What to do over summer?

[mono-1-rulz]

Hey everyone,

I am just finishing Grd-11 rite now. I plan to apply to Waterloo Computer Science program next year and had a few questions. First, do universities care if I take a spare or not? I mean, does it look bad if I don't have a full schedule?

Heres what I am taking next year :

Sem1:

Data management
Chemistry
English
Advanced Functions

Sem2:

Calculus
Physics
spare
Computer science (which is a U course now! Ya!)

I had biology first semester but I dropped it because I think its a lot of work. I could be wrong. But I am having doubts about my decision since I had wanted to take all three sciences all along. If anyone has taken SBI4U, does it have a huge workload? My guidance counsellor keeps telling me to drop it because she thinks i will be way in over my head which is why i want to take it over summer school.

I have also applied for a summer coop credit for which I am trying to get into some kind of local Computer related company.

I was wondering what I should do over summer this year?
I have two options :
1. I can take a summer co-op credit and get some kind of work experience.
2. I can take biology in summer school.
Which one do you guys think would more worthwhile? and would look better to Waterloo?

Thanks.

[andrew.]

Don't take biology if you don't need it. I heard that Grade 12 Bio is basically Grade 11 U Chem but applied to biological compounds. If you're good at chem, then it shouldn't be too hard.

[endless]

the most important part about getting into UW; or any uni for that matter, is marks. they don't care if you have a spare, but keep in mind that they admit on the average of the required courses plus 3(i think?) extras that may be U or M. if you feel you will be struggling to reach 85% average, then extra curricular's will be beneficial. though if you have over 85 average, you are basically in if you can throw a couple things together on the Admission Information Form. working at a computer related company would look pretty good, but if it is co op (no pay), it may be more beneficial in the long run to get a paying job instead.

[cwarrior]

As long as you take the prerequisites and have the required GPA to enter the program you should be fine. Don't take biology and get a job that will pay you. About spares, you made it to grade 12 you should have a spare each semester, finish your prerequisites and enjoy your summer. Don't be such a tool and enjoy your youth.