<p>I read on the MIT website that it recommends that students take one year of Physics (High School)</p>
<p>
[quote]
<br>
* One year of high school physics
* One year of high school chemistry
* One year of high school biology
* Math, through calculus
* A foreign language
* Four years of English
* Two years of history and/or social sciences
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm doing the IB Program at my school and the route to take is very clear. If I choose to take Physics (Even if it's one year) I cannot take Chemistry (SL - Standard Level) and AP/IB Biology (DP, HL - Higher Level)</p>
<p>I'm planning on Biological Engineering as my major.</p>
<p>Would MIT penalise me for not taking Physics. At the time of me doing college admissions process, Should I write a note explaining this.</p>
<p>If that's the choice you have to make, it's the choice you have to make. Those courses are recommended not so much for admissions, but for survival at MIT -- since everybody has to pass the General Institute Requirements to graduate, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with calculus, physics, chemistry, and biology before you get here.</p>
<p>I personally didn't take physics in high school, and I survived MIT physics, but I would really recommend, if you're admitted, to at least self-study physics over the summer or something. It's pretty difficult to come into MIT with no physics background and be in class with a bunch of people who "only" got a 4 on the AP exam.</p>
<p>I was in the IB program and they allow you to take Physics and Chemistry or Physics and Bio at the same time. What happens is that Physics becomes a Sixth Area choice in replace of economics or psychology (or some other course in this area depending on what your school offers) and you choose chemistry or bio as your main hard science. Talk to your guidance counselor about this. About 50% of my graduating class did this option.</p>
<p>I think you can still take it. You will have to use one of your free periods that you will get your senior year. The course will not count towards your IB points, but you can use it as a certificate for college credits. It's just something extra you will have to do if you want to learn economics. Or you can simply enroll in the AP course and take the AP exam instead.</p>
<p>Yes AP/IB (Both AP and IB Bio is combined into 1) Biology is a double period. IB History and IB English are must. I'm planning on taking Math HL (so Multi Var), ToK 2 (1 Semester), IB French 5 (Minimum for SL), so I have 1 Semester left</p>
<p>I'll probably write a note saying this (or not take Economics)</p>