MC early college VS IB magnet

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how MC early college (where a child is no longer attending high school, but college instead) program is compared to RM IB magnet?
Specifically, how would students from those two programs appear to private, selective universities? Would one be more attractive then the other?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how MC early college (where a child is no longer attending high school, but college instead) program is compared to RM IB magnet?
Specifically, how would students from those two programs appear to private, selective universities? Would one be more attractive then the other?

For private, selective universities, IB will be more appealing. Those kinds of schools are more likely to view MC credits as not comparable to the courses they would have administered.

MC Early College is most attractive and transferrable to public universities within MD who have sweetheart deals with MC to accept their transfer students and credits.

[Anonymous]

Look closely at the early college. Not a lot of students take it and basically Jr. and Sr. year is a mix of high school and college and they miss out of regular hs experiences. For someone who cannot afford college it is a really good program. But, what we were told is you can not enroll in EC and still take classes at MC. It also very much limits the electives your child takes if they have other interests. We choose regular HS and will use MC to supplement classes if needed. You can also do AP which most, not all colleges accept. Not all colleges take IB credits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how MC early college (where a child is no longer attending high school, but college instead) program is compared to RM IB magnet?
Specifically, how would students from those two programs appear to private, selective universities? Would one be more attractive then the other?

I think the question of what your child wants to do is more important than the question of how the two programs might appear to private, selective universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how MC early college (where a child is no longer attending high school, but college instead) program is compared to RM IB magnet?
Specifically, how would students from those two programs appear to private, selective universities? Would one be more attractive then the other?

I think the question of what your child wants to do is more important than the question of how the two programs might appear to private, selective universities.

I work in higher Ed and agree. Early college is very different than a traditional high school experience.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is different, but is it comparable in quality of education to the IB. If not, would it be higher or lower quality.

The child is not attached to HS environment/experience or friends and is excited about starting their degree early as opposed to delaying it with general subjects in HS.

However, it is really hard design given the high quality of IB education and the fact that it is a 15 y/o trying to decide what they want to do in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is different, but is it comparable in quality of education to the IB. If not, would it be higher or lower quality.

The child is not attached to HS environment/experience or friends and is excited about starting their degree early as opposed to delaying it with general subjects in HS.

However, it is really hard design given the high quality of IB education and the fact that it is a 15 y/o trying to decide what they want to do in life.

It's a totally different curriculum. Early college is targeting people who have a career path in mind. IB is university prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is different, but is it comparable in quality of education to the IB. If not, would it be higher or lower quality.

The child is not attached to HS environment/experience or friends and is excited about starting their degree early as opposed to delaying it with general subjects in HS.

However, it is really hard design given the high quality of IB education and the fact that it is a 15 y/o trying to decide what they want to do in life.

It depends on the particular kids. My child is very, very close with a group of other students in her cohort. They attend dances, games, and other normal high school events together. These are very driven young people, but they’ve had a lot of fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is different, but is it comparable in quality of education to the IB. If not, would it be higher or lower quality.

The child is not attached to HS environment/experience or friends and is excited about starting their degree early as opposed to delaying it with general subjects in HS.

However, it is really hard design given the high quality of IB education and the fact that it is a 15 y/o trying to decide what they want to do in life.

It's a totally different curriculum. Early college is targeting people who have a career path in mind. IB is university prep.

This is not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is different, but is it comparable in quality of education to the IB. If not, would it be higher or lower quality.

The child is not attached to HS environment/experience or friends and is excited about starting their degree early as opposed to delaying it with general subjects in HS.

However, it is really hard design given the high quality of IB education and the fact that it is a 15 y/o trying to decide what they want to do in life.

It's a totally different curriculum. Early college is targeting people who have a career path in mind. IB is university prep.

I agree, cc is for career/knowledge based. IB is more research based, like raising future scientists. I would say MC is comparable to AP but faster pace, and more independent like there is no teacher repetitively telling when a hw is due or quiz is coming up. It’s suitable for students with higher organizational and studying skills.

[Anonymous]

MC courses aren’t very rigorous. Think about who generally attends there after high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MC courses aren’t very rigorous. Think about who generally attends there after high school.

Careful, your bias is showing.

Montgomery College is in the top 10 community colleges nationwide. Ever since the state raised the age of mandatory school attendance to 18 in 2015, MC and MCPS have been expanding their partnership. The Early College programs are well structured and not just a scattering of dual enrollment courses. Students who complete associate's degrees are just as well prepared to take junior level courses at a 4-yr university as those who spent their first two years on a main campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how MC early college (where a child is no longer attending high school, but college instead) program is compared to RM IB magnet?
Specifically, how would students from those two programs appear to private, selective universities? Would one be more attractive then the other?

As others have said, both are strong programs, but appeal to different students with different goals. Don't pick a program based on what you think a selective university wants, pick one that is a great fit for your kid. I think the basic difference is that the IB Diploma is more well rounded, includes language to the point of earning the Seal of Biliteracy, and involves more writing across the courses while the Early College degrees are focused around the degree. The other big difference is access to activities at the home HS. Students in Early College are able to stay involved in the home school's athletics, but clubs tend to be harder because they often meet during lunch. However, if your kid is involved with a lot of extra-curriculars not associated with the high school, this may not matter much.

If your kid is strongly interested in STEM (engineering, CS, Bioengineering) and is most likely aiming for Honors college at a top public university, then Early College is probably a good fit. If your kid is more all-around in skills, not sure what career they are interested in, and really interested in private schools, then the IB Diploma Programme is probably a better fit.

In the past 3 years I know of 3 students who were in the RM magnet for 9th and 10th, who then transferred to MC Early College. One did engineering and got a full ride to UMD. A second one also did engineering, but I don't know where they are at for college. I'm not sure about the 3rd student's program. You can look at the MC website and see the dual enrollment Early College ceremony, which tells where every kid was going and what they were studying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is different, but is it comparable in quality of education to the IB. If not, would it be higher or lower quality.

The child is not attached to HS environment/experience or friends and is excited about starting their degree early as opposed to delaying it with general subjects in HS.

However, it is really hard design given the high quality of IB education and the fact that it is a 15 y/o trying to decide what they want to do in life.

It's a totally different curriculum. Early college is targeting people who have a career path in mind. IB is university prep.

Not true at all. Both are for college prep. Early College is to give students a heads up in college by getting the first year or two out of the way.