Help with Choosing College Classes in High School

Applying to College
1

<p>I am nearing the end of my sophomore year in high school and I have a dilemma regarding next school year. I go to a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) magnet school and have been fortunate enough to take college classes at my local community college starting in my sophomore year. Unfortunately, I have only been able to take English classes this year and have not been able to take any math or science classes at the college. However, starting next year (Junior year) I will be able to take any college classes that I want and I am focused on getting my high school requirements out of the way so that I can focus more on engineering. The problem is that my school counselor is very incompetent and is providing no help while I am trying to choose my classes for next year. Instead of taking a full year of English, Spanish, History etc. I can take 2 quarters at the college. Therefore, I was planning to take 2 consecutive quarters of these classes so that I can focus on engineering 100% during my Senior year. However, my counselor says that taking 1 quarter of English, History, Spanish etc. a year will show colleges that I am well rounded. I disagree with my counselor because I am already a 4.0 student interested in attending a school such as UCLA, Cal Berkeley, or even Stanford if possible. Also, I am concerned that I will forget the material that I will learn in the 1st quarter because my counselor is suggesting I take the second quarter a year later rather than the next quarter. </p>

<p>Essentially my question is: Will colleges look down on me because I am completing all of my non STEM requirements in my Junior year or will they be impressed by the fact that I am already focusing on my major (probably computer science) and my future career?</p>

<p>I'm sorry that this post is long and confusing, but I am really confused. Thank you in advance for your answers. </p>

2

<p>Anyone…?</p>

3

<p>(Seems like you are in California, and probably in an area near a well known CC on the quarter system.)</p>

<p>CC courses are often faster paced than high school courses, so you may have to carefully translate how the CC courses map to UC/CSU a-g requirements at <a href=“http://doorways.ucop.edu”>http://doorways.ucop.edu</a> and actual UC/CSU transferability at <a href=“http://www.assist.org”>http://www.assist.org</a> .</p>

<p>Note that UC/CSU evaluate foreign language like Spanish based on highest level completed (or level shown on tests like AP, SAT subject, etc.). So check what level of high school courses the CC Spanish courses are equivalent to (don’t be surprised if the third quarter CC course is equivalent to the second, third, or even fourth year high school course).</p>