Does MIT want IBDP students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s friend did IB and was accepted to MIT and will be attending in the Fall. He was also top of the class.

seriously. There are IBDP students who go to MIT. I know of one from DC's class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s friend did IB and was accepted to MIT and will be attending in the Fall. He was also top of the class.

I’m sure he was accepted, after all IB is so rigorous that MIT is easy by comparison.

Snark aside, sorry, couldn’t help, it may happen, but the odds are not that good and IB is not a good preparation for MIT, not enough stem classes. One math and one science at high level won’t cut it.

I don't know why there is so much debate when I'm an actual alum with this background...I became a scientist and in high school took 4 years of language, 4 years of math, 4 years of science but took online physics instead of in person because I was fitting in another elective that I won national awards with. MIT was hard, but I did very well. In fact, continued taking my language for 3 more years at MIT. IB didn't hold me back in any way. In fact, most of my accomplishments in science was from grant writing. Science is way more about writing skills than lab skills.

My child is in high school and went from an all-IB school to AP and he says he hasn't written an essay all year. Not even in English which is truly bizarre having come from the communication-heavy IB school.

yep. I had one DC go through IBDP, and one go the AP route. Writing assignments aren't even comparable. I know someone who went the IBDP route and went to a STEM field.

My IB kid is a dual STEM major (senior now, straight As in college just like HS). My AP kid is not sure what they want to do, maybe STEM, but it won't be a double STEM major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s friend did IB and was accepted to MIT and will be attending in the Fall. He was also top of the class.

I’m sure he was accepted, after all IB is so rigorous that MIT is easy by comparison.

Snark aside, sorry, couldn’t help, it may happen, but the odds are not that good and IB is not a good preparation for MIT, not enough stem classes. One math and one science at high level won’t cut it.

I don't know why there is so much debate when I'm an actual alum with this background...I became a scientist and in high school took 4 years of language, 4 years of math, 4 years of science but took online physics instead of in person because I was fitting in another elective that I won national awards with. MIT was hard, but I did very well. In fact, continued taking my language for 3 more years at MIT. IB didn't hold me back in any way. In fact, most of my accomplishments in science was from grant writing. Science is way more about writing skills than lab skills.

My child is in high school and went from an all-IB school to AP and he says he hasn't written an essay all year. Not even in English which is truly bizarre having come from the communication-heavy IB school.

Sure buddy, because you’re a supposed alum there should be no debate whatsoever. I’m seriously doubting those reasoning skills got you into MIT. Are you sure that child is real? I mean, he transferred in 12th grade from an IB to an AP school? I don’t know why the IB cheerleaders come up with these anecdotal stories that are so obviously fake, it’s just bizarre.

[Anonymous]

IBDP students can also be strong in math. Some go on to major in STEM. The one thing they all say is that IBDP prepared them well for college. They are used to the work load and can manage it very well in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s friend did IB and was accepted to MIT and will be attending in the Fall. He was also top of the class.

I’m sure he was accepted, after all IB is so rigorous that MIT is easy by comparison.

Snark aside, sorry, couldn’t help, it may happen, but the odds are not that good and IB is not a good preparation for MIT, not enough stem classes. One math and one science at high level won’t cut it.

I don't know why there is so much debate when I'm an actual alum with this background...I became a scientist and in high school took 4 years of language, 4 years of math, 4 years of science but took online physics instead of in person because I was fitting in another elective that I won national awards with. MIT was hard, but I did very well. In fact, continued taking my language for 3 more years at MIT. IB didn't hold me back in any way. In fact, most of my accomplishments in science was from grant writing. Science is way more about writing skills than lab skills.

My child is in high school and went from an all-IB school to AP and he says he hasn't written an essay all year. Not even in English which is truly bizarre having come from the communication-heavy IB school.

Sure buddy, because you’re a supposed alum there should be no debate whatsoever. I’m seriously doubting those reasoning skills got you into MIT. Are you sure that child is real? I mean, he transferred in 12th grade from an IB to an AP school? I don’t know why the IB cheerleaders come up with these anecdotal stories that are so obviously fake, it’s just bizarre.

What's bizarre is your hatred of IB. Did you go through IBDP? Did your kid? Maybe your kid was rejected for IBDP? Not understanding the IB hate. Shrug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that MIT doesn’t want them, it’s they are not a great fit. IB is more centered on humanities.

If math and science are done at HL level in IB, that’s still only two stem classes. MIT applicants take AP calculus and statistics and often math dual enrollment classes, plus 3-4 AP science classes. Meanwhile IB students take Theory of knowledge, CAS stuff, and classes that don’t move the needle much at MIT: foreign language, art, social sciences etc.

It’s hard to be competitive from IBDP when AP students take 8-10 stem exams alone, and get their results early to add to the application. Probably the same for Caltech or other competitive stem colleges.

MIT does not give credit for a lot of AP exams. IBDP students are very competitive because they take the most rigorous classes provided in the school.

That’s not even remotely close to making them competitive for MIT.

There are more high school valedictorians than seats at MIT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that MIT doesn’t want them, it’s they are not a great fit. IB is more centered on humanities.

If math and science are done at HL level in IB, that’s still only two stem classes. MIT applicants take AP calculus and statistics and often math dual enrollment classes, plus 3-4 AP science classes. Meanwhile IB students take Theory of knowledge, CAS stuff, and classes that don’t move the needle much at MIT: foreign language, art, social sciences etc.

It’s hard to be competitive from IBDP when AP students take 8-10 stem exams alone, and get their results early to add to the application. Probably the same for Caltech or other competitive stem colleges.

And yet we see questions on here all the time asking if you really need 4 years of foreign languages and the answer is often that you should try. And my DD is an IB DP program and does not need to take an art class. She has enough room in her schedule to take 2 science courses + her math class.

MIT recommends two years of foreign language in high school, so IB is at a disadvantage since it requires four years.

you are implying that taking four years of a language would be a disadvantage applying to MIT?

Check your middle schools, they may teach 1-2 years

I made it clear it’s two years of foreign language in high school.

It’s the opportunity cost, instead of two years of foreign language, one could take stem classes instead.

Plenty of students do both language and stem. What about Humanities at MIT?

Not plenty, a mere handful, as in 50 out of 11000.

Are those 50 typically IBDP students or a mix of AP + dual enrollment?

IBDP is not that special. AP also offers the AP Capstone Diploma and nobody is making a huge deal about it even if they are comparable.

This. Never understood in what way IBDP is better than taking the equivalent AP classes.

It’s not, and you’re so limited on when and what classes you can take, it’s just not worth it.

IB HL sciences are two years, so its common for the first year to be taught together with AP. So the 2nd year of HL is material AP students wouldn't get.

So if a students schedule allows they could take IB Bio HL YR 1, IB Bio HL YR 2 instead of just AP Bio. And then also IB chem YR1 & YR2 INSTEAD of Ap chem. Ib physics is not calculus based so not useful to take that over Physics C

AP Chem and Bio take one year, while IB HL classes take two years, but both AP and IB are equivalent to a two semester introductory course. There’s no extra material covered in IB classes, they just review more basic concepts and are slower paced.

Are you saying that after taking YR1 which is just AP, they are not learning anything in YR2?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that MIT doesn’t want them, it’s they are not a great fit. IB is more centered on humanities.

If math and science are done at HL level in IB, that’s still only two stem classes. MIT applicants take AP calculus and statistics and often math dual enrollment classes, plus 3-4 AP science classes. Meanwhile IB students take Theory of knowledge, CAS stuff, and classes that don’t move the needle much at MIT: foreign language, art, social sciences etc.

It’s hard to be competitive from IBDP when AP students take 8-10 stem exams alone, and get their results early to add to the application. Probably the same for Caltech or other competitive stem colleges.

And yet we see questions on here all the time asking if you really need 4 years of foreign languages and the answer is often that you should try. And my DD is an IB DP program and does not need to take an art class. She has enough room in her schedule to take 2 science courses + her math class.

MIT recommends two years of foreign language in high school, so IB is at a disadvantage since it requires four years.

you are implying that taking four years of a language would be a disadvantage applying to MIT?

Check your middle schools, they may teach 1-2 years

I made it clear it’s two years of foreign language in high school.

It’s the opportunity cost, instead of two years of foreign language, one could take stem classes instead.

Plenty of students do both language and stem. What about Humanities at MIT?

Not plenty, a mere handful, as in 50 out of 11000.

Are those 50 typically IBDP students or a mix of AP + dual enrollment?

IBDP is not that special. AP also offers the AP Capstone Diploma and nobody is making a huge deal about it even if they are comparable.

This. Never understood in what way IBDP is better than taking the equivalent AP classes.

It’s not, and you’re so limited on when and what classes you can take, it’s just not worth it.

IB HL sciences are two years, so its common for the first year to be taught together with AP. So the 2nd year of HL is material AP students wouldn't get.

So if a students schedule allows they could take IB Bio HL YR 1, IB Bio HL YR 2 instead of just AP Bio. And then also IB chem YR1 & YR2 INSTEAD of Ap chem. Ib physics is not calculus based so not useful to take that over Physics C

AP Chem and Bio take one year, while IB HL classes take two years, but both AP and IB are equivalent to a two semester introductory course. There’s no extra material covered in IB classes, they just review more basic concepts and are slower paced.

Are you saying that after taking YR1 which is just AP, they are not learning anything in YR2?

No, I’m saying the first year in IB HL is not “just” AP.

Before making these claims at least check a course syllabus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that MIT doesn’t want them, it’s they are not a great fit. IB is more centered on humanities.

If math and science are done at HL level in IB, that’s still only two stem classes. MIT applicants take AP calculus and statistics and often math dual enrollment classes, plus 3-4 AP science classes. Meanwhile IB students take Theory of knowledge, CAS stuff, and classes that don’t move the needle much at MIT: foreign language, art, social sciences etc.

It’s hard to be competitive from IBDP when AP students take 8-10 stem exams alone, and get their results early to add to the application. Probably the same for Caltech or other competitive stem colleges.

And yet we see questions on here all the time asking if you really need 4 years of foreign languages and the answer is often that you should try. And my DD is an IB DP program and does not need to take an art class. She has enough room in her schedule to take 2 science courses + her math class.

MIT recommends two years of foreign language in high school, so IB is at a disadvantage since it requires four years.

you are implying that taking four years of a language would be a disadvantage applying to MIT?

Check your middle schools, they may teach 1-2 years

I made it clear it’s two years of foreign language in high school.

It’s the opportunity cost, instead of two years of foreign language, one could take stem classes instead.

Plenty of students do both language and stem. What about Humanities at MIT?

Not plenty, a mere handful, as in 50 out of 11000.

Are those 50 typically IBDP students or a mix of AP + dual enrollment?

IBDP is not that special. AP also offers the AP Capstone Diploma and nobody is making a huge deal about it even if they are comparable.

This. Never understood in what way IBDP is better than taking the equivalent AP classes.

It’s not, and you’re so limited on when and what classes you can take, it’s just not worth it.

IB HL sciences are two years, so its common for the first year to be taught together with AP. So the 2nd year of HL is material AP students wouldn't get.

So if a students schedule allows they could take IB Bio HL YR 1, IB Bio HL YR 2 instead of just AP Bio. And then also IB chem YR1 & YR2 INSTEAD of Ap chem. Ib physics is not calculus based so not useful to take that over Physics C

AP Chem and Bio take one year, while IB HL classes take two years, but both AP and IB are equivalent to a two semester introductory course. There’s no extra material covered in IB classes, they just review more basic concepts and are slower paced.

Are you saying that after taking YR1 which is just AP, they are not learning anything in YR2?

No, I’m saying the first year in IB HL is not “just” AP.

Before making these claims at least check a course syllabus.

Let me clarify. At many of the IB schools around here, for science, IB HL YR1 and AP are taught as the same class. IB HL YR2 is then a separate class. So , if IB HL YR1 and AP are taught the same materials, what do you think is taught in IB HL YR2?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that MIT doesn’t want them, it’s they are not a great fit. IB is more centered on humanities.

If math and science are done at HL level in IB, that’s still only two stem classes. MIT applicants take AP calculus and statistics and often math dual enrollment classes, plus 3-4 AP science classes. Meanwhile IB students take Theory of knowledge, CAS stuff, and classes that don’t move the needle much at MIT: foreign language, art, social sciences etc.

It’s hard to be competitive from IBDP when AP students take 8-10 stem exams alone, and get their results early to add to the application. Probably the same for Caltech or other competitive stem colleges.

And yet we see questions on here all the time asking if you really need 4 years of foreign languages and the answer is often that you should try. And my DD is an IB DP program and does not need to take an art class. She has enough room in her schedule to take 2 science courses + her math class.

MIT recommends two years of foreign language in high school, so IB is at a disadvantage since it requires four years.

you are implying that taking four years of a language would be a disadvantage applying to MIT?

Check your middle schools, they may teach 1-2 years

I made it clear it’s two years of foreign language in high school.

It’s the opportunity cost, instead of two years of foreign language, one could take stem classes instead.

Plenty of students do both language and stem. What about Humanities at MIT?

Not plenty, a mere handful, as in 50 out of 11000.

Are those 50 typically IBDP students or a mix of AP + dual enrollment?

IBDP is not that special. AP also offers the AP Capstone Diploma and nobody is making a huge deal about it even if they are comparable.

This. Never understood in what way IBDP is better than taking the equivalent AP classes.

It’s not, and you’re so limited on when and what classes you can take, it’s just not worth it.

IB HL sciences are two years, so its common for the first year to be taught together with AP. So the 2nd year of HL is material AP students wouldn't get.

So if a students schedule allows they could take IB Bio HL YR 1, IB Bio HL YR 2 instead of just AP Bio. And then also IB chem YR1 & YR2 INSTEAD of Ap chem. Ib physics is not calculus based so not useful to take that over Physics C

AP Chem and Bio take one year, while IB HL classes take two years, but both AP and IB are equivalent to a two semester introductory course. There’s no extra material covered in IB classes, they just review more basic concepts and are slower paced.

Are you saying that after taking YR1 which is just AP, they are not learning anything in YR2?

No, I’m saying the first year in IB HL is not “just” AP.

Before making these claims at least check a course syllabus.

Let me clarify. At many of the IB schools around here, for science, IB HL YR1 and AP are taught as the same class. IB HL YR2 is then a separate class. So , if IB HL YR1 and AP are taught the same materials, what do you think is taught in IB HL YR2?

You’re misinformed. Name the school from “around there” that has the first year of the IB science class teaching the same material as the AP class. Why do you present these as fact when it’s clearly not true?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that MIT doesn’t want them, it’s they are not a great fit. IB is more centered on humanities.

If math and science are done at HL level in IB, that’s still only two stem classes. MIT applicants take AP calculus and statistics and often math dual enrollment classes, plus 3-4 AP science classes. Meanwhile IB students take Theory of knowledge, CAS stuff, and classes that don’t move the needle much at MIT: foreign language, art, social sciences etc.

It’s hard to be competitive from IBDP when AP students take 8-10 stem exams alone, and get their results early to add to the application. Probably the same for Caltech or other competitive stem colleges.

And yet we see questions on here all the time asking if you really need 4 years of foreign languages and the answer is often that you should try. And my DD is an IB DP program and does not need to take an art class. She has enough room in her schedule to take 2 science courses + her math class.

MIT recommends two years of foreign language in high school, so IB is at a disadvantage since it requires four years.

you are implying that taking four years of a language would be a disadvantage applying to MIT?

Check your middle schools, they may teach 1-2 years

I made it clear it’s two years of foreign language in high school.

It’s the opportunity cost, instead of two years of foreign language, one could take stem classes instead.

Plenty of students do both language and stem. What about Humanities at MIT?

Not plenty, a mere handful, as in 50 out of 11000.

Are those 50 typically IBDP students or a mix of AP + dual enrollment?

IBDP is not that special. AP also offers the AP Capstone Diploma and nobody is making a huge deal about it even if they are comparable.

This. Never understood in what way IBDP is better than taking the equivalent AP classes.

It’s not, and you’re so limited on when and what classes you can take, it’s just not worth it.

IB HL sciences are two years, so its common for the first year to be taught together with AP. So the 2nd year of HL is material AP students wouldn't get.

So if a students schedule allows they could take IB Bio HL YR 1, IB Bio HL YR 2 instead of just AP Bio. And then also IB chem YR1 & YR2 INSTEAD of Ap chem. Ib physics is not calculus based so not useful to take that over Physics C

AP Chem and Bio take one year, while IB HL classes take two years, but both AP and IB are equivalent to a two semester introductory course. There’s no extra material covered in IB classes, they just review more basic concepts and are slower paced.

Are you saying that after taking YR1 which is just AP, they are not learning anything in YR2?

No, I’m saying the first year in IB HL is not “just” AP.

Before making these claims at least check a course syllabus.

Let me clarify. At many of the IB schools around here, for science, IB HL YR1 and AP are taught as the same class. IB HL YR2 is then a separate class. So , if IB HL YR1 and AP are taught the same materials, what do you think is taught in IB HL YR2?

You’re misinformed. Name the school from “around there” that has the first year of the IB science class teaching the same material as the AP class. Why do you present these as fact when it’s clearly not true?

okay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s friend did IB and was accepted to MIT and will be attending in the Fall. He was also top of the class.

I’m sure he was accepted, after all IB is so rigorous that MIT is easy by comparison.

Snark aside, sorry, couldn’t help, it may happen, but the odds are not that good and IB is not a good preparation for MIT, not enough stem classes. One math and one science at high level won’t cut it.

I don't know why there is so much debate when I'm an actual alum with this background...I became a scientist and in high school took 4 years of language, 4 years of math, 4 years of science but took online physics instead of in person because I was fitting in another elective that I won national awards with. MIT was hard, but I did very well. In fact, continued taking my language for 3 more years at MIT. IB didn't hold me back in any way. In fact, most of my accomplishments in science was from grant writing. Science is way more about writing skills than lab skills.

My child is in high school and went from an all-IB school to AP and he says he hasn't written an essay all year. Not even in English which is truly bizarre having come from the communication-heavy IB school.

Sure buddy, because you’re a supposed alum there should be no debate whatsoever. I’m seriously doubting those reasoning skills got you into MIT. Are you sure that child is real? I mean, he transferred in 12th grade from an IB to an AP school? I don’t know why the IB cheerleaders come up with these anecdotal stories that are so obviously fake, it’s just bizarre.

He went from FCCPS to TJ. FCCPS does IB through all grade levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that MIT doesn’t want them, it’s they are not a great fit. IB is more centered on humanities.

If math and science are done at HL level in IB, that’s still only two stem classes. MIT applicants take AP calculus and statistics and often math dual enrollment classes, plus 3-4 AP science classes. Meanwhile IB students take Theory of knowledge, CAS stuff, and classes that don’t move the needle much at MIT: foreign language, art, social sciences etc.

It’s hard to be competitive from IBDP when AP students take 8-10 stem exams alone, and get their results early to add to the application. Probably the same for Caltech or other competitive stem colleges.

MIT does not give credit for a lot of AP exams. IBDP students are very competitive because they take the most rigorous classes provided in the school.

That’s not even remotely close to making them competitive for MIT.

There are more high school valedictorians than seats at MIT.

I was not a valedictorian and went to MIT...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that MIT doesn’t want them, it’s they are not a great fit. IB is more centered on humanities.

If math and science are done at HL level in IB, that’s still only two stem classes. MIT applicants take AP calculus and statistics and often math dual enrollment classes, plus 3-4 AP science classes. Meanwhile IB students take Theory of knowledge, CAS stuff, and classes that don’t move the needle much at MIT: foreign language, art, social sciences etc.

It’s hard to be competitive from IBDP when AP students take 8-10 stem exams alone, and get their results early to add to the application. Probably the same for Caltech or other competitive stem colleges.

And yet we see questions on here all the time asking if you really need 4 years of foreign languages and the answer is often that you should try. And my DD is an IB DP program and does not need to take an art class. She has enough room in her schedule to take 2 science courses + her math class.

MIT recommends two years of foreign language in high school, so IB is at a disadvantage since it requires four years.

you are implying that taking four years of a language would be a disadvantage applying to MIT?

Check your middle schools, they may teach 1-2 years

I made it clear it’s two years of foreign language in high school.

It’s the opportunity cost, instead of two years of foreign language, one could take stem classes instead.

You are mistaken if you believe that they care more about extra STEM classes. They take their humanities studies very seriously. The belief that STEM overrides everything for MIT is false and leads to bad decisions and disappointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that MIT doesn’t want them, it’s they are not a great fit. IB is more centered on humanities.

If math and science are done at HL level in IB, that’s still only two stem classes. MIT applicants take AP calculus and statistics and often math dual enrollment classes, plus 3-4 AP science classes. Meanwhile IB students take Theory of knowledge, CAS stuff, and classes that don’t move the needle much at MIT: foreign language, art, social sciences etc.

It’s hard to be competitive from IBDP when AP students take 8-10 stem exams alone, and get their results early to add to the application. Probably the same for Caltech or other competitive stem colleges.

MIT does not give credit for a lot of AP exams. IBDP students are very competitive because they take the most rigorous classes provided in the school.

That’s not even remotely close to making them competitive for MIT.

There are more high school valedictorians than seats at MIT.

? IB students take the most rigorous courses that the school offers. Same for any non IB school where kids take a load of AP classes. Any student who takes the most rigorous classes, has super high stats, makes them competitive for elite schools. Unfortunately, stats alone won't get you in because yes, there are too many kids with very high stats who took the most rigorous courses and not enough seats.

That doesn't mean IBDP students with high stats aren't competitive for MIT. It just means MIT doesn't have enough seats for all the competitive students.