<p>I think I argued in the Why Calculus thread that JHS mentioned that Calculus was like poetry. That you take it because it’s beautiful, not because it’s useful. I’m an architect and had to take it. I didn’t need it for any structures class I took in grad school, nor do I use it in real life, but I’m still glad I took it. But for the OP’s kid - it’s not a question of taking calculus now, just trig/pre calc so that he’ll be prepared for calculus if it turns out it’s required by his major.</p>