| Colleges want to see three sciences and at least one | | | | Colleges in general like to see three sciences in high |
| science lab, but you still have a lot of freedom within | | | | school, and in general they want at least one of |
| those requirements. | | | | those sciences to be a lab science. Beyond that, |
| Every college will have different policies, so to get | | | | however, colleges do not usually specify which |
| the official answer you would really have to ask the | | | | science you need to teach. Sometimes people |
| colleges you are considering. For example, some | | | | assume that science has to be biology, chemistry and |
| colleges will require some sort of documented, tested | | | | then physics, but that is not necessarily the case. If |
| proof of sciences, in which case you would need a | | | | your child wants to go into a science career, then |
| test in biology or chemistry or physics in order to | | | | those "big three" might help in the long run. Other |
| meet their admission standards. I have to say, | | | | than that, you can branch out a bit. I usually suggest |
| though, that does not happen too often. For most | | | | at least one year of science from biology, chemistry |
| colleges, they accept a homeschool transcript as long | | | | or physics, just to cover your bases. |
| as the standardized ACT or SAT tests scores look | | | | So feel free to branch out! Botany seems fun, if your |
| acceptable. | | | | children are interested so they should do well with it, |
| From a homeschool perspective, I have seen many | | | | and I have seen homeschoolers be successful with |
| successful homeschoolers include botany for their | | | | botany on their transcript. Go for it! |
| science courses, and they have not had a problem. | | | | |