IB and Imperial

[maria_88]

Hello!
All of you who got into Imperial and done the IB, which were your offers? Do they look a lot on the EE/TOK points or? What grades did you get in finals then? Hopefully those who got in can share their IB and Imperial thoughs I'm applying for the 2007 entry btw...

[baskem]

Hey Maria!

I did the IB in Sweden. My offer was to obtain a 6 or higher in either Chemistry HL or Biology HL, a six in any other additional higher level subject, and then at least a 5 in the rest of the subjects. They did not mention any total score or such, that I needed to obtain - i.e. the TOK/EE-points were, in this case, rather worthless (as the subject TOK is in itself ).

In the end I obtained 42 IB points, with 7's in Biology HL, Chemistry HL, Swedish A1 SL, and History HL. I got 6's in the remaining two subjects and two "extra-points". I'm pretty happy with the result, and my main goal was only to obtain the grades I needed to get in to my first choice for uni - Imperial College.

I wish you the best of luck Maria with your application to Imperial, and think, only some months from now, you will be a liberated former "humble servant of the IBO", and Theory of Knowledge (urrgh...) etc, will be history!

[dmbh]

Hey,

The standard offer is 32 points. You only need a 6 in chemistry and one other subject at HL, and a minimum of 5 in any subject. All in all, a pretty easy offer, when compared the standard offer in most med schools of 36 pts.
Got 39 pts in the end, which is lower than my predicted, so predicted may be important. I think IB vastly improves your chances of getting in, since not many people take it,and students who do the IB are usually of a high caliber...usually! TOK helps you for your interview, as I know I definately used some techniques I learned in TOK to give a balanced view on the topic they gave me.

As said before, your offer will not include bonus points, so ee/tok are a waste of time, but be sure to at least pass them, because I think you have to have a diploma.

Good luck.

[baskem]

Originally Posted by dmbh

Hey,

TOK helps you for your interview, as I know I definately used some techniques I learned in TOK to give a balanced view on the topic they gave me.

Wow! I applaud you! You actually LEARNED something in TOK

Oh, btw, dmbh, I understand you have lived overseas lately...in which country if I may ask? To which hall have you been allocated?

[dmbh]

Hey,
I know TOK...useful! I cant believe it either, I always hated the lessons.
Ive been living in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai.
Im in Fisher hall. you? Probably wont check this until I get to the hall, but see ya around.

[sviestine_muse]

maria, where are u from?

i am also an ib student considering imperial. i have actually chosen cambridge (just for kinda fun though), ucl and imperial, but i have a doubt, whether i should apply to two universities which are both in london (the rent is quite high there and i am not sure about my finances). i am going to apply for a deferred entry. what subjects are you taking?

[maria_88]

I'm from Finland...And you? I'm taking 7 subjects, Chemistry, Physics and Economics on Higher Level, on Standard Bio, English, Swedish and Maths methods. Which are yours?

I'm applying to almost the same unis as you, but Oxford instead of Cambridge...I don't really know, I'm a bit scared of the BMAT What are your predicted grades?

[sviestine_muse]

I am from Lithuania. How did they allow you to take 7 subjects instead of 6? I would have taken Physics if i was allowed, but they said it was impossible. So I only have Chemistry and Biology as Sciences. Generally it looks like this:

Chemistry HL
Biology HL
Lithuanian A1 HL
English A2 HL
Mathematics SL
History SL

We have no Economics and as you've probably noticed I'm taking 4 HLs. Having no Physics, I am terribly scared of BMAT, since it pays much attention to it... Don't know what to do, intending to learn it on my own. Or at least revise what I've learnt before IB. And my critical thinking is also terrible, what about yours? How are you preparing for BMAT?

And the predicted grades: they do not tell them to us! I am shocked at this, since it could really help me to sort out the universities if I don't meet the entry requirements... And now they say it's confidential. They will tell it only minutes before submitting my application... Have you submitted yours already? How did it go with your personal statement? What are your predicted grades? What did you select as your 4th choice? I am now thinking about Bristol... Or Birmingham.

Btw, did you apply to Oxford through open application or chose a particular college?

[naimslim89]

Wow, 32 points? Sounds so surreal!

One point worth mentioning methinks -- apparently, according to our IBC, Maths STUDIES is not liked by medical schools, and most require students to do maths STANDARD (formerly maths methods) as studies is only a little higher than GCSE. Not a problem for myself as I do Higher Maths anyway but can anyone shed some light on this?

[maria_88]

I know, 32 points is great! I wonder why the best med school in the UK has the lowest offer grades..
About the maths studies, I doubt anyone who aims at medicine will take that..I have methods and I am very happy