The "Which IB subjects should I choose" Thread

Hey guys! I want to study medicine later one and having a bit trouble understanding the IB system here in Sweden. This is what I can choose from:

Group 1 Language A: English A, Swedish A, Danish A, Self-taught A (SL)

Group 2 Language B: English B, Swedish B, French B, German B, Spanish B

Group 3 Individuals and Societies: Business and Management, Economics, History, Psychology

Group 4 Experimental Sciences: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Systems and Societies

Group 5 Mathematics: Mathematics HL, Mathematics SL, Mathematical Studies SL

Group 6 Electives: Film or Theatre or an additional subject from group 2, 3 or 4


Is this going to be possible?

So I've chosen the following subjects for the IB:

English Literature HL
Philosophy HL
History HL
Maths SL
Physics SL
German B SL

I'm ideally wanting to go into TV presenting but I'd like to do a history-related degree, and I'm thinking of upgrading German to HL and English to SL as my Hl options don't seem varied enough - is this true or shall i stick to my original plan? I'm also aiming for Oxford uni and so I've taken maths SL instead of maths studies; i'm predicted A* at GCSE and I don't think I'll have great problems understanding it at IB, but is it really worth it keeping it at standard when my degree is completely unrelated? But if I do Maths Studies will it decrease my chances at getting into Oxford?

Hey guys I need to submit my options soon for my IB subjects and so far this I'm stuck between Math and History (which levels I should leave the two)

HL
Physics
Math or History
English A1

SL
Computer Science
Math or History
Spanish A1

I heard HL Math is really difficult but I'm willing to dedicate myself a lot since I want to get into Engineering or Physics in University, and I heard HL Maths is very beneficial. The problem is I got a B for my IGCSE Maths. Would I be putting myself through hell by choosing HL even with lots of dedication and studying? I personally prefer Math over History but from all the things I've heard about the horror of HL Maths, I'm not sure what to choose...

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

If you want to do Engineering or Physics at university, Maths at HL is the most important thing - more important than physics at HL even, though you really need both - most good universities have both at HL as specific requirement. If you approach the subject correctly and focus on understanding the syllabus and practice exercises, you'll be totally fine.

Yeah I've been told how important Math is for Engineering and/or Physics but I thought a B in the IGCE would just make Math HL a living hell. Maybe it will but I guess I'll just have to work my a** off. Also, what grades (for Math and Physics) are "good enough" for good universities such as let's say Waterloo, Cambridge, Oxford, etc? (In terms of Engineering and Physics)

Oxbridge will need 7s in both Maths and Physics pretty much guaranteed. Maaaaaaaaaaaybe a 6 and a 7 if you ace the entrance test and other circumstances work in your favour.

Point is though, if you find maths incredibly difficult, studying Physics at university might not be for you, if that makes sense?

Hey!

Okay so I basically need some help.

I'm planning to pursue either vet med/med/pharmacy (but more likely pharmacy) and I picked these IB subjects:

HL
Maths
Biology
Chemistry

SL
Spanish ab initio
English A1
History



BUT, I recently got my IGCSE results - I only got an A (ie not A*) for Maths and a really horrible grade for Additional Maths and my school is now recommending that I drop Maths HL and take up either English or History.


I have 2 questions.


1. Is it advisable to drop Maths HL despite wanting to pursue the sciences at university? Will this make me a little bit more disadvantaged than other applicants applying for the same courses? I know Maths HL is not required as I've got both Biology and Chem at HL but.. is it preferred?

I COULD try my best for Maths HL - that is, work my butt off for it but I'd just like to hear everybody's opinion on whether it's worth it, and whether I even need it!


2. Also, IF I do drop Maths HL, which HL should I take up, English A1 or History? I love both equally, and scored A*s for English First Language, English Literature and History at IGCSE and I'm pretty much torn between the two. So I WOULD like to pick the one I love - but I love both so uhhh, yeah I kinda need help .

Can anyone out there tell me which HL they felt was better for them & why, whether the workload will be too much if I were to take one instead of the other..etc?


It'd be much appreciated, thanks!

Hi guys i need a little help with my subject choices hoping to do an economics related course such as Financial or business economics at preferably an american uni like UCLA
My subject choices are:
Econ HL
Business studies HL
Biology HL
English literature SL
Spanish ab initio
Maths SL
Do i need to make any changes? Thanks

Hello people, another one with a dilemma here!
I am starting IB this October and for now my subjects are:
English HL - mandatory (although I would have taken it anyway)
Serbian SL - mandatory
Biology HL
Chemistry HL
Math SL-HL ?
History SL-HL ?
Visual Arts - SL
For now I am pretty sure I will pursue medicine in the future but I still want to keep my options open - thus HL History. That would be a subject combination that could easily fit in many fields in college (law, literature, history etc)... buut, yes, I'm also well aware that colleges pretty much look down upon applications that have too many different subjects, as it doesn't quite show your determination.
Ok, so:
1. Everyone talks how Math HL is needed- or at least desired for Medicine. Is Math HL that important for Medicine? Does it really make that much of a competitive application for med schools later? Just... is it worth it?!
2. Do you think it would be too 'colorful' of an application if I applied to med school with Bio, Chem, English and History HL + VA at SL too? Lost soul much?
3. Besides Math HL, I also hear a lot of talking about Physics. Do I need that at all?
I could take Physics as a 7th subject instead of VA but drawing is a thing that has always made made me stand out and I would be sorry for giving that subject up.

I would really appreciate some advice, suggestions, experiences, anything..

Best rgds!

Other than Chemistry; very few Medical schools state a preference for any other subjects at HL, although Biology is commonly taken alongside Chemistry. Maths HL is absolutely NOT essential, even in leading Medical schools like Edinburgh, and Cambridge. They are more interested in work experience, enthusiasm and your actual grade.

Getting 7,7,6 with a 6 in maths HL, is not as impressive as 7,7,7 with a 7 in History to them. Maths in most medical courses is not harder than the maths required to get a good mark in the SL maths papers; or so many students and lecturers I have spoken to say.

Your best bet is emailing the Medical departments you are interested in, and asking them yourself; as only they will be able to accurately answer your question.

I have a problem on which subjects to choose as well. As of right now the subjects I have chose are Physics HL, Maths HL, Chemistry HL, English SL, Language B SL. I am currently confuse if I should take biology sl or economics sl for my last subject? I am still uncertain of what I want to become or major in the future, probably engineering or business related things but i still want to keep my options open as well. In this case, what would be better for me?

Thanks in advance!

Unless you have special dispensation (the only common case I've heard of for this is people applying to do medicine in Sweden) you have to take Economics SL as you must have a group 3 ("Individuals and Societies") subject. In IB, you have 6 groups: First Language, Second Language, Individuals and Societies (often called humanities), Natural Sciences (Bio/Chem/Physics being the main example), Maths and "Arts and Electives" (an art subject or another option from one of the other 5 groups), and you must select one subject from each.

I have a problem on which subjects to choose as well. As of right now the subjects I have chose are Physics HL, Maths HL, Chemistry HL, English SL, Language B SL. I am currently confuse if I should take biology sl or economics sl for my last subject? I am still uncertain of what I want to become or major in the future, probably engineering or business related things but i still want to keep my options open as well. In this case, what would be better for me?

Thanks in advance!

Unless you have special dispensation (the only common case I've heard of for this is people applying to do medicine in Sweden) you have to take Economics SL as you must have a group 3 ("Individuals and Societies") subject. In IB, you have 6 groups: First Language, Second Language, Individuals and Societies (often called humanities), Natural Sciences (Bio/Chem/Physics being the main example), Maths and "Arts and Electives" (an art subject or another option from one of the other 5 groups), and you must select one subject from each.