<p>Hi everyone. Not sure if this is the best place to ask this. I homeschool my 16yo son. He's been taking comm. college classes since spring semester of 9th grade (he's a junior). He took calculus I last fall, got an A. Wants to be a computer science major. </p>
<p>However, he was not able to get into Calculus II for this coming spring. So I got him signed up for Biology and Poli Sci (Am. Govt), both of which will do double-duty on his high school transcript as well as being transferrable.</p>
<p>Since registering, a Calculus II class opened up. But it conflicts and he would not be able to take the other two classes.</p>
<p>So, which do you think is better?</p>
<ol>
<li>Take Calc II, which isn't necessarily a high school req. but may be more appealing to a competitive school for computer science?</li>
<li>Take the Bio & Poli Sci, which may make the high school transcript look better?</li>
</ol>
<p>His dream school would be Caltech (which doesn't really take transfer credits, so the issue would be which looks better).</p>
<p>This is just my opinion, but I’d go with Calc II. It would be beneficial, I think, for him to keep his calc going for reasons of continuity and freshness of material recently learned in Calc I. He could take, perhaps, some other comm. college classes either online or in the spring or summer terms, not to mention the fall of his senior year – all of that would still show up on his transcript when he applies to college.</p>
<p>He could take calc II on-line with EPGY, Thinkwell, CTY, or any number of on-line providers, possibly even your community college. Then he could do it all :)</p>
<p>I think that the Calculus II would look a lot neater to Universities. If your child has already done their two semesters worth of English Composition at Community College (or some AP’s in English), then they can take American Government or what have you later on down the line because they will totally academically qualify to take it. </p>
<p>Now, Biology with a lab (most Universities like two semesters of that) would be cool to Universities also. </p>
<p>So, basically, I would just drop the American Government or something if possible.</p>
<p>That’s a tricky one. We’ve been told that schools like to see the ‘holy trinity’ of bio/chem/physics for all math/science/cs kids. I would also say that some sort of lab course would be important too. Since you are in an unusual position, I would suggest contacting Caltech - perhaps both admisssions and cs department to see what they say.</p>
<p>I agree with doing Calc II. The other ones can be done via CLEP, online courses, etc. If he did Calc II now, he would really feel good once he got into college. His math skills will be above his peers and he’ll have less things to worry about credit wise.</p>