AP or IB courses

[Anonymous]

Does it make any difference in terms of college admissions, whether you took AP courses or went through the IB program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it make any difference in terms of college admissions, whether you took AP courses or went through the IB program?

You will be told if doesn’t matter, but all you really need to know is that the top area publics are almost entirely AP: Whitman, Langley, Churchill, McLean, Wootton, Madison, Walter Johnson, Woodson, Yorktown, and so on.

[Anonymous]

I work for the IB. It’s depends on which university your child wants to attend. The Ib could carry a lot of weight. Yale university for example awards scholarships for kids that earn the IB diploma.

[Anonymous]

And I have kids in FFX in one of the lower ranked IB schools. The program was a disappointment. Go wherever you find a critical mass of better teachers.

[Anonymous]

Above poster again. I think the IB program is beneficial if there are engaging teachers who bring some enthusiasm to what they do and genuine interest in their subjects. For the most part, we found this wasn’t the case. There was some value in the few one-on-one meetings for advice and guidance for the extended essay, some of the college level discussion in some TOK classes (depended on who was teaching it) and setting expectations for the general format of an essay (though this should be taught in any decent HS).

[Anonymous]

My kid had a wonderful experience in the IB program at Robinson and is shining at a well-regarded private liberal arts college, where the ability to write and connect ideas has been invaluable. IB teaches connections across content areas. I think those skills are of use throughout life and any career.

[Anonymous]

AP.
- RMIB parent whose kid took both IB and AP tests.

[Anonymous]

11:55 again. I didn’t care about the tests or college credit. I want my kids to develope the skills the Robinson parent describes. For the most part, teachers just told kids what to do. Discussions were the exception, not the rule. Teachers didn’t seem to want the extra work that comes with giving feedback for improvement, either you hit the mark or you didn’t. History courses had lots of essays that were not returned for weeks and when they were, no feedback, just scores. Then last minute scramble for enough to grade so multiple choice tests on vast amounts of random facts were produced... sort of a disappointment when trying to develop critical thinking and writing skills. It’s possible we (family) just had an unfortunate run of teachers (repeated staff turnover in math and foreign languages), poor resources, etc. I still think IB has merit, but it wasn’t a big part of the package in out school. So- opt for where you think you can get your kids the program/teachers. Other than those with specific math or science interest, it’s the delivery that matters, not AP or IB.

[Anonymous]

It depends on your goals.

If you want the most college credit possible: AP
If you want an emphasis on college level writing: IB
If you want multiple choice tests: AP
If you want to pick and choose what classes: either
If you want to take a full load of college level classes: IB

In terms of admissions, colleges don’t prefer one or the other. They view both as advanced coursework. Some colleges give anextra nod to a full IB diploma.

[Anonymous]

What colleges want is for you to take a hard program at the school you attend.

If that means IB, do that. If that means AP, do that.

[Anonymous]

If your kid wants to attend university in Europe, the IB is a better experience to have. Some universities will make you participate in a "foundation year" in order to catch up with your contemporaries who took IB or A levels, or German Highers or whatever European equivalent, all of which are deemed more subject specific, in-depth and challenging.

[Anonymous]

AP is better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on your goals.

If you want the most college credit possible: AP
If you want an emphasis on college level writing: IB
If you want multiple choice tests: AP
If you want to pick and choose what classes: either
If you want to take a full load of college level classes: IB

In terms of admissions, colleges don’t prefer one or the other. They view both as advanced coursework. Some colleges give anextra nod to a full IB diploma.

PP has no experience with AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on your goals.

If you want the most college credit possible: AP
If you want an emphasis on college level writing: IB
If you want multiple choice tests: AP
If you want to pick and choose what classes: either
If you want to take a full load of college level classes: IB

In terms of admissions, colleges don’t prefer one or the other. They view both as advanced coursework. Some colleges give anextra nod to a full IB diploma.

PP has no experience with AP.

Incorrect. My dd is a freshman in college and did the full IB diploma. My son is a junior in HS and is taking 4 APs this year.

[Anonymous]

In terms of learning and real preparation for college IB.