalists (here is the 2019 list which doesn't contain any DMV student - there are no good programs here). These students are invited to a training camp where the top 4 are chosen to present USA at IMO.

Yes, I'd mention on my college application if I were a USACO finalist...

ACSL, on the other hand, seems more of an EC. (BTW, 2nd place at her school or 2nd place at the All-Stars?)
I note that students from TJHSST were at this year's All-Stars competition but it's not something any USACO-level students would find it worth their time.
USACO's website is open to anyone so anyone can register and get a taste of the level of competition.

Ignorant. Change the number in the URL to see other years.

MD has has an average of more than 1 per year in that top 25, which is incredible performance for a state with only 1/50th the US population.

USACO is generally considered the least important Olympiad, because computing is the subject where it's easiest and cheapest to do a real, unique project instead of artificial cookie clutter contest. ACSL is not important at all as a competitive differentiator.

CMU takes a far more mathematical and theoretical approach to CS (like Waterloo in Canada). I would think this would benefit your daughter, although she needs to have strong scores and grades in Math as well.

While it is true you don’t need to know programming…the kids that have already spent years doing it definitely have a leg up in college classes that use it.

CMU is not generally a happy place. Make sure your daughter talks to actual upper class students. Kids that really like Math seem to enjoy it better than the programmer types.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Developing apps or other programs independently.

NP here with a question. My rising HS sophomore spends a lot of time coding. He developed a discord bot, is trying to make us a weather station, and he has done a myriad of other things I don't understand. I get that this time spent gets him more experience and more knowledgeable, but my question is, how does this translate to college applications and get him into a comp sci program? is this the sort of stuff you write about in your essays? I haven't looked at college apps yet (obviously) to know what is involved. thanks.

That's the best way for your child to spend his time, if he wants to code--he's teaching himself ... coding and math are very creative...don't worry about essays, etc...just make sure he's involved in a CS club and class at school, and he interacts with his instructors...I thought my son was just goofing off, and he's an incredibly talented coder and math student due to being self taught.

And his portfolio that I never would've seen if I hadn't asked is exquisite...projects galore...so let your son have at it and please don't worry about essays and applications ... to many 'manufactured' applicants out there who college advisors and parents are creating. God knows how some of these kids will make it in college, once mommy and daddy and $$$$$ advisor gets them in

She should be taking calculus and any other advanced math course provided by her high school. She should know how to code.