> He isn't exactly sure what kind of programming he wants to do yet.

I would advise both him and my younger self to take a year out and think about what they're actually interested in doing, guided by hacking together some simple experiments. I think going in to further education to bolster something pre-existing* is better than going in as a blank slate and hoping to latch on to something while you're in there. You can still change the concrete thing you're interested in, but it should always be something and not nothing.

* browsing the web and playing video games don't count as professions or crafts.