Ok this seems like a silly question but I just took a basic c++ programing class. I just don't understand when C++ would be better then using excel. So what are so,e practical uses for C++?

Can you make a program like Excel or a browser using Excel? I don't think so.
You can with C++.

See here for a list of applications written in C++:
http://www2.research.att.com/~bs/applications.html

I just don't understand when C++ would be better then using excel

>_>

That's like saying "I don't understand when a car would be useful, I have a notebook."