Interested in studying engineering? Ask questions here.

[Amin882]

I'm a first year IB student that takes HL Chemistry, HL Economics, HL English LIt A, SL Math, SL Spanish Ab enitio, SL Biology. I want to major in Chemical Engineering, but most universities say I need physics. Can I still major in Chemical Engineering?

[Gaby]

I'm a first year IB student that takes HL Chemistry, HL Economics, HL English LIt A, SL Math, SL Spanish Ab enitio, SL Biology. I want to major in Chemical Engineering, but most universities say I need physics. Can I still major in Chemical Engineering?

 

Well, if the universities that you're applying to require Physics, then no, you cannot. Also, SL Maths for Engineering is not the best of ideas, I'd recommend bringing it up to HL. 

[Mohamed Abdelkader]

Hey guy's I'm thinking of doing Mechatronics is that similar to mechanical and my school doesn't a offer physics at all and only offers SL Chem is that a problem if I wanted to do engineering?

[kw0573]

 

Hi, So I am a sophomore and will be doing IB after nxt semester. Coming into the year I had engineering in mind but was still stuck on the 5 I got the year before in physics. I am happy to have improved this year and I am along the lines of a 7 in my sem 1 report. I find myp math quite easy and chem even easier.

Do you think these subjects will do in order to get into chemical engineering.I am also looking to go study in the US.

Kiswahili B hl

Math hl

Chem hl

Phy sl after this year’s improvement I think I should take physics over bio

Eng A sl

Econ sl

I thought to have kiswahili B hl as a comfort zone as It is my mother tongue so it will.probly be a straight 7, and this would also help me focus on my other higher levels which are according to people quite diffficult. I couldnt take it as an A language as I have been doing french for the past 2 years so I would have a bit to catch up to be in par with the Kisw A students. I hope you understand why I would have such a futile subject a higher. Will these choices do for chem engineering?

You need HL physics. I don't care if you think it's hard, these are the subjects you need to prepare for chemical engineering. Chemical engineering programs will have you surpass all of the material in these courses within the first SEMESTER. I don't care if you want a free 7, you need HL physics.

God do I need to put this in huge red letters, I've answered this like 80 times do people even read. (I'm not attacking you, but this has been discussed before and I'm not sure why you'd avoid a required subject because you want an easy subject).

 

Im in chem eng and just had my first semester of physics. Learned new stuff but SL physics was satisfactory considering in high school we spent only about half to 3/4 of class learning SL physics and rest doing harder physics concepts/problems. We also didn't have HL Physics at school. Prob too late to change but just a third opinion. 

[Rosalina]

Hey guy's I'm thinking of doing Mechatronics is that similar to mechanical and my school doesn't a offer physics at all and only offers SL Chem is that a problem if I wanted to do engineering?

 

It does depend on what school you're want to go to. I don't think you'd be interested in Canada but you do need physics to get into engineering.  I believe someone here is an engineer without them having to take Physics in High school but I think Physics is recommended, if not required for engineering. Perhaps, they can make an exception for you but you never know until you ask them.

 

 

This is for the engineers here: How did you decide which branch of engineering you want to specialize in?

Edited December 31, 2015 by Rosalina

[kristinamontinola]

I'm still a freshman, so I've got a bit longer to think about what I'd want to be, but I am trying to put myself in the path towards an engineering major. I took a class in 8th grade focusing on super basic mechanical engineering, and it was my favorite class of that year. My parents want me to get into the medical field, but I am the worst in sciences. I know I'll have to really try and get better if I want to be an engineer, so when I do get better, I was hoping on trying biomedical engineering (or more specifically, medical device design, analysis, marketing, and utilization). Does anyone know what sort of classes I'd need to take or have any advice? I'm kind of unsteady about where I want to go and what I want to be, so it'd be nice to get an idea from someone who really understands this kind of thing. Thanks in advance!

 

 

As a side note, I've already mentioned it, but my performance in biology is just godawful right now and I'm only pursuing the medical field because of my parents... I'm just really lost right now... Some advice would be really helpful   Thanks again!

Edited December 31, 2015 by kristinamontinola

[Kevin Chan]

Hi!

I am stuying IB in Australia and I am interested in computer science. However, I am not very good at math (I chose math sl) so I am a bit worry about all the math contents in computer science.

On the other hand, I have been self-studying java programing for quite a long time, so I guess I know something about the programing side of computer science.

Could you please give me any suggestion about a better decision? Should I go for software engineer instead of computer science?

Thank you.

[Kanishk]

can i do engineering without chemistry?

 

[alexalexalex]

can i do engineering without chemistry?

Yep, it all depends on what kind of engineering you want to do

[Jens]

Hey, sorry I didn't read all of this this topic, so someone may have already answered this question. If they have forgive me. I really want to do aerospace engineering and want to get into a good university in the states. First I will start off by saying that I'm sorry if I am posting in the wrong forum or doing something wrong. I'm new here and just wanted some help with my classes.

I'm currently a Sophomore, I want to major in aerospace engineering and want to really do a career in space related fields (aerospace engineering in my opinion is what I am interested in)

I plan on taking 
HL: Physics, History, English (English is mandatory)
SL: Spanish, Chemistry, Math


Let me begin by saying that I was unable to take HL Math (however this may change, even if it is a low probability) and that HL english is mandatory. Are these good choices? I am also in several extracurricular clubs. Are these classes suitable for a potential aerospace engineer and good college. Please let me know. For example could I get accepted into Georgia Tech or like any other decent engineering university?
Thank you. (Also please forgive me if someone asked this question like 10 times already) 

Edited January 11, 2016 by Jens

[Kanishk]

 

can i do engineering without chemistry?

Yep, it all depends on what kind of engineering you want to do

 

what all engineering can i do without chemistry?

 

[alexalexalex]

can i do engineering without chemistry?

Yep, it all depends on what kind of engineering you want to do

 

what all engineering can i do without chemistry?

Well the absolute majority of engineering, such as: (don't quote me on this though as Im not 110% sure)

Civil Engineering

Computer Science

Electrical/Computer Engineering

Materials Science

Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Systems Engineering

[GK1]

Hello, all!

I am currently in MYP 5( Grade 10, Year 11), in an IB school and will start the DP program in September 2016. I really want to study engineering when I finish the IB. My current subject choices look as follows;

 

HL;

Maths

Physics

Chem

History

 

SL; 

English Lang Lit

Dutch Lang Lit

Business Management ( possibly, still thinking)

 

Questions

1) Are these good subject choices, I am doing quite well in school with an average of 6.5+ consistently. 

2) I want to study electronics engineering, is this a sector with many jobs, or does it make more sense to study something else and then specialise in this?

3) What are your tips to surviving the IB?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Gaby]

Hello, all!

I am currently in MYP 5( Grade 10, Year 11), in an IB school and will start the DP program in September 2016. I really want to study engineering when I finish the IB. My current subject choices look as follows;

 

HL;

Maths

Physics

Chem

History

 

SL; 

English Lang Lit

Dutch Lang Lit

Business Management ( possibly, still thinking)

 

Questions

1) Are these good subject choices, I am doing quite well in school with an average of 6.5+ consistently. 

2) I want to study electronics engineering, is this a sector with many jobs, or does it make more sense to study something else and then specialise in this?

3) What are your tips to surviving the IB?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

I think you should reconsider the number of subjects: 7 subjects with 4 HLs is going to run you down quite quickly and is simply unnecessary. As you have Maths, Physics and Chemistry at HL, you have the right choices . You really do not need two social sciences, and History is loads of work, so on top of 3 science HLs, it will be hard to manage. 

[TheNikawi]

Hi, just stumbled upon this thread and I have a few questions regarding my subject choices. So for uni, I plan to take either econ/finance or compsci/software engineering. 

 

Here are my current IB choices:

HL Math

HL Econ

HL/SL Physics

HL/SL CompSci

SL English Lit

SL Mandarin

 

Questions: 

1. Is it fine if I take IB physics and compsci but not chemistry if I plan to take compsci/software engineering for uni?

2. Is Econ HL required if I want to take econ/finance/business in uni? If not, then I would rather take HL Math, Physics, and CompSci. 

3. Is taking Math, Physics, CompSci, and Econ all at HL worth it to leave my choices as open as possible? If not, which subject should I drop that will least affect my chances of getting into the aforementioned majors ( compsci/software engineering or econ/finance/business)?

 

Thanks a lot for the help! I also plan to ask my guidance counselor for their opinion on the matter. 

[Slovakov]

1. Yes, it's fine. Depending on where you want to study, the only strict requirement may be Math HL. It's safer to have physic or comp. sci though.

2. While Economics HL isn't required, if you plan on going into this field it''s good to have at least one social science as your HL, such as geography, history etc. Again, you don't really need all three of math/physics/comp-sci to get into computer science at uni so you can easily drop one of them to SL.

3. If you want to keep your chances open, you should keep  math and economics at HL. As to which sunjects can be dropped, you should either do some research about what the unis you plan to apply to require, as this may differ from one to another.  (I know it's too early to really know where you want to apply, so don't recommend that). Alternatively, go with what's more interesting to you - you'll spend a lot of time doing your HLs, so this will help you get through the busy times.

[VeronicaG]

Hey! Canadian year 2 here.

So I've been seeing all these posts about having HL physics, chem, math, etc just to get into engineering. Well, I took none of those at HL. My courses are:

HL english lit, econ and bio

SL math, chem and french

Predicted score: 43/45

I took physics in an Ontario summer school.

Even so, I was just accepted early to Biomedical Engineering at the University of Waterloo, which btw accepts only 6% of applicants in total, which is the most competitive undergrad engineering program in Canada. So if your school has no HL math or whatever, you can still get in to an engineering program at a pretty good school. Don't give up just because you're taking SL.

Granted, this probably will not work in the UK or US, but it's enough in Canada.

[Aunonna Kabir]

So I have Math HL, Bio HL, Chem HL and History HL. Since it is an IB curriculum I can not take 3 sciences so I do not have physics. Problem is I wish to study BioMedical Engineering at US colleges like Duke. Do you think this will negatively impact my application and if I do get in will it be possible for me to cope with the course considering I have had no interaction with Physics for 2 years or do unis offer introductory courses to physics where I can make up for my lack of knowledge? 

[kw0573]

4 minutes ago, Aunonna Kabir said:

So I have Math HL, Bio HL, Chem HL and History HL. Since it is an IB curriculum I can not take 3 sciences so I do not have physics. Problem is I wish to study BioMedical Engineering at US colleges like Duke. Do you think this will negatively impact my application and if I do get in will it be possible for me to cope with the course considering I have had no interaction with Physics for 2 years or do unis offer introductory courses to physics where I can make up for my lack of knowledge? 

Is there any opportunity to take Physics at summer/night/weekend school? Duke strongly recommends physics for their Pratt school of engineering. There are introduction physics courses but they progress just as fast as in IB. Depending on how soon you will graduate, you can opt to take a 7th course in SL Physics, which should be enough exposure, or apply for an irregular diploma through your school. An irregular diploma, if approved, can enable you to obtain a diploma by fulfilling only 4 groups. Your schools know about the details.

[VeronicaG]

1 hour ago, Aunonna Kabir said:

So I have Math HL, Bio HL, Chem HL and History HL. Since it is an IB curriculum I can not take 3 sciences so I do not have physics. Problem is I wish to study BioMedical Engineering at US colleges like Duke. Do you think this will negatively impact my application and if I do get in will it be possible for me to cope with the course considering I have had no interaction with Physics for 2 years or do unis offer introductory courses to physics where I can make up for my lack of knowledge? 

Long story short, you will not get into any type of engineering without physics. Engineering is really heavy in physics and you will be so behind if you dont have and many universities will reject you if you dont have pre-uni level physics. I was in the same scenario and I took physics over the summer then studied HL physics for fun to improve my chances. You can either find some way to take physics or do a science major instead of engineering.