A Red Creek graduate fast-tracked his way through college and is now heading to one of the nation’s top computer science graduate programs before turning 20.
Noel Brathen, a 2026 graduate of SUNY Oswego, earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a minor in mathematics at just 19 years old after transferring 50 college credits earned during high school. The former Red Creek salutatorian will next attend the Georgia Institute of Technology to pursue a master’s degree in computer science.
Brathen said Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment courses in high school gave him a significant head start, allowing him to move quickly into upper-level coursework once arriving at Oswego.
He also used summer classes to stay ahead, completing additional requirements and electives between semesters.
Among his favorite experiences at Oswego was a systems programming course focused on low-level computing, memory management, and processes — an area he plans to continue studying in graduate school.
Brathen also worked on a machine learning project tied to astronomy research at Rice Creek Field Station. The project involved developing software capable of detecting and removing satellite trails from astronomical images to help researchers work with cleaner data.
Looking back on the accelerated path, Brathen said students considering a similar route should focus less on graduating quickly and more on building meaningful skills and experience.
He encouraged students to take challenging classes, use summers productively, and identify career goals early so accelerated coursework has a clear purpose.
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