goodwood8

Okay, i'll just get right to it - why does UofC hate IB so much? I feel like an idiot doing the IB. How in the world is a 7 in an IB HL exam not considered for so many subjects ???

Anyway, lets get to it. I'm going with the assumption that i'll be able to manage a 7 in any subject (except English).

Here are my subjects:

HL: Chemistry, Physics, Economics
SL: Mathematics, English, Spanish Ab Initio

So, from the website, what i've been able to figure out is that while a 7 in Chem HL will get me 3 credits. Chemistry 11100-11200-12300. But, for some weird reason, I can't get any credits in Physics or Economics ??? That's frustratingly unfair as I plan to major/minor in either/both.

While, an AP Mechanics and E&M Gives 3 credits (Physics 11100-11200-12300)
and AP Economics (Micro and Macro) gives 2 quarters general elective credit.

I was fine with giving the APs, until I realized that the exam dates were clashing with some of my IB exams. -.-

Seriously guys, how is this fair in any way? Please tell me the rest of the administration and departments are not so irrational. UChicago is the only university i've had on my list which has such discriminating policies for the IB, and I'm planning to attend (don't get me wrong, I love the place, and it is/was at the top of my list... I was in disbelief when I got in EA).

From what I understand, I could have gotten 8 credits
3 from Chemistry, which fulfills the Chemistry Core Requirement thing
3 from Physics, which I guess would take up 3 from the maximum 6 elective credits ? I could also then easily get into Physics 14000s, I guess. (I want to do a Physics honors)
2 from Economics, which is 2 quarters elective credit.

Instead, I get only 3 for Chemistry :'(.
So is there any alternative I have to claim my credits, like testing at the University or placement exams or something ? I'm a bit desperate to get as many credits because I want to attempt at double majoring, or atleast do Honors in Phyiscs and a lot of Economics elective classes.

I had two additional questions, for anyone who has done the IB Diploma and is in the college/is an alum.

1) How well does Maths SL prepare me for a Physics/Economics major, or an honors in Physics ? I'll be having a decent amount of time before Uni starts, so I could do some math prep (it may seem paradoxical, but math is actually one of my weaker areas, I require lots of practice).

2) How close does getting a 7 in an abinitio language (Spanish in my case) to completing the language requirement? I'm not too keep on taking language courses and would much rather test out of it. [I mean is getting a 7 in spanish ab initio enough, or should I learn more, at the AP level?... I can't give AP Spanish either, btw]

OxalisWombo

You get 3 credits for chem, but no credits for econ or physics.

International Baccalaureate Programme | The College

"No course credit is offered in the following departments for work done in an IB program: computer science, economics, mathematics, or physics."

You do get 1 credit in the physical sciences (to put towards the core) if you decide NOT to register for a physics course. You don't get the credit if you do decide to register for one.

If I'm not mistaken there's a placement test in chem, not for credit, but to put you at a higher level if you belong there. Current students, correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm sure your study of econ wasn't in any way representative of the world-renowned econ classes at Chicago.

Stop whining.

motherbear332

I agree with you, goodwood8 that UChicago should reconsder their IB policy. For one thing, it is much more difficult to get a 7 on an IB exam than a 5 on an AP exam. They also should reconsider the limitation to only HL exams.

But their AP policy could use some tweaking, too. No elective credit for econ unless both macro and micro are taken, then you get 2, and no credit for govt. unless both comparative and US, and then you get 3. S took Macro and USGov, the only combination offered at his school, so gets nothing. Fortunately, he had enough "Other" courses which get 3 credits each to max out on the elective credit anyway.