Passionate Developer - Course Selection for Grade 11

[dylan456]

Hi, I'm currently a grade 10 high school student and I'm at the age when I'm making my university choices. Our grade 11 course selections are due pretty soon and I want to know everything I can about my career, university, etc, so I need your help (thanks in advance!). The programs I'm interested in are Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Software Engineering. I've looked up universities such as Waterloo, Toronto, Guelph, etc. and most of these universities require Adv. Functions, Calculus and Vectors, Chemistry, Physics and Computer Science/Engineering courses in grade 11/12.

My averages in grades 9-10 (semester 1) have consistently been in the mid-to-high 80s, although, honestly, I really didn't put forth half of my effort into school (I'm planning to try in grade 11 and 12 for example no procrastination, etc). What sets me apart from most people is my love for computers and learning how to work them, program them, fix them, optimize them, etc. (basically, everything!). I know how to program and have programmed before in C#, C++, HTML, CSS, Javascript and PHP although I don't have anything to show for it because of the fact that I lost them (after a reformat) or I abandoned them (I get bored easily). One of the programs I made was a robot for Runescape that would mine rocks by moving the mouse. Another was a program launcher (like the World of Warcraft launcher) that was made in C++ and Win32.

So, my question is, what universities would you recommend I apply to in grade 12 so that I may pick my courses for grade 11 now? Thanks in advance.

[Sur_real]

Generally, Waterloo is the place to go if people aren't too picky.
Having said that, you should still try to aim for Toronto, Guelph, etc too as most of the requirements for comp sci, comp eng or soft eng are pretty similar.

[Insectoid]

I don't care what school you go to. Take advanced functions, calc & vectors, physics and maybe data management. Computer science is 90% math and every school will require most of those courses. All of them are useful.

[dylan456]

Thanks for the input, Sur_real and Insectoid.

@Sur_real: What do you mean by "if people aren't too picky"?

@Insectoid: I'm definitely planning to take those all of those math courses (and physics) except maybe data management.

[Sur_real]

like if you don't mind being in a small town; not much to do; not a lot of girls; social activity; etc. Those sorts of little things