<p>I'm in IB Psychology and I'm applying to MIT. One thing that MIT asks (and also from others schools) is to get a recommendation from one science teacher. So is psychology considered a viable "science" course? I've talked to many people (including my counselor and teachers) and got mixed results.</p>
<p>I'm asking because I will be able to get a far better recommendation from my psychology teacher than my IB Biology or AP Physics teacher.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I'd say in a broad sense it is, but when we're distinguishing between social sciences and the more technical sciences, it kind of falls into the gray area. Why not just shoot admissions a quick email?</p>
<p>My guess is that they'll ask to see a rec from a bio/chem/physics/... teacher, but encourage you to get one from your psychology teacher as well.</p>
<p>In our school it's indisputably a science. It's in the science dept. and counts towards the needed science creds, but many have told me, outside of school, that it's not. YOu can always send in the bio/physics one AND the pysch on just in case. Or try asking them if psych is a science.</p>
<p>In most places, it's considered a social science, but yeah, email them about it.</p>
<p>while the definition of psychology is the scientific study of behavior, it may not be considered a science at your school.</p>
<p>at my school, psychology is in the history department and counts towards your social studies cred, so in that case no it is not a science. but i agree, call/e-mail the school and ask if you think can get a much better recommendation.</p>
<p>Just e-mail the MIT adcom and ask them..</p>
<p>yeah, just ask. isn't it a bit lit for recs?
anyways, i'm pretty sure in the IB program, psych can be a science course? correct me if i'm wrong.</p>
<p>The Univ of Calif considers psych a social science, so likely MIT will too. As a general rule, such requests are for Lab Science classes.</p>
<p>Moreover, even your teacher writes you a 'best of career' type letter, it prolly won't carry as much weight as a lab science rec bcos IB pysch may not considered as rigorous at the HS level. While I don't know about IB, I do know that AP Psych is a so-called AP Lite; the reason being is that pysch is typically a semester course at college whereas the big three sciences are year-long courses.</p>
<p>My suggestion is to send the psych rec as a supplemental, i.e., a third rec, particularly if its outstanding.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies.</p>
<p>Another person in the MIT forum pointed out MIT asks in evaluation form B from a:</p>
<p>Humanities, social science, or language teacher</p>
<p>I guess MIT groups psychology as a humanities. I'll assume this is the policy of other universities too.</p>
<p>BTW, IB Psychology is nothing like AP psychology. It is much harder and requires actual analyzing and experimentation.</p>