Is an EE in Physics Worth It for University Admissions?

AI Thread Summary
Choosing a physics topic for the Extended Essay (EE) in the IB program can be challenging, but it offers valuable opportunities for personal growth and academic development. While a physics EE may not directly influence university admissions, it can enhance an application by showcasing problem-solving skills and genuine interest in the subject. Engaging deeply with a topic can lead to significant insights and a shift in career perspective, as experienced by one participant who found a passion for fluid dynamics. Conversely, working on a topic that lacks personal interest can result in a poorly executed essay. Therefore, selecting a subject that genuinely excites you is crucial for both the quality of the work and the overall experience.
SubTachyon
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
This topic is not the first of its kind and for that I apologise. I am currently doing the first year of my IB program and I am in the progress of chosing my subject for the Extended Essay. I read few threads on this topic which were here earlier and apparently physics is not the easiest way how to get a good grade for the EE.
That is why I am asking if EE in physics is going to help me get accepted into a physics course in university or if it is completely irrelevant.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I'd say no, it doesn't help you get accepted, until you make use of the opportunity. Maybe you learned something, couldn't solve a problem - write it on your application essay; maybe it gave you the idea to continue and branch off your research from there. Or maybe it gives your evaluators (teachers) a good opportunity to know about you.

I had a compulsory research paper to write too, and I was really interested in my topic though it was insanely hard and technical, and halfway I wrote more than enough so I published it. Then I realized I made the mistake of publishing it under an alias and it would run up in the plagiarism check, so I embarrassingly asked my teacher if it would cause a problem, and he helped me write an explanation to the exams board. Somehow, I think that might have improved his opinion of me and he helped me a lot with my university application and gave a good recommendation, supposedly.

Research also had a huge change in my mindset. I used to think I wouldn't mind being an engineer, until I attacked fluid dynamics, where there was a thin boundary between physics and engineering. It was a great experience.

So my advice is, go do that EE in Physics if it interests you. It will help you in intangible ways. Hope this helps.

(I'm entering college next year.)

Edit: Oh I ran off without saying a very important thing. It's VERY taxing to do an extended essay on something you don't like! I've seen some of my friends' ones in topics that were easier but also not what they were interested in. As a result, they looked very slipshod and bad. I wouldn't put the fault on them - I find it really boring to write an essay on something I don't like either.
 
Last edited:
Bit Britain-specific but I was wondering, what's the best path to take for A-Levels out of the following (I know Y10 seems a bit early to be thinking about A-levels, but my choice will impact what I do this year/ in y11) I (almost) definitely want to do physics at University - so keep that in mind... The subjects that I'm almost definitely going to take are Maths, Further Maths and Physics, and I'm taking a fast track programme which means that I'll be taking AS computer science at the end...
After a year of thought, I decided to adjust my ratio for applying the US/EU(+UK) schools. I mostly focused on the US schools before, but things are getting complex and I found out that Europe is also a good place to study. I found some institutes that have professors with similar interests. But gaining the information is much harder than US schools (like you have to contact professors in advance etc). For your information, I have B.S. in engineering (low GPA: 3.2/4.0) in Asia - one SCI...
I graduated with a BSc in Physics in 2020. Since there were limited opportunities in my country (mostly teaching), I decided to improve my programming skills and began working in IT, first as a software engineer and later as a quality assurance engineer, where I’ve now spent about 3 years. While this career path has provided financial stability, I’ve realized that my excitement and passion aren’t really there, unlike what I felt when studying or doing research in physics. Working in IT...

Similar threads

Replies
8
Views
5K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
4K
Replies
2
Views
3K
Back
Top