<p>I am a junior who plans to be a Techer :) (hopefully as
early as an undergrad in class of 2012 :D)</p>
<p>Next year, I am scheduled to do an Independent Study with
my Calculus Prof on Multivariable Calculus and some Physics.
(I would have finished AP Calc BC this May).</p>
<p>Given I will anyway be doing MV Calc and Linear Algebra
because I want to...
can you please provide advice on the following, Please:</p>
<p>I) It is more valuable on a Caltech application to have the
a) formalized grade for a Multivariable Caculus course from EPGY
versus
b)formalized
grade from my high school prof for my independent study on Multivariable Calculus...?</p>
<p>II) Would doing an Advanced C Data Structures course (EPGY) be a relatively better* thing to do in
summer given that I will be studying MV Calc in Fall with my prof regardless because he is super:cool:)....</p>
<p>Clarification: better* as in, better looked at by Caltech admissions, not as in,
comp sci better than Math :D ;)</p>
<p>(...I will be running 5K's and doing the normal things I do in Summer like research
and working anyway this is just a best case use of my time thingy I
am trying to resolve resulting
from a miscalculation of where I thought I would spend some of my
weeks this summer)</p>
<p>I've definitely heard it said from admissions people that having a good grade from a program like EPGY is impressive and that it stands out. On the flip side, EPGY isn't exactly cheap or anything....</p>
<p>Someone else will have to address I) b) for me since I don't know much about it.</p>
<p>Thanks G2sus4m6aug11b15! :)</p>
<p>Anyone else with thoughts on Ia v Ib and on
Ia v II please ... ?</p>
<p>[Also to clarify, EPGY Online Coursework (not the summer program)]</p>
<p>Perhaps I should add that I did multivariable calculus in EPGY myself. I found it to be quite an excellent program. When I got here, it turned out that I had to take multivariable calculus again (I reallly shouldn't have had to, but it's a long story), and I didn't really learn anything because EPGY had already covered everything.</p>
<p>I did I.b. and found it to be the same as Kevin's experience with EPGY. Also, my teacher wrote me a recommendation that was probably pretty good (seriously, he/she will get to know you as an individual since you are doing independent study with him/her). </p>
<p>If your choice is between (I.a. + I.b.) and (I.b. + II.), I would pick the latter.</p>
<p>edit: that is, if you expect that you will be interested in advanced C data structures. If not, perhaps there is another EPGY course you could take.</p>
<p>Yeah, I forgot about the recommendation part. Having one-on-one contact with an instructor (which I understand is what you will get through independent study) is <em>incredibly</em> valuable when it comes time to get those recommendation letters to colleges....</p>
<p>omgninja and G2sus4m6aug11b15 Thanks a lot,
that was helpful :) :D :)</p>
<p>1b and II and, I am going to see if I can replace II with
something better ...</p>