AP vs. IB for science/math/technology kid?

[Anonymous]

AP. Not IB, because it is very heavy on writing.

-IB magnet mom.

[Anonymous]

What are the best AP courses/exams to plan on for a high school student interested in technology (computer science, software engineering, information systems)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP. Not IB, because it is very heavy on writing.

-IB magnet mom.

That all depends on whether you want your math/science inclined child to become a strong writer or just to focus on their current strengths and avoid what they aren't excelling in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP. Not IB, because it is very heavy on writing.

-IB magnet mom.

That all depends on whether you want your math/science inclined child to become a strong writer or just to focus on their current strengths and avoid what they aren't excelling in.

You can take Honors or AP English at an AP school, and there are writing requirements in other AP classes, so it's not like math/science kids "avoid what they aren't excelling in" at an AP school.

I think the concern may be whether there are so many writing assignments in IB classes that some students who are strong at math and science get frustrated with what they consider busywork, or feel they don't have the time to pursue all the math and science courses they would like to, because the IB curriculum is more prescriptive and less flexible.

It's up to students and parents to consider the program that strikes the right balance for them.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax County Association for the Gifted is hosting a panel discussion on this topic on December 10 at 7:00 pm at Kilmer Middle School. The panel will host three academics to provide a big picture, and two FCPS employees to provide local content. Might be interesting.

[Anonymous]

I would avoid an IB school if you have the choice. Have had kids at both AP and IB schools and the AP program is a much better one, in my opinion. It allows the student to pursue higher level courses in the subject areas of their choice - with better prospects for obtaining college credit. The IB diploma is so rigid in its requirements and better for a liberal arts oriented student than a science/math one. In addition, the rigidity of the IB formats can be off-putting for more creative, high-level thinkers.

[Anonymous]

Have 2 science sons now in college who preferred their AP classes to their IB classes, including science. Felt their AP classes prepared them better for college. Thought their IB classes involved a lot of useless busy work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have 2 science sons now in college who preferred their AP classes to their IB classes, including science. Felt their AP classes prepared them better for college. Thought their IB classes involved a lot of useless busy work.

Also should add that they both wanted to take 2 science classes each semester junior and senior years, something they could not have done if they did full IB but were able to do by taking a mix of IB and AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It's important to note there are a multitude of reasons to take an AP subject exam even though not in a formal AP course. High AP scores in history, economics, languages and history form an impressive resume for students loaded with AP courses in math and sciences. In my days, I sat for the AP English and US and European history exams without benefit of an "honors" or "AP course". The two 5s and a 4 score came in handy.

Some students are not interested in placing our of subjects in college or university just simply getting out of the meat market introductory courses into a more seminar oriented course in the same subject. This still works for many colleges with students with sterling academic records and high AP scores. Even some students use the preparation for the AP exam to cover prerequisite subject material for other courses they could not fit into their middle or high school curricula. There are a myriad of reasons why individuals sit for these AP course exams (+ or - taking a formal AP course in the subject area).

Poster you are quoting.

We don't disagree. There are many many good reasons to take AP courses or exams. But, while it is true that there are colleges that allow high AP scores to place out of introductory courses, this is not as common as it was as recently as ten years ago. Colleges are reluctant to allow place outs for many reasons, including whether or not the AP exam adequately covers what the college believes is the core knowledge to advance to the next sequence course in the major.

I would not suggest that a student avoid an AP (except, perhaps, in stats) class or exam. But if they are counting on placing out of a class, at a particular college in a desired major, they should check the school's policies. I work in admissions. Whether or not to phase out AP credits in certain fields is a very hot topic in the field, and parents need to be informed with regards to trends in higher ed policy.

I think the same is true for IB. Colleges are moving away from allowing kids to place into higher level classes based on AP/IB because the caliber of education obtained in high Scholl just isn't the same, and shouldn't be expected to be.

[Anonymous]

Anybody have experience with the two year IB physics sequence?
Please share. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have 2 science sons now in college who preferred their AP classes to their IB classes, including science. Felt their AP classes prepared them better for college. Thought their IB classes involved a lot of useless busy work.

Also should add that they both wanted to take 2 science classes each semester junior and senior years, something they could not have done if they did full IB but were able to do by taking a mix of IB and AP.

Sure they could have gotten 2 sciences each semester junior and senior year and done full diploma. You need IB classes in the 4 core areas, plus a language, plus a sixth "open" slot. Lots of kids double up on science for the open slot. You would need to take TOK in the evening. But lots of kids do that too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have 2 science sons now in college who preferred their AP classes to their IB classes, including science. Felt their AP classes prepared them better for college. Thought their IB classes involved a lot of useless busy work.

Also should add that they both wanted to take 2 science classes each semester junior and senior years, something they could not have done if they did full IB but were able to do by taking a mix of IB and AP.

Sure they could have gotten 2 sciences each semester junior and senior year and done full diploma. You need IB classes in the 4 core areas, plus a language, plus a sixth "open" slot. Lots of kids double up on science for the open slot. You would need to take TOK in the evening. But lots of kids do that too.

PP here. Our high school has no evening classes. My oldest thought TOK was the stupidest classes he took in high school and son #2 was/still is in band in high school/UVA so that took up one of his elective spots.

[Anonymous]

My dd is an IB student at Marshall. There is a lot of writing in IB, but I wouldn't consider it busy work...I consider it college prep. Colleges don't assign worksheets and book reports...only papers, exams, and labs.

[Anonymous]

IB is a more rigorous, well rounded college prep program. But it is a full program and kids who are excel in some areas but not others are going to have problems getting the full diploma. (And their parents, who apparently can't admit that their DC can't handle a portion of the IB program, end up really hostile towards IB). AP may well be better for STEM kids, if those kids can't write and apply concepts across disciplines. It's more forgiving of humanities kids who can dumb down the math with "math studies" and biology SL -- a parent of an IB all around good student and a AP STEM kid who hates writing. I'm glad they got to choose the program that was right for them. I prefer the IB approach for college prep, but think it's a bad fit for DC 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dd is an IB student at Marshall. There is a lot of writing in IB, but I wouldn't consider it busy work...I consider it college prep. Colleges don't assign worksheets and book reports...only papers, exams, and labs.

What AP class assigns worksheets and book reports? Come on.