Intended Major: Undeclared if possible or Computer Engineering/Computer Science
How bad are 5s if I'm planning on applying to Berkeley or UCLA as a Canadian international student? I think I might have at worst a 5 in Math SL and 6 in Bio SL or at best a 6 in Math SL and a 7 in Bio SL for my IB exams this year.
What IB predicted score should I be aiming for to have a reasonable chance? I have read that the average for UCLA and Berkeley is 38. I feel like the worse predicted score I could get is a 34 and the best I can get is a 39 or 40.
@booper I am planning on self-studying for AP Calc BC in grade 12, and my parents told me they can afford both schools. I am taking math SL because I would need to take 4 HL subjects if I took Math HL, since my school only offers English and World History, and Chemistry at HL.
Just keep in mind that you may get credit of AP Calc BC, but it would not be taken into account for admission as you would get the AP results after you are accepted. Definitely find more matches and safeties that are affordable.
@bopper Thanks for your response, but specifically, can you tell my in your opinion, or experience if having a 5 and applying to a a school like UC Berkeley would drastically hurt my chances? I have safeties and matches in Canada and the US.
5’s in SL classes is not gonna get you there imho, especially for CS. What are your HL classes if math and bio are your SL ? A potential college STEM student should be taking HL classes in Math/Bio/Physics and SL in the humanities.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization awards either a diploma or a certificate for individual IB exams. UC awards students who complete the IB diploma with a score of 30 or above with 30 quarter (20 semester) units toward their UC degree. Students who receive IB certificates with scores of 5, 6 or 7 on Higher Level exams will receive 8 quarter (5.3 semester) units.
But UC Berkeley is a top UC…so if you are going into STEM with 5’s in Math SL you may not be competitive. But apply anyway, see what happens and have many great safeties and matches that you woudl love to attend.
@NEPatsGirl I’m taking HL English, HL World History, and HL Chemistry. My SAT I Math score was 770, and I received a top 25% Certificate (although I am specifically top 6%) from the Waterloo Fermat Contest. I am planning on self studying for AP Calc BC for grade 12.
@bopper Is there any other way to mitigate a 5 in Math SL? I have a score of 770 of my SAT I on my first attempt, as well as the contest certificate from Waterloo as mentioned in the above comment. I also plan on taking the SAT Math II, and will be self-studying for AP Calc BC and AP Computer Science A. If I apply as undeclared at Berkeley do you think I’ll have a better chance?
No, not true. How do you think kids who go to IB schools show their grades? They show their IB grades.
Are you perhaps confused because final IB grades come out so late? Kids show “predicted” grades based on their performance over two years. But they will have to have actual grades that are close to their predicted grades to avoid a chance of having an admission offer rescinded.
IB students receive grades on the 1 - 7 system. Sometimes a US IB school will translate the grades into the
A - F system (ours did). But either way, you end up with a midterm and final grade for each year.
And for US colleges, the IB GRADES are what matter.
Now, you can also take the IB Diploma test. For that you will receive an IB SCORE for each subject, and a final cumulative score.
Sometimes teachers will predict an IB score, but mostly for non US colleges who seem to put more emphasis on that final IB test score. US college ‘admissions’ don’t care about your IB score, but they are very interested in your IB grades.
A six is still an ‘A’. So I don’t think it will hurt you.
Your math SAT score is pretty good, so it may alleviate any doubts about your SL vs HL math prowess. But Berkeley and UCLA are reaches for everyone (even those with 7’s, A+). Treat them as such and have a few enjoyable safeties on the side.
Good luck