W-L IB. Worth it for college admissions?

[Anonymous]

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I’ve heard IB does a great job of prep for college esp for liberal arts. In my opinion the AP curriculum is stronger for tech/math/science. So it might be a question of best fit rather than increasing college admission chances.

What's that opinion based on? (I ask because the only APS kid I know of who got into MIT did IB, but I realize that "getting into MIT" is not a reasonable standard for assessing a program's merit)

This is a comment based on the different levels available for math/tech. This is not a comment that the quality of teaching is better. But rather a comment that
the "build your own adventure" flexibility of AP is better for tech. For example, calc AB, BC, the two different physics AP courses (mechanics and E&M). Or that you can take AP Bio,
but that's a bit independent from the other. It's this ability to specialize the tech versus taking a generalized "science" courses that makes AP a bit stronger prep, in my opinion.

I graduated from Stanford (engineering). Came in with full load of AP courses.

What science options does IB offer - or should I say not offer?

From the W-L site:
Biology HL
Biology SL (one year)
Chemistry HL
Computer Science HL
Design Technology SL
Environmental Systems SL (one year; block course)
Physics SL
Sports, Exercise & Health Science SL

So for example, Stanford will accept 10 AP courses (math/sci, CS) as course substitutions. But from IB program will accept 5 courses. For languages, it's about the same.

Again--not all these are offered at a given school. And not all high schools have the competent teachers for the subjects. But comparing the programs as designed serve as the basis for my comment about AP being a better STEM fit.

The nice thing about W-L, if it's your zoned school, is that you can pick and choose from AP and IB classes (transfers have to commit to the full IB program). My DD loves biological sciences and her biology teacher, who teaches both AP and IB strongly recommended the 2-year IB class because she thinks it's better in the amount of research and writing required. So she's doing that and then IB Environmental Science but doing AP for English, Calculus, Social Studies classes, the things that she'll likely want to use an AP credit to satisfy general ed requirements. My son, a senior, has done mainly AP (his strength is math and will be majoring in data science) but also an IB Economics class since that's not available as AP. Also taking a very cool dual-enrollment class on geospatial data analysis.

[Anonymous]

I’m a W-L graduate that did the IB program and also went o UVA. I also took several AP classes. It was very rigorous and I was very well prepared for college. I highly recommend it if you have a bright, motivated student.

[Anonymous]

So you got the IB diploma AND took AP classes on top of it? Whoa, that's a lot of work with the exams, EE and CAS.

[Anonymous]

As I think others have said, if you are at W-L, being a full IB student is either required, or at least highly, highly recommended, in order for the school counselors to indicate that you are taking the most rigorous schedule available. This may have an effect on college admissions out of W-L. I think its difficult to get into UVa from W-L without being a full IB diploma candidate, but I don't think its impossible. In general, I think its easier to use AP credits in college than IB classes, but the full suite of IB coursework is fabulous preparation for college. FWIW, I have a junior full IB candidate at W-L, and a college freshman who went to TJHSST and is now at William and Mary.

[Anonymous]

It's nice for W-L students that they get the option to pick and chose, but those of us debating the spot are from YHS and WHS. Our kids have to go all in, so it's a debate about IB vs AP.

[Anonymous]

IB is not as ubiquitous nation-wide so I can't imagine it's that important in college emissions. I have a friend who went to the IB program at W-L and she said it was BS; not really hard. That said, she did go to a highly selective school. My kids are too young and I"m sure by the time they are in high school the IB admission rate will be 4% just like it was for my kids at ATS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's nice for W-L students that they get the option to pick and chose, but those of us debating the spot are from YHS and WHS. Our kids have to go all in, so it's a debate about IB vs AP.

NP - IB should be a separate, full-time program for any student wanting IB. There are Wakefield and Yorktown students who would want full IB but WL students get to take spots selectively as they wish, reducing the # of students fully interested in IB who can transfer in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you got the IB diploma AND took AP classes on top of it? Whoa, that's a lot of work with the exams, EE and CAS.

I did. Many of us did when I was there. I am not naturally bright - I just work really hard. It was very hard and required a lot of studying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have observed that UVA, in particular, loves IB students.

Well that might be true for schools that have IB program, BUT there are plenty of Arlington students not at WL who get into UVA.

I think the issue might be that you won't get into UVA from W-L if you don't have the "most rigorous" program, which at W-L is IB?

Not true. I’ve had 2 go from WL to UVA in the last few years and neither was full IB. Took a mixture of AP and IB.

IB helped with writing but the classes tend to be more focused on certain aspects of a topic. For example, my son who took IB American history learned a lot about the civil war and reconstruction but almost nothing else. My son who took AP American history learned our history from colonial times through tne 1970s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you got the IB diploma AND took AP classes on top of it? Whoa, that's a lot of work with the exams, EE and CAS.

I did. Many of us did when I was there. I am not naturally bright - I just work really hard. It was very hard and required a lot of studying.

Most W-L IB Diploma students take AP classes in 9th-10th. You can take AP World History in 9th, AP Government in 10th + an AP elective.

[Anonymous]

AP World as a freshman coming out of a pandemic with things still kind of upside down sounds like a nightmare - isn’t it one of the hardest APs?

[Anonymous]

I am confused by the comments about transfers being required to do full IB. The only kid I know who is a YHS transfer I thought was doing partial IB? Is there a source where I could confirm the rule here? A link would be really helpful!

[Anonymous]

Transfers must take 3 IB classes junior and senior year. To get full IB, you have to take one from each category and to the CAF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve heard IB does a great job of prep for college esp for liberal arts. In my opinion the AP curriculum is stronger for tech/math/science. So it might be a question of best fit rather than increasing college admission chances.

What's that opinion based on? (I ask because the only APS kid I know of who got into MIT did IB, but I realize that "getting into MIT" is not a reasonable standard for assessing a program's merit)

This is a comment based on the different levels available for math/tech. This is not a comment that the quality of teaching is better. But rather a comment that
the "build your own adventure" flexibility of AP is better for tech. For example, calc AB, BC, the two different physics AP courses (mechanics and E&M). Or that you can take AP Bio,
but that's a bit independent from the other. It's this ability to specialize the tech versus taking a generalized "science" courses that makes AP a bit stronger prep, in my opinion.

I graduated from Stanford (engineering). Came in with full load of AP courses.

What science options does IB offer - or should I say not offer?

From the W-L site:
Biology HL
Biology SL (one year)
Chemistry HL
Computer Science HL
Design Technology SL
Environmental Systems SL (one year; block course)
Physics SL
Sports, Exercise & Health Science SL

So for example, Stanford will accept 10 AP courses (math/sci, CS) as course substitutions. But from IB program will accept 5 courses. For languages, it's about the same.

Again--not all these are offered at a given school. And not all high schools have the competent teachers for the subjects. But comparing the programs as designed serve as the basis for my comment about AP being a better STEM fit.

Is that an advantage for admissions though?

[Anonymous]

Is busing available for transfer students moving to W-L for IB from another HS (pre-pandemic)? If so, where have the depots (or whatever the pick-up/drop-off locations are called) been located for YHS base school kids going to W-L for IB?