DCI or J-R?

[Anonymous]

Which would you choose for an academically-minded and sporty boy? My kid is at DCI now and likes it, but doesn’t love it. But many say high school there is better? We’re inbounds for J-R.

I like that J-R is so established, but worried it may be even more chaotic than DCI. Test scores seem similar. Commute for us is similar.

Having a hard time making a decision.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't bother with DCI if I were IB for J-R. IB Diploma only gets you so far in the country, with most of their exams given months after a kid normally applies to colleges. If the kid doesn't double up on AP or Cambridge exams for some of the same subjects, they're screwed, at least in applying for top colleges. J-R has far better sports and more advanced STEM if that's what your kid's into. This one's a no brainer unless you're dying to stick with a path to the level of a Higher Level IB Diploma language without having to supplement much.

[Anonymous]

I would go with DCI hands down if your kid is considering the IB diploma track. Strong writing and critical thinking skills in a comprehensive program. In addition, a mini-thesis that will set him apart when applying to colleges.

Your kid can take some HL exam junior year and get scores. Your kid can take a few AP exams too before applying to college. Yoir kid will stand out and have a much better shot at getting into good colleges if he does well in the diploma program. AP kids are a dime a dozen, not so IB.

JR is definitely way more chaotic, overcrowded, and bigger then DCI. Also it’s very difficult to get into many of the courses needed.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been following the college admissions for years now at DCI, and they seem much less impressive than J-R.

If the IB track makes the DCI kids stand out more, why isn’t it translating to top-notch college admissions. How is the college counseling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would go with DCI hands down if your kid is considering the IB diploma track. Strong writing and critical thinking skills in a comprehensive program. In addition, a mini-thesis that will set him apart when applying to colleges.

Your kid can take some HL exam junior year and get scores. Your kid can take a few AP exams too before applying to college. Yoir kid will stand out and have a much better shot at getting into good colleges if he does well in the diploma program. AP kids are a dime a dozen, not so IB.

JR is definitely way more chaotic, overcrowded, and bigger then DCI. Also it’s very difficult to get into many of the courses needed.

It’s not difficult to get into any needed course at JR…what nonsense is this.

[Anonymous]

Neither.

[Anonymous]

You're correct to think that they are academically equivalent. Vis a vis standardized testing, DCI has better math scores than J-R but does worse with ELA. And note that DCI is 22% white and Asian, while J-R is 42%. Ultimately, you're going to have to go with your gut.

One thing I would flag is that the student population is very different at each school. What type of social atmosphere do you want for your son?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would go with DCI hands down if your kid is considering the IB diploma track. Strong writing and critical thinking skills in a comprehensive program. In addition, a mini-thesis that will set him apart when applying to colleges.

Your kid can take some HL exam junior year and get scores. Your kid can take a few AP exams too before applying to college. Yoir kid will stand out and have a much better shot at getting into good colleges if he does well in the diploma program. AP kids are a dime a dozen, not so IB.

JR is definitely way more chaotic, overcrowded, and bigger then DCI. Also it’s very difficult to get into many of the courses needed.

False. IBD Geneva doesn't permit the taking of any HL exams junior year. Kids can take up to two Standard Level exams at the end of junior year, that's it. SL exams can be taken at the end of one-year courses, mostly in social studies classes, what IB terms the study of "Individuals and Societies." There are no US-specific social studies courses in IBD, so US history, US politics and government aren't allowed. Kids study world geography, environmental studies, economics, psychology etc.

If you're hard-core about trying for elite colleges from IB Diploma, your kid can apply Early Decision of Early Action in October of a gap year after graduating from high school, with all six IBD exam scores in hand. My sibling's kids did that from a private school and were admitted to Ivies and elite SLACs. Also untrue that IB Diploma studies beat AP in college admissions. Even colleges admitting in the single digits just want to see kids ace exams in whatever system them come up through, wherever they are, AP, IBD, Cambridge, British A Levels, French Bacca, whatever.

What's true is that top IBD students in this country commonly double up on some AP exams, and maybe Cambridge exams (given in June and Nov) in order to have a bunch of standardized test scores to submit when applying to college, particularly for sciences and math. The timing of the exams is geared toward the European college admissions calendar, where kids get conditional offers from universities predicated on their getting certain exams scores the summer after graduation. Unfortunately, the "predicted IB" exam scores Americans get from their schools aren't taken too seriously by highly competitive colleges. DCI's guidance counselors won't tell you this.

Just not true that it's very difficult to get into many AP courses at J-R. Ask around.

[Anonymous]

College counseling certainly isn't DCI's strong suit. But it isn't J-Rs either. You want good college counseling in DC, you hire somebody or help your own teens.

J-R has a much bigger high-performing cohort than DCI. For that reason alone, I'd stick with J-R.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't bother with DCI if I were IB for J-R. IB Diploma only gets you so far in the country, with most of their exams given months after a kid normally applies to colleges. If the kid doesn't double up on AP or Cambridge exams for some of the same subjects, they're screwed, at least in applying for top colleges. J-R has far better sports and more advanced STEM if that's what your kid's into. This one's a no brainer unless you're dying to stick with a path to the level of a Higher Level IB Diploma language without having to supplement much.

Top tier schools' admissions offices are very very familiar with IB programs and have been for decades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would go with DCI hands down if your kid is considering the IB diploma track. Strong writing and critical thinking skills in a comprehensive program. In addition, a mini-thesis that will set him apart when applying to colleges.

Your kid can take some HL exam junior year and get scores. Your kid can take a few AP exams too before applying to college. Yoir kid will stand out and have a much better shot at getting into good colleges if he does well in the diploma program. AP kids are a dime a dozen, not so IB.

JR is definitely way more chaotic, overcrowded, and bigger then DCI. Also it’s very difficult to get into many of the courses needed.

It’s not difficult to get into any needed course at JR…what nonsense is this.

Yup. Categorically untrue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been following the college admissions for years now at DCI, and they seem much less impressive than J-R.

If the IB track makes the DCI kids stand out more, why isn’t it translating to top-notch college admissions. How is the college counseling?

DCI hasn’t had college admissions for years now. They have only graduated 3 classes. They already have had Ivy admits and to top schools.

JR has more than 3 times the number of students so you can’t really look at absolute numbers. You should look more at percentages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't bother with DCI if I were IB for J-R. IB Diploma only gets you so far in the country, with most of their exams given months after a kid normally applies to colleges. If the kid doesn't double up on AP or Cambridge exams for some of the same subjects, they're screwed, at least in applying for top colleges. J-R has far better sports and more advanced STEM if that's what your kid's into. This one's a no brainer unless you're dying to stick with a path to the level of a Higher Level IB Diploma language without having to supplement much.

Top tier schools' admissions offices are very very familiar with IB programs and have been for decades.

. Right, but their familiarity doesn’t change the harsh reality that predicted HL IBD exam scores don’t cut the mustard like actual high scores on APs and other mainstream standardized subject tests. I earned IBD at a rural public school in late 80s. The timing of IB exams for Americans applying to college over the winter if senior year was a problem then and remains so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would go with DCI hands down if your kid is considering the IB diploma track. Strong writing and critical thinking skills in a comprehensive program. In addition, a mini-thesis that will set him apart when applying to colleges.

Your kid can take some HL exam junior year and get scores. Your kid can take a few AP exams too before applying to college. Yoir kid will stand out and have a much better shot at getting into good colleges if he does well in the diploma program. AP kids are a dime a dozen, not so IB.

JR is definitely way more chaotic, overcrowded, and bigger then DCI. Also it’s very difficult to get into many of the courses needed.

It’s not difficult to get into any needed course at JR…what nonsense is this.

Yup. Categorically untrue.

I have two kids that have gone through the school- neither has had an issue getting into classes they have wanted (one graduated with 12 APs, the other is on track to graduate with 10-11)...having said that, popular classes can be very large so if that is an issue for you/your child, JR might not be a great fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been following the college admissions for years now at DCI, and they seem much less impressive than J-R.

If the IB track makes the DCI kids stand out more, why isn’t it translating to top-notch college admissions. How is the college counseling?

DCI hasn’t had college admissions for years now. They have only graduated 3 classes. They already have had Ivy admits and to top schools.

JR has more than 3 times the number of students so you can’t really look at absolute numbers. You should look more at percentages.

My concern is that there isn’t a large enough cohort of high-performing boys at DCI. Many seem to be peeling off to other high schools. Absolute numbers matter.