IB or AP diploma? Which is better?

[Anonymous]

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

You might find this interesting:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/24/AR2008022402191_pf.html

[Anonymous]

My impression is that IB is more challenging (and therefore more of a credential, but I am not a college admissions officer) but yes if all you want is college credit then perhaps AP.

[Anonymous]

My daughter received an IB diploma. She studied harder (exams are given by IB office in Switzerlarnd (?) sometimes on a weekend] than her AP peers but got accepted to more schools than her peers. She also got several of her IB courses taken while in HS, credited in college. She's very glad she chose IB over AP.

[Anonymous]

I have heard that IB is almost impossible for high school kids to handle -- too stressful and too difficult. I am hoping this characterization is not true...right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that IB is almost impossible for high school kids to handle -- too stressful and too difficult. I am hoping this characterization is not true...right?

I'm a former IB teacher. This is not true. It's not for every high school student - but many do just fine.

To clarify the original question - AP is not a diploma program. AP classes are individual academic classes that are not connected in any way. IB is a cohesive diploma program that comprises 11th and 12th grade. Students earn an IB diploma; in an AP program, they take individual AP classes followed by an exam. That said, many students at many high schools also just take individual IB classes and do not complete an IB diploma program. It's up to the individual schools whether or not to allow students to do that. Some only allow students to enroll in the entire IB diploma program, others allow students to just take individual IB classes.

The IB diploma program prepares students exceptionally well for college. In addition to the rigorous coursework, they write a senior thesis with the help of a faculty advisor, then defend it in front of a panel of three faculty members. When they get to college, many IB grads find it very easy compared to their IB program.

[pamD]

It was 15 years ago, but many of the members of the first class of IB students from my high school took a year off before going to college because it was so intense. And I don't think it got them any further than AP students. (and if you read the WP, it is a disadvantage at some colleges)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that IB is almost impossible for high school kids to handle -- too stressful and too difficult. I am hoping this characterization is not true...right?

I'm a former IB teacher. This is not true. It's not for every high school student - but many do just fine.

To clarify the original question - AP is not a diploma program. AP classes are individual academic classes that are not connected in any way. IB is a cohesive diploma program that comprises 11th and 12th grade. Students earn an IB diploma; in an AP program, they take individual AP classes followed by an exam. That said, many students at many high schools also just take individual IB classes and do not complete an IB diploma program. It's up to the individual schools whether or not to allow students to do that. Some only allow students to enroll in the entire IB diploma program, others allow students to just take individual IB classes.

The IB diploma program prepares students exceptionally well for college. In addition to the rigorous coursework, they write a senior thesis with the help of a faculty advisor, then defend it in front of a panel of three faculty members. When they get to college, many IB grads find it very easy compared to their IB program.

Do you know anything about the IB at the elementary level? How is the PYP different from a regular elementary education?