Next year I am enrolling myself to the International Baccalaureate Diploma to best maximize my credentials for university. The IB requires 6 subjects: primary language, secondary language, a humanities, a science, mathematics and an elective. It also requires you take 3 at Higher Level and 3 at Lower. Each topic is rated on a scale of 1-7. This then adds up to a points maximum of 42 points plus 3 bonus points of your Community and Service, Extended Essay, and TOK class.
I am crossed with my higher level subjects. I am taking English A1, German B, Economics, Physics, Maths, Computer Science. Of that, my original plan was to take English A1, Economics and Physics Higher. I am interested in studying law, however not definite, and I am trying to keep my options open. However I have learnt that if I wanted to study Economics or Engineering in the UK, both courses require a maths Higher, which is suicide according to graduate students. However I have been recommended to do maths higher. It seems the suicidal part is not just the theory, but also the workload to understand the theory. It is said that the workload of maths higher is equal to the workload of all 5 other subjects combined.
I also have to look at it from a points perspective. If I take English A1, Economics and Computer Science, that would exclude any chance of engineering, but would lead me to a maximum points situation.
Another alternative is to take English A1, Economics and Physics higher, as well as Maths higher. This way if I find it too difficult at the beginning I can drop down and still have my 3 HL subjects. But this is also not only gearing me up for Maths HL, but an extra 3 as well, meaning zero of a social life if I wanted to get respectable points.
A third option is to take English A1, Economics and Physics higher, and if during the IB I realise that I want to study Engineering, take Maths HL as a single course during my gap year. This would provide the simplest option, but with the draw back of a gap year.
Ideally, I want to study either Law, Engineering, something to do with writing, or something to do with acting. If I study Law, I will need the maximum points, and they will not care about my maths grade. If I choose Engineering, they will require Maths and Physics HL as well as respectable points.
If I want to do something in writing, English A1 is essential, which is no problem, but I personally find journalism a mediocre job, and creative writing of novels a bore job with little success. TV writing came to me as an option, but personally, I think that the best writers are those who do it on the side.
The same I believe for anything drama related. I enjoy acting, I believe I have a certain talent and no modesty. However going on that purely contradicts my values. I see money and security and rank higher than following my passion. I want something to show for life. I do not want to end up an amateur actor like my cousin who is still living with his parents at 27. I will take drama courses in university, fufill my need for teh stage, and who knows, I might get some acting. I might get to write a Doctor Who episode and star in it.
One can only dream…
But back on the real world, in terms of IB. I will take English A1, Economics and Physics HL. This leaves my options open whilst giving my maximum points without ruling out Engineering. And I feel I will most likely go with Law, as I enjoy finding loopholes, writing formally, and knowing what my rights are.
