Incomplete Recommended Coursework

MIT4Lyf · 06-13-2012, 03:40 AM

According to the MIT website,

Quote:

Will my application be reviewed if I have not completed all the recommended course work?

Yes. However, at the very least, you should have one year of calculus (or higher level of math, whichever meets your ability level) and calculus-based physics. It is rare that an applicant is admitted without calculus and physics at the college level. Depending on your major, you may have covered more ground in one science discipline or another, or you may have more engineering than science courses. Fortunately, each decision is made on a case-by-case basis and depends on your course of study and institutional offerings.

I have completed College Physics 1, but I think it isn't the course which MIT recommends. I might end up applying for next fall, however I don't enough space to squeeze in another high level Physics class in my schedule. I'm freaking out as to what should I really do.

Should I like take College Physics 2 or go for the advanced Physics 1 or do both the advanced Physics 1 and 2 ?

Other than Physics, I have done much more coursework in Chemistry about 12 hours with lab in overall. Can that be used a substitute for Physics ?

Please tell me.

molliebatmit · 06-13-2012, 06:45 AM

The physics that MIT recommends for transfers is introductory college-level physics -- a course in calculus based mechanics, and one in electricity and magnetism. There's no need to take an advanced physics course.

They want to see that you will transfer in with, hopefully, your freshman year General Institute Requirements already covered. So your physics courses should be substantially similar to MIT's 8.01 and 8.02 courses.

MIT4Lyf · 06-13-2012, 11:06 AM

Thanks mollie

The course catalog says that the course includes "Elementary principles of mechanics".
However there is also a course similar to this which says "Calculus based Mechanics".

I'm not sure if I took the correct course

Does MIT considers any Departmental Exams at other universities ? (I can probably try to complete the courses using the Dept Exam)

UMTYMP student · 06-13-2012, 10:15 PM

The question that matters is whether your course included significant amounts of calculus.

molliebatmit · 06-13-2012, 10:32 PM

You just want to take a course that will be similar enough to MIT's 8.01 that you will be able to get transfer credit. The transfer credit examiners will look at the syllabus for the course and the textbook, so if those aspects of the course are substantially similar to MIT's 8.01, then you're totally fine.

MIT4Lyf · 06-14-2012, 01:00 AM

In the previous course, there were calculus based problems. I'm not sure if that is enough cause in my catalog it says this course is not for engineering majors. I will take the advanced physics course anyway. But my question here is since I can't take both courses in 1 semester, I will go for our Departmental Physics Exam (which I heard is a hell of an exam

), so basically will that be acceptable ?

Am sorry if I am stretching this too far

elizabeththegrey · 06-14-2012, 07:51 AM

No - MIT only awards transfer credit for actually college classes, not placement exams.

MIT4Lyf · 06-18-2012, 05:38 PM

So here's the situation now, I'm going to take Advanced Physics 1 (calculus-based) in the Fall 2012 and Advanced Physics 2 (calculus-based) in Spring 2013.

I will be applying (sending everything in) hopefully by 1st Feb 2013, which means my transcript will show that I'm taking Advanced Physics 2 (incomplete however) for Spring. So basically is that good enough ?

MIT4Lyf · 06-19-2012, 04:39 PM

*A loud Hello*

elizabeththegrey · 06-20-2012, 12:50 AM

I believe that fulfills the intent of the requirement, but I obviously don't speak for MIT

If in doubt, call Emily at admissions.