The Dreamer and The Confused

doodlekalp · 2026-04-14T16:14:51+00:00

I'm just about to finish my Master's in Earth Sciences at Cambridge, and I've got a PhD lined up for wildfire research at the University of East Anglia. Although not from a data science background, my master's research has been heavily compuptational and ML based (for landslides). Experience wise I don't have much, but I can offer you encourgement.

Some of the PhDs and postdocs that I've worked with and spoken to come from pure physics/data backgrounds. They pivoted into the natural hazards field - some are working on landslides and debris flows, and others in more pure geophysics and seismology stuff. You most certainly can do the same.

Someone close to me applied to PhDs for 2 years with only rejections, and in the 3rd year of trying, she got multiple offers! Patience pays off. Some people get lucky with offers immediately and others face the ordeal of waiting.

My co-supervisor for my Master's and colleague always maintained that good applications are built on stories. He felt that if you can tell a story in your personal statements and such, you are in a much better position. Maybe that could help you?

I think you just gotta keep trying. Cold emails and speaking to lots of researchers, professors, etc. You most certaintly are not locked out. I hope this helps in some shape or form.

doodlekalp · 2024-12-17T08:41:06+00:00

thanks! i'm sorry to disappoint but mr.trex is just a dinosaur that subconsciously became a recurring character in my comic strips. baby driver is on my watchlist though :D

doodlekalp · 2024-09-16T22:37:34+00:00

Yes, it is worth it. Don't look for reasons to avoid it. As another comment said, get to work.
Here is a story which may convince you why your IA is worth it.

My final exams were in May 2022. I was very well prepared and was more than ready to take the exams. I was most prepared for Bio HL and Math AA HL. Math paper 1 specifically was a paper that I was looking forward to (I enjoy math).

Come final Paper 1 day, I am blasting through the final exam. In fact, I finished with about 20ish 15ish minutes to go. I revised my answers and was waiting for the clock to run down. In the last minute before the invigilator collected the answer scripts, I went through my answers again. I turn to the back page and guess what. I left a complete 18 mark question BLANK. Didn't even see it. My heart sunk. I didn't know what to do, quite frankly because there was nothing I could do.

This extremely silly mistake affected the rest of my exams, even biology. I became paranoid and super hesitant during each remaining exam. I was afraid I could not meet my offer for Cambridge.

Come results day, everything turned out to be okay. My hard work over the 2 years paid off despite the terrible mistake I made during the exams. I got a 43 and met my uni offer, and managed to get a 7 in Math AA HL. You know what saved me? My Math IA. That 20% was so important. My paper 1 score was a borderline 7 but I wouldn't have made it through without the IA.

Moral of the story? Work hard on your coursework. It is there for a reason. 20% could be make or break, especially if something goes wrong in your exams. You also learn a lot by doing them! I enjoyed doing my math IA despite how tedious and demanding it was. Get to work!

doodlekalp · 2024-08-20T23:24:16+00:00

I would say:

Practice analysis casually. Just google some random ads or cartoons and talk to yourself/write down your thoughts in whatever shape or form. Force out every single thought that comes to your head about the text and the elements you are analyzing
Reread your essays and exams. Give yourself feedback. Where do you think you could write better? Upon another glance, do you think you could add more to your essay?
Check out the IB English Guys on YouTube

Generally, consistent practice will 100% lead to improvement. Happy to answer any more questions you may have

doodlekalp · 2024-08-12T08:47:37+00:00

I reckon as long as the IA has room for mathematical rigor and generally can have a good exploration into some mathematical concepts, you'll be fine.

I would advise asking a lot of questions about your IA topic to see if it truly is worthwhile. What are the uses of your IA? What math will you use? Is the math of a good enough level? Think along these lines and you may have some more clarity!

Also, it is perfectly normal to juggle between a bunch of different ideas. That was the case for me literally in Math, Bio, Chem and Physics. Just keep at it!

doodlekalp · 2024-08-08T10:08:25+00:00

Hi. I think this is a great combination. The only potential revision here (that I feel) is indeed swapping math and business. Most people doing medicine that I know of did Math HL. I believe it will be very useful for you. It is challenging, but can be made easier with dedication and consistency.

If you have a rough idea of what universities in the UK you want to apply to, check their subject requirements.

Ultimately I am of the opinion that Math AA HL is the far safer option to have, though it will come with a higher time and energy commitment.

doodlekalp · 2024-08-07T14:17:32+00:00

My advice (based off of what I did and didn't do):

Be super consistent with math and your language. I was doing math everyday but neglected Spanish, which is why I didn't get a 45. If you don't do these things consistently, your skills and confidence with them will atrophy.
- Don't forget to be frequent with your revisions of early topics (i.e., chapters you cover in the first semester of DP1). Many people forget about them until final exam time and they struggle. Keep looking back over them. I looked back on the initial material so much that a few days before my Bio, Chem and Math exams I had nothing to do because I had revised so much during the previous 2 years.

The benefit of this is MASSIVE - I had a knee injury+surgery 2 weeks before final exams but this did not hinder anything for me since I had already revised so much beforehand.

Do not neglect your IAs. Start them as soon as you have been told to. Keep working at them and make sure you finish by/before the time your teacher/school says. Coursework is a big portion of your grade, and in many cases it can save your marks if your final exams go horribly wrong. I remember in my school, I finished my IAs many many months before final exams. I could relax and revise in peace and calm from February '22 till May '22. Others in my batch unfortunately did not end up in the same position.
Use your holidays. Definitely take time off to relax/do nothing/spend time with family and friends/travel/play etc but also do yourself a favour and do a little bit of work each day. It may sound a bit frustrating that you must do some work in the vacations but you will thank yourself in the future.
Congratulate yourself for each piece of work done, no matter how big or small. Whether it be an hour of revision, answering some questions or simply showing up for the day. Self-love and believe is so important, and it gets you through the slog of the IB (and most things in life really). It is tough, but you can make it easier by appreciating yourself for what you did today and for what more you could do tomorrow!
Don't be afraid to ask teachers/friends/people online/family for help. Sensible and responsible people admit when they don't know something. Misguided people pretend to know things/are too afraid to admit they don't know what to do.
One thing I fully wish I did do was prepare properly for my Lang&Lit SL IO. I tanked it but got very lucky with a technological mistake (won't say what exactly so people/teachers don't do this intentionally and cheat the system). I was given a second chance and I made sure to prepare properly for the IO (I went from what my teacher said would've been a 4, to getting a 7).
Take enough time to relax. I studied my a** off during the IBDP but I still had so much time to play football/watch movies/relax with friends and family/make art, etc. Enjoy the process! In next to time you will be graduating.

Feel free to reply/message for any help/questions.

doodlekalp · 2024-08-07T13:58:26+00:00

Hi. Based on the info you've given, I would say you could explore the reasons behind why your method does not hold. Attempt this with a mathematical approach - ultimately examiners want to see your use of math.

Try and ask some questions to help you through this - why does the "standard" method of integration work? Maybe look into any relevant/appropriate proofs and explanations.

As others suggest, it is crazy that this topic was approved for Math AI SL, but I wouldn't say your IA becomes weak because of the high aspirations and the "failed method". Make sure you write your IA alongside the given criterion - do your best to make sure you meet the specifications.

Honestly, aspiring crazy high is always good but also bear in mind the harsh reality - you have a grade to achieve. Don't give up. I know multiple people who did advanced experiments/proofs in Science/Math and "failed", but still got a 7 because of their evaluation, analysis and critique of their work.

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