ESS or Biology Standard? (US University Applicant)

[Nessa]

I'm currently trying to choose what subjects to take for Y12 (first year of diploma) next year, and I'm stuck between a few!

Higher Level:

-English Language and Literature

-Geography

-Film/Visual Arts

Standard:

-Chinese

-Biology or ESS

-Math Studies (maybe standard..)

See? I'm having a hard time choosing.

I would do standard economics, but it would mean that I can't do HL arts, as thats the rules for my school. Plus, I'm sure I need to be real good at math to do economics well.

I was also thinking, if I did ESS, would American universities still be accepting me? Cuz it's not really a 'lab' science. I would do biology but I'm not the best at it even if I kind of enjoy it.

Also, would doing math standard be more accepted than math studies?

I'm not sure if American universities look at the grades or more at the subject selection and decide :/

Help!

[David14]

I think you should ask your sister Nina lol

PS you don't to be good at math to do economics!

[ChocolateDrop]

Economics SL barely touches onany mathematics, so on the maths front you should be fine.

American Universities accepting ESS. It depends on what you want to study in the University and which University it is. If you want to do a sciency course which requires a science, then obviously doing ESS would not be meeting the subject requirements for the course. Also some Universities like MIT suggest you have 2 years of science (physics, chemistry or biology) in highschool regardless of the course you do, even if you plan on studying a humanities subject. So you really need to check the University. But as a general rule of thumb, unless the course is a specialist course or at some institution with specific subject requirements,

Universities generally tend to put more emphasis on your grade rather than your SL subject choices. Unless of course your SL is meant to be related to the course. Eg some Universities have requirements like if your school does not offer or for some reason you cannot do subject A at HL then subject A must be done at SL. Obviously in this case your SL choice will matter.

But unless specified you can choose whatever you want at SL. Just choose subjects you enjoy and think you might do well in.

Maths SL or Studies. Maths SL is more universally recognised than studies, however if you want to do a course where the level of maths is irrelevant and do not fancy the idea of doing more Maths than necessary, then I would advise you to do Studies. Again it depends on the course you want to do and where. If you want to go straight into a Maths heavy course like engineering for example, you'd be better off doing SL at least. However if you want to do a humanities where the level of maths is irrelevant like History or Archaeology fir example, then feel free to do studies.

As to whether American Universities look at grades or subject combination, some American universities say they look for 'rigorous course load' and some simply just look at performance. It depends on which ones you're applying to, what course and how competitive it is. You need to look at specific ones or a specific[ish] course.

It is important to note, UNLESS the University prospectus/ website/ subject requirement says you need to take a certain subject which you may find difficult or think you'll have problems with, do not feel pressurised to take it. Like the common misconception that you need to do Maths + Physics + Chemistry HL to do engineering, or you need to do two sciences to do engineering in the UK. I am yet to see a University with such requirements. Make your life as easy as you possibly can, and choose subjects you will enjoy (more) if you can.

[Nessa]

Economics SL barely touches onany mathematics, so on the maths front you should be fine.

American Universities accepting ESS. It depends on what you want to study in the University and which University it is. If you want to do a sciency course which requires a science, then obviously doing ESS would not be meeting the subject requirements for the course. Also some Universities like MIT suggest you have 2 years of science (physics, chemistry or biology) in highschool regardless of the course you do, even if you plan on studying a humanities subject. So you really need to check the University. But as a general rule of thumb, unless the course is a specialist course or at some institution with specific subject requirements,

Universities generally tend to put more emphasis on your grade rather than your SL subject choices. Unless of course your SL is meant to be related to the course. Eg some Universities have requirements like if your school does not offer or for some reason you cannot do subject A at HL then subject A must be done at SL. Obviously in this case your SL choice will matter.

But unless specified you can choose whatever you want at SL. Just choose subjects you enjoy and think you might do well in.

Maths SL or Studies. Maths SL is more universally recognised than studies, however if you want to do a course where the level of maths is irrelevant and do not fancy the idea of doing more Maths than necessary, then I would advise you to do Studies. Again it depends on the course you want to do and where. If you want to go straight into a Maths heavy course like engineering for example, you'd be better off doing SL at least. However if you want to do a humanities where the level of maths is irrelevant like History or Archaeology fir example, then feel free to do studies.

As to whether American Universities look at grades or subject combination, some American universities say they look for 'rigorous course load' and some simply just look at performance. It depends on which ones you're applying to, what course and how competitive it is. You need to look at specific ones or a specific[ish] course.

It is important to note, UNLESS the University prospectus/ website/ subject requirement says you need to take a certain subject which you may find difficult or think you'll have problems with, do not feel pressurised to take it. Like the common misconception that you need to do Maths + Physics + Chemistry HL to do engineering, or you need to do two sciences to do engineering in the UK. I am yet to see a University with such requirements. Make your life as easy as you possibly can, and choose subjects you will enjoy (more) if you can.

Thanks SO much!!

I'll start contacting or looking up at the universities that I'm interested to see if I need to take math SL or if I can take ESS. I'm focusing more on the humanities aspect so I hope they'll say its okay.

Thanks a lot!

-N