AP vs IB

[Anonymous]

Our DC is an excellent writer, very creative, and very smart. What's the difference between the AP and IB? We are in OHS pyramid - walking distance close, but want to understand which program is a better fit for a gifted writer. TIA!

[Anonymous]

Both are great. Science and math oriented students tend to gravitate to AP and humanities oriented students tend to gravitate to IB- but walkability trumps any perceived differences IMO. She can take all the English and History APs courses and be challenged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DC is an excellent writer, very creative, and very smart. What's the difference between the AP and IB? We are in OHS pyramid - walking distance close, but want to understand which program is a better fit for a gifted writer. TIA!

The conventional wisdom is that you get to/have to write more in IB than in AP. On the other hand, I have a friend whose daughter sounds like your DC, and she's done quite well at Oakton, which has good journalism classes and student publications.

Do you know what your IB option is? If you live close to OHS, you're almost half way between South Lakes and Marshall. Marshall is higher-ranked than South Lakes, but I wouldn't want to travel to Marshall from Oakton every day, particularly now that the high schools will be starting later in the morning. The traffic going to Tysons would be a deal-killer for me. It would be much easier to get to South Lakes, even if the distance was about the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both are great. Science and math oriented students tend to gravitate to AP and humanities oriented students tend to gravitate to IB- but walkability trumps any perceived differences IMO. She can take all the English and History APs courses and be challenged.

+1. Not just walkability, but proximity. It is much easier for kids in HS when they live close to the school.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the replies. OHS is a stones throw from our home. I have considered this. However, In other states IB is very, very selective. Is that true in FCPS? Why do lower ranked schools have IB, but not top ranked school?

[Anonymous]

IB was put in the lower ranked schools by the SB in the hopes that it would attract high achievers from other neighborhoods. For the most part, it did not. I can only speak for my DD who graduated from an AP high school. We considered the IB program, but felt that it would be better if she went to school with others from her community. No regrets. She won a prestigious writing award (beyond school level) while in this high school. She had the opportunity for lots and lots of writing in Honors and AP classes. AP History also requires a lot of writing. DD went on to major in English at a prestigious liberal arts college.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the replies. OHS is a stones throw from our home. I have considered this. However, In other states IB is very, very selective. Is that true in FCPS? Why do lower ranked schools have IB, but not top ranked school?

It is not true in FCPS. IB is open admissions here. You do have to apply yourself, of course, if you want to receive an IB diploma. It requires a lot of work.

IB is concentrated in lower-ranked schools in FCPS because there was a period, primarily in the 1990s, in which FCPS thought IB was novel and might stem "white flight" from schools with changing demographics. For the most part, it didn't, and parents from the higher-ranked schools have made it clear they prefer AP. The watershed probably was when Woodson HS parents rebelled at an attempt by FCPS to introduce IB there and successfully lobbied FCPS to restore AP classes. Since then, I don't think FCPS has introduced IB at any county high school, and the new schools that were built (Westfield and South County) are both AP schools.

[Anonymous]

I am researching to this same subject. I have read that IB does involve more writing, work and comparative analysis but only the highest IB test scores get college credit. Your DC can write in a number of AP/Honors courses. Does your DC want to study abroad - I see more folk coming to the US to study rather than abroad. Service hours, holistic learning, it reads like malarky compared to AP. Looking for guidance from other folks

[Anonymous]

There's lots of info. on there for you all to compare - and I'm not authority, but DD just applied for a transfer to Robinson for IB. We/she did tons of research first. Both programs have a lot to offer, and it comes down to personal choice. DD thought IB was a better fit for her learning style/tendencies. Just wanted to point out one thing I learned along the way. It seems to be the case that more colleges accept AP for college credit than IB - but anyone can take an AP exam - so if that's the most important thing to you/DC, keep in mind that your child can take an IB course and still taken an AP exam.

[Anonymous]

12:32 poster again - wanted to add that Robinson's website has a lot of great info. there to help you learn about IB and the differences between AP vs. IB.

Also, you can take IB classes but not pursue the IB diploma. The diploma is the part that requires the service hours, extended essay and Theory of Knowledge class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both are great. Science and math oriented students tend to gravitate to AP and humanities oriented students tend to gravitate to IB- but walkability trumps any perceived differences IMO. She can take all the English and History APs courses and be challenged.

Some IB's have engineering and math programs like Marshall High School. So that evens that out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12:32 poster again - wanted to add that Robinson's website has a lot of great info. there to help you learn about IB and the differences between AP vs. IB.

Also, you can take IB classes but not pursue the IB diploma. The diploma is the part that requires the service hours, extended essay and Theory of Knowledge class.

I would be reluctant to send a kid to an IB school if he or she was not getting the full diploma. It is just too easy for colleges and universities to distinguish between students applying from IB schools on that basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:32 poster again - wanted to add that Robinson's website has a lot of great info. there to help you learn about IB and the differences between AP vs. IB.

Also, you can take IB classes but not pursue the IB diploma. The diploma is the part that requires the service hours, extended essay and Theory of Knowledge class.

I would be reluctant to send a kid to an IB school if he or she was not getting the full diploma. It is just too easy for colleges and universities to distinguish between students applying from IB schools on that basis.

Not sure what you mean - can you elaborate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both are great. Science and math oriented students tend to gravitate to AP and humanities oriented students tend to gravitate to IB- but walkability trumps any perceived differences IMO. She can take all the English and History APs courses and be challenged.

Some IB's have engineering and math programs like Marshall High School. So that evens that out.

The Marshall Academy has a few STEM-oriented courses like Robotics, along with stuff like Cisco and Network Administration, Culinary Arts, and Cosmetology, but the math program there is basically the usual IB math sequence.