<p>I'm considering ED application to UPenn's CBE program this fall.</p>
<p>I'm a Mexican IB student and feel as if the content on the test contains several topics that weren't seen, or barely touched upon, by my courses and/or teachers. I've read that the Math 2 subject test is pretty much a requisite for anyone applying to an engineering program in the States (and I've always done well in math) but I honestly think that I wouldn't be able to obtain a good-enough grade for me to send in. </p>
<p>Would the Math 1 subject test look like a stain on my application? Could I compensate it in other areas? Or should I just take the plunge, do my best, learn the subjects two weeks before, and hope for at least an extremely tough 700?</p>
<p>Much thanks in advance to anyone who helps me answer this dilemma!</p>
<p>Only a couple of the extremely competitive require math 2 for engineering I think Harvey mudd and stanford? But most schools don’t require math 2</p>
<p>IB SL math students probably won’t cover all of the stuff in math level 2 until later in senior year of high school. Math level 2 is intended for more advanced students in math who are taking calculus (e.g. IB HL) as high school seniors (or earlier).</p>
<p>Unless it is required or recommend, otherwise, it would not be a problem in not taking Math2. It is usually preferred for engineering and science major as it includes some pre-calc math skills.</p>
<p>Whenever they recommend or strongly encourage you to take a test, you should. As most other applicants will do and you will be less competitive if you don’t.</p>
<p>The implication may not be specific to the test, but that they may strongly prefer that you be on an advanced math track (i.e. HL instead of SL if you are taking the IB courses), since math level 2 is suitable only for high school students on an advanced math track (those on a standard track like IB SL do not cover the needed material for math level 2 in time to take that test for university admissions).</p>
<p>In general, colleges do not hold you responsible for classes your school doesn’t offer. (Your school will file a school profile with your application - ask to see it.) If they don’t offer the class you need to take Math 2, they’re not going to expect you to take it. If your school offers no APs, they don’t expect you to have taken any and you shouldn’t be at any disadvantage. </p>
<p>Students are judged on what they did with what they had available - not some absolute scale. If you go to a school where the average ACT is 18 and you pull a 27, guess what? That’s impressive and you’ll get to go someplace awesome, even if that 27 would be horrible at some private prep school.</p>
<p>Where people get into trouble is if your school offers more difficult classes and you dodged taking them. That is a no-no.</p>
<p>@MrMom62 THANK YOU! Your post makes perfect sense in my opinion. I’m taking the most rigorous classes possible; Math HL just isn’t available. I really hope that’s the case and I’m assuming that (from an admission officer’s perspective) taking the Math II would come off as forced. </p>
<p>Do you think I should make mention of this somehow in the application? Or would the school profile be enough?</p>
<p>Thanks again, and thank you to anyone who’s helped me out.</p>
<p>Math2 only requires math skills up to pre-calc. Pre-calc is a standard course in Math core. I don’t think any high school not offering it in the US. Even if a high school does not offer a course called pre-calc, it should covered by other equivalent course as it is a basic mathathematic level before calculus which is required for engineering. That is why the school strongly encourage or recommend the Math2 score. Nevertheless, there are not many questions go beyond Algebra 2. Have you tried some practice test on it?</p>
<p>Your high school profile will mention the courses that were available, so there should be no need for you to mention it. Ask your guidance counselor - they’re quite useful.</p>
<p>Whether or not you should take Math2 is a different question. I’m not familiar with the IB program, so I have no idea whether or not your coursework will qualify you. Again, there’s the college advisor thing - they should know, this has certainly come up before in previous years.</p>
<p>General rant: I’m always surprised by the questions that come up on CC - it would be so simple to ask someone at your school who undoubtedly knows, but everyone thinks they have to do everything on their own - like this has never been done before. Stop reinventing the wheel, ask!</p>