<p>I'm just about to choose my IB subjects, and I've come to a dilemma as I don't know which subject the universities prefer. I have two choices thus far:</p>
<p>1) Take psychology, which I find absolutely fascinating and would not have any trouble getting an A, as I would literally study this subject for fun. Also awesome awesome awesome awesome AWESOME teacher. </p>
<p>BUT I've been told by my friends that IB psychology is considered a "soft" and "unchallenging" subject in the eyes of college admissions compared to history which is more "academic" and "orthodox".</p>
<p>2) Take history, which I find quite interesting as well, BUT spend 3-4 times the time studying compared to psychology just to get the same grade...history's very hard over here. It also might hurt my GPA.</p>
<p>I'm also taking into consideration the fact that getting a good recommendation from the psychology teacher would be easy as she really has a good impression of me, while the history teacher pays no real attention to me especially.</p>
<p>So, guys...which do you think would be the appropriate path to the ivies/other superawesomefantabulous universities? I want to go to Georgetown to study International Relations...so History would arguably be more relevant.</p>
<p>I think you already have your answer.</p>
<p>I…really dont xD</p>
<p>I enjoy both, but history is somewhat challenging while psychology is fun. And I’m afraid psychology might hurt my chances with top unis…</p>
<p>:(</p>
<p>Take psych. Assuming the rest of your coursework is rigorous (as it would be in an IB program), you should go with your passion. Differentiating yourself from the pack is part of the challenge of applying from a competitive high school program and the best way to do it is to pursue the things you love. You’ll have a better learning experience with an awesome teacher, get a better letter of rec because you love the subject, and - bonus - have more time to prepare your applications for college.</p>
<p>And by this time next year, you may have decided you want to be a psych major.</p>
<p>I’d find out if the college you are interested in allows AP courses as credit. If they don’t, then I’d definitely take what you enjoy (Psych). If they do allow AP credit, then maybe you’d want to take it just to get it out of the way. BUT, since it sounds like you enjoy both subjects that may not be a factor for you. I can’t see where one AP class is going to keep you out of a school of your choice v. taking another one. I may be wrong, but there seem to be so many other factors colleges consider in the admissions process. I, personally, would take the class you like with the teacher you like. Life is short and you should enjoy high school. 
Good luck.</p>
<p>If you want to take psych, then it’s worth it- your higher GPA would make up for any possible assumptions that it’s a ‘soft’ class. though i am wondering, if you want to major in IR, why aren’t you as interested in taking the history class? is it just focusing on a region that you don’t care about, or it the particular class not supposed to be very good? or are you more interested in politics than history? it’s perfectly fine to want psych over history, but i’m wondering why that’s your preference with your intended major…</p>
<p>^
^
meant IB not AP</p>
<p>You can take both if Psych is your sixth area.</p>
<p>@smwhtslghtlydzed:
I was intending to take History because it would look relevant for my intended major…but I’ve heard when applying to the US they mostly just look at your GPA since you don’t decide your major until the 2nd year of uni? I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with the system. If Georgetown does not distinguish between a History and Psychology candidate, then I would take psychology…because it would get me a higher GPA. And the History curriculum here is 80% chinese history, with 20% on the japanese meiji restoration…while IR is much more about international organisations and what-not.</p>
<p>@glassesarechic:
I can’t. I’m taking
English A1.2 HL
Mandarin B HL
History/Psychology HL
French AB SL
Biology SL
Maths SL
…so I really wouldn’t able to do it as a group 6…</p>
<p>It basically comes down to relevance between HS work and UNI work…if a university’s IR program would like to see History as a field of study in their candidates, I would take history. If they had no preferences, I would take Psych for the GPA.</p>