Before I finalize my course selection for grade 12...

[Reality Check]

I'd like the brilliant people at Comp.Sci to help me or 'guide' me. Here are the courses I took:

English (University)
Comp.Engineering (University/College)
Comp. Programming (University/College)
Calculus and Vectors (University)
Advanced Functions (University)
Chemistry (University)
Physics (University)
History: West and the World (University)

Now, heres my dilemma. Many people are telling me to drop history and take a spare. I loved World History last semester and it was one of my favourite subjects. I don't plan on pursuing a career in it or anything but I really did enjoy it and I'm thinking of taking the continuation of it for my knowledge purely. I loved the teacher and really learned a lot. However, should I take the spare to take off some load or just go for it? Because as you see, it is a pretty tough year. Another thing I was playing with was doing English in the Summer but that was discouraged by a few people because for some reason or another Universities care. If it helps or anything I plan on going to Waterloo (should make it as I have an 89 average)

[Naveg]

Sign up for the course and try it out for a week or two next fall. If you feel the workload is too much to handle, you can always drop the course.

[klopyrev]

They don't have Geometry and Discrete anymore? That's a real loss... It was my favourite course last year(Except for Computer Science)

KL

[Cervantes]

Naveg gives a good suggestion. I'd recommend you really try to take the history course though. If it's something you enjoy, then it's something you should do. The only reason not to take it is if you really need that spare. Do you have other commitments that are more important to you (or possibly others) than taking history? If your reason to not take history is because the work load of the other three courses you'll be taking that semester is too much, then I think you should reconsider. Three courses is very low, and these are high school courses. If you're going to come to Waterloo, or go to any university for that matter, you're going to have to do way more than that soon enough. You might as well get used to it. It's training you to be a successful university student. If you take it easy and take a spare, your work habits just before going to university won't be so good, and you'll have a harder time adjusting to university.

[rdrake]

I would also like to add to Cervantes' suggestions that you join in some extra clubs around the school and your community. Things like that look good on extra papers like the AIF to universities .

High school courses are nothing like university ones. The courses in high school are much easier, but the university workload is still manageable. Just so you know.

[cool dude]

i am currently in grade 12. last semester i had chemistry, physics, calculus, and computer science (which was online so i had to learn myself). physics and chemistry throw a lot of work at you and they are tough courses. i managed although my marks went slightly lower because of the course load. The biggest benefit is that now my second semester seems really easy too me compared to my first semester. It trains you to work harder. Give it a try and if anything you can drop it.

[Reality Check]

No I never feel overworked. I was just wondering if the spare is needed from the personal experience from you guys. I guess I'll take it though. I think I have a good application in terms of clubs and stuff. However, the biggest hole I have is my unfinished community service hours. I must get working this summer as I only have 4 hours (in 4 different places).

[rdrake]

Reality Check @ Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:25 am wrote:

No I never feel overworked. I was just wondering if the spare is needed from the personal experience from you guys. I guess I'll take it though.

Honestly the only reason I took a spare was so that I could sleep in. Take the class, then you can always drop it if you feel the load is too much, or the class just plain old sucks.

Reality Check @ Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:25 am wrote:

I think I have a good application in terms of clubs and stuff. However, the biggest hole I have is my unfinished community service hours. I must get working this summer as I only have 4 hours (in 4 different places).

Ask around your guidance department. There's always annual events in spring time that need volunteers. Many have been around for a while, and your guidance councilors can help you choose which ones to help out with.

The course selection you have now should easily cover the vast majority of entrance requirements to any university, at least for computer science-related programs. Provided you do well, which I'm sure you will, you should have no issues getting in. Just be sure to enjoy your last year of high school. Many of the people you see now you will never see again.

[Reality Check]

Thanks a lot guys. I took the history course because the more I thought about it, the more I realized the spare was useless to me. I mean, its only an extra hour or so and I'm not really the kind of person to make use of that one hour. Knowing myself, I'd probably just sleep in or have fun for that hour rather than study/work on assignments. Might as well make use of that class. And besides, I love history!

I was also wondering if Waterloo cares about the hours you have? Would it be okay if I did my 40 hours but in many different places? I already have 4 hours in 4 different places, I'm doing 10 hours for the 30 hour famine thing and I'll do the rest in the summer. I know many people that have like 100+ hours and I honestly don't feel like doing anywhere near that much. However, does having those extra hours make a difference?

[cool dude]

i applied to universities and the extra hours do absolutely noting. all it says is i completed 40 hours so they don't even know i did more. Also universities don't care where you did your volunteer hours. they don't even look at that. as long as you have 40 hours your good.

P.S. Rdrake i totally agree with you. spares are good to sleep in

[Reality Check]

Alright then, I'll complete the rest of my hours at some hospital/day care.