engineering,  IB

should’ve stayed out of IB then

Hey,

I’m hoping you can clarify a query I have. Having been in the IB program has restricted my choices in science to just Biology and Chemistry (both at the Higher Level) however, the more I read about the chemical engineering program at UofT, the more interested I get. As you can deduce, I don’t have a physics course that is the pre-requisite for engineering. Would I still be able to apply for the engineering program and be considered at a level equal to those who have taken physics? Also, if I’m doing chemical engineering, will it be possible for me to take electives from social sciences (Anthropology, Psychology etc)?

Looking forward to your reply. Thank you.

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Uh… what kind of school do you go to? Last time I checked, the IB program had physics courses, and I have no idea why a school would offer only two out of the three standard science courses (does your school not offer English or Math too?). Not liking physics isn’t an excuse for not taking it, you know. Anyway, here are the Engineering Faculty’s admission requirements for students in the IB program. They require physics, so no, you would not be even considered for admission if you don’t have that course.

Being in IB is no excuse for not having a physics course. Can’t you summer school it or something? You really should’ve researched their admissions requirements more carefully.

Engineers have a set program that they move through (whereas Arts and Science students can design their own program), and one of the main differences between Engineers and the ArtScis are that Engineers have an extremely strict and inflexible program. This is because the engineering degree that you graduate with is a professional degree, which means it has to be approved by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. In engineering, you’ll have like, 2 full credits of electives at most (possibly less). If you are have broad interests and wish to study social science at an in-depth level, ArtSci is a much better fit and you can still take enroll in science-y courses such as chemistry or geology. On the other hand, if getting a professional degree is more important to you, then you might feel that ArtSci degree would be aimless and prefer a degree that is more structured.

If you really want to do chem eng., then try talking and working it out with the undergraduate admissions office at the Faculty of Applied Sciences. They might give you some advice as to what you can do to make up for the physics course – maybe they’ll make you summer school it. You poor thing.

If you don’t end up getting in, it might be a blessing in disguise. Trying engineering without physics will probably kill you.

2 Comments

  • Muhannad

    I’m currently in the IB program and already got my acceptance into engineering. I do take both Physics and Chemistry. However, some of my friends in the IB have the same problem as you, but the course they’re not taking is Chemistry (which is also required for engineering) instead of Physics in your case. A solution in your case is to take the SAT Subject Test in Physics, which should also be accepted by admissions as a Physics course. In fact, that test is much easier than the IB Physics. You should certainly double-check with admissions on this matter though.

    It’s almost definitely too late now for you to take the test and still make the document deadline which is 30th of April. You can still take it as soon as possible though and apply for engineering again, if it’s what you want.

    To clarify about the IB Diploma program, it has 6 groups of courses. One of these groups is the sciences group which contains physics, chem, and bio. What many people do is that they drop the arts group (group 6) and instead take one extra science course. All three sciences are, however, available.

    Hope I was helpful 🙂
    Muhannad

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