Computer science: choosing math level

[Zordix]

Do i have to go math hl to study computer science in college? or is it easy to find colleges that accept math sl? and which countries accept math sl? i have to choose the subjects for next year. and do i need physics for computer science? im trying to avoid it

[ChocolateDrop]

It depends where you want to study and in which country/ countries. To be on the safe side, you could check out the subject requirements at the more picky institutions and make sure you fulfil these. Chances are, if so you MAY also fulfil the requirements at the less picky institutions. Eg if you want to study in the UK but are not sure of the general requirements and are not sure about which specific universities to apply to I'd look at the notoriously picky Universities regardless of whether I'm applying to them.

From what I've seen Mathematics HL seems to be a pre-requisite. More universities state Maths HL and some state Maths HL or Physics HL so I'd definitely take Maths HL. It seems you don't need Physics per say, but in IB you're required to take a science and it would help if you at least take Physics SL. You want to seem competitive and into the course and you could do this either in a practical way i.e tampering with computers/ software or through your involvement related subjects such as Maths and Physics.

From what I've seen Year 1 seems to be a lot of Maths and a bit of physics circuits.

http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/programmes/courseunits/optionsgrid.php?level=1

http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/compsci/

http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/admissions/ugrad/Admissions_criteria

[Zordix]

thanks alot for the reply, but im not sure where im going to study and i dont think i can do math hl, so will i be able to find decent universities that accept math sl?

[ChocolateDrop]

thanks alot for the reply, but im not sure where im going to study and i dont think i can do math hl, so will i be able to find decent universities that accept math sl?

By not taking Maths HL or recognised standardised maths tests (like the SATS Maths subject tests, APs) you'd really be closing off a lot of options. Maths HL isn't too bad especially if it becomes the centre of your universe. So picking other subjects you find [slightly] easier where you probably won't have to work too much and Maths HL, and spending a lot of your time/ energy on Maths HL shouldn't be disastrous. It also helps if your HL teacher is awesome.

Certain courses have a lot of maths and mathematical concepts in it, so I'd apply to ones with less apparent maths content maybe? I doubt you'd be able to escape discrete maths and set theory though. If you really do not want to do maths but want to do some computing studies, IT, Computer Information Systems or Software Engineering have less maths so maybe you could look into theem as well to have more options. Does your school offer ITGS if so you could take it HL and Maths SL.

Some universities (like Bath University) may ask for a 6 (or whatever grade) in maths HL, they may ask for 7 at SL (or a higher grade than what they ask of HL). If you want to make your case stronger, A level [further] Maths and a decision maths module would help.

I personally see "not being sure" where you're going to study as incentive to meet as many subject requirements as possible.

http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/computer-science/outreach/mathematics

http://university.which.co.uk/advice/a-levels-computer-science-computing-degree (check it out)

http://university.which.co.uk/search/course?utf8=%E2%9C%93&c%5Bq%5D=computer+science&commit=Go&c%5Bsort_fact%5D=relevance (You can compare University degree requirements)