"There are, of course, practical reasons why taking Calc in HS is important. Mainly it increases your chances of getting accepted into an engineering program."

Perhaps, abge, but by the time you've done well in college calculus, the engineering program isn't really going to care. Of course, if you're going to a university that only teaches engineering or something, that may come up, and perhaps admissions departments (unfortunately) take it into account for people who want to go into engineering.

So yes, that could well exist.

I actually will say again that I think there are lots of wonderful reasons to consider junior college in the early stages of a science or engineering degree. Strong teaching of calculus is often among them (and is important for those taking it, whether or not they have taken it in high school before). Another, for those who didn't get into a good university the first time for whatever reason, is the ability to apply again as a transfer student with a whole new record.

"I actually will say again that I think there are lots of wonderful reasons to consider junior college in the early stages of a science or engineering degree. "

Yes, you keep saying this and I'm worried it's because you think I disagree. I agree 100% that junior (which I presume are the same as community) colleges are amazing for a variety of reasons. I actually teach at one : )

"By this statement, it seems as though you don't think those are very important things to consider. In my opinion, they are very important."

Well, agreed. What I took initial issue with was your suggestion that taking calculus was a necessity to becoming an engineer. That's completely and utterly false, and such advice can deter people who could become engineers.

If I were counseling a high school student on whether to take calculus, however, and either she was strong in math or it was the only class left she could take to practice algebra, I would certainly raise these issues you bring up. As far as I am concerned, everybody should learn calculus and as quickly as possible -- but just no quicker, and past oversights should not invalidly be turned into roadblocks for the future.

Sorry, abge, I'm not saying it because I think you disagree, though I can see how I may have given that impression. I just think it's an important point that people somehow never quite believe, and so I repeat it liberally.

No, so I'll concede that calculus in HS isn't *necessary*, but both administratively and academically, I believe you are better off taking it in HS. Enough so that if you really want to be an engineer, it should be one of your higher priorities in HS.