IB SL Math for MIT CS?

[ironclaw]

<p>

@deathblade127

one person that got in MIT happened to be in Shatin College, but he turned down the offer.

</p>

<p>I am that person (from Sha Tin College class of 2010). I am now a sophomore at the University of Rochester studying for degrees in math and physics & astronomy, and minors in computer science and philosophy of science.</p>

<p>

@KodeKaran

IB higher math is said to be the hardest class at my school, no one has ever passed with a 7 in my school

</p>

<p>That is not true. A good number of students (at least 5) got a 7 in HL math in 2010, and based on the [published</a> mean grades for 2011]('<a href="http://www.shatincollege.edu.hk/sites/shatincollege/files/SC%20-%20IB%20Diploma%20Provisional%20Results%20(2011)_2.pdf’]published"&gt;http://www.shatincollege.edu.hk/sites/shatincollege/files/SC%20-%20IB%20Diploma%20Provisional%20Results%20(2011)_2.pdf’), I think it is likely that an even higher proportion got a 7 in the May 2011 exams. It seems that every year the difficulty of HL math gets more exaggerated at STC, even while the results are improving.</p>

<p>

@KodeKaran

Although, the problem lays in the fact that I’m taking SL Math, (contains calculus), as opposed to higher math, because I’m pretty average at math, […] I do understand MIT wants you to take challenging classes, but doing well at Higher Math, I don’t think that’s too achievable.

Which parts of math do you think you are average at, and which areas of CS are you interested in? My experience is that much of programming uses a type of reasoning similar to that needed for IB HL math, whereas theoretical CS is obviously proof-based and finds its roots in mathematical logic.</p>

<p>I agree with others that SL math seems a bit weak for MIT, especially since you have the option to take HL. Are you good at competition or proof-based math? This is possible even if you are average at computational math - for instance, the reasoning needed for number theory is very different from the quick computations needed for calculus. Perhaps you can show that you are competent at different types of math.</p>

<p>

@KodeKaran

I plan on majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Business Management, Robotics, Astrophysics and English.

</p>

<p>For astrophysics and physics in general, IB HL math will be very useful. In fact, I would go as far as saying that within the sciences, engineering, and math, the college subject that IB HL math is most useful for is physics. Math at the college level (for math majors, that is) is disconnected from much of high school math.</p>

<p>

@KodeKaran

I’m incredibly passionate about computer programming, to the extent that I’ve even started a mini web startup that has over 50ish useful web apps, including apps like: an app that sync links from your desktop to all your devices, clicking the app on any device will take you to your sync’d link. An app that helps you find things you’ve lost, based on others’ experiences and data you’ve entered, a gaming platform (devs submit games), an app that rates and suggests music based on your tastes, an app that measures your sleeping habits and helps you improve your hours, and even a social network.

</p>

<p>This sounds great. Develop these further and get some external authority to establish that your work is good through - for example - awards, media exposure, or successful commercialization. I’ve never had to program for anyone outside of my research and schoolwork, so I’m not sure what sort of software development opportunities exist for high school students.</p>

<p>Besides your programming projects, one traditional way to become a very competitive science/math/CS applicant is to do research (mostly over the summers) and either be finalists on competitions such as the [url=‘<a href="Search for Scholarships – BigFuture | College Board]Siemens[/url</a>] or the [url=’<a href="http://www.societyforscience.org/sts’]Intel[/url"&gt;http://www.societyforscience.org/sts’]Intel[/url</a>] (unfortunately both open only to US citizens), or to get published as a co-author (obviously, publishing an academic paper as the first author would be most impressive and difficult).</p>