Pros and Cons: BCC IB vs AP

[Anonymous]

Can anyone speak to the differences between these programs and outcomes? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Bumping this up. I’m seeing the threads about Silver Creek and wondering what BCC would be like. Kid is not in MCPS now. Any feedback about recent BCC experience and the IB program in particular would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

IB is a wonderful program but not as flexible as APs. One is a program (i.e., it's structured) and the other is course specific classes (i.e., even though some classes are sequenced, they are not structured as a program). Two of my kids did IB and one AP (not at BCC though) and we liked IB better.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP. My kids are at a different school with IB and AP. My kids are both really STEM focused and preferred AP because they wanted the flexibility to double up on some science and math classes that interested them. Among their friends, IB seemed to be preferred by the more humanities-focused kids.

[Anonymous]

FYI you can choose to do either AP or IB classes or both at BCC-- it only really "matters" if your kid wants to do the IB diploma program, which means they need specific requirements (sign up for a certain number of IB classes etc). Some classes are actually cross-registered as both IB and AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI you can choose to do either AP or IB classes or both at BCC-- it only really "matters" if your kid wants to do the IB diploma program, which means they need specific requirements (sign up for a certain number of IB classes etc). Some classes are actually cross-registered as both IB and AP.

How does it work to be “cross-registered”. The classes have different content.

[Anonymous]

As an IB grad, I highly recommend it. It gave me a great foundation in critical thinking.

It does aim to have a strong balance among all subjects (if seeking diploma). However, you can double up on a subject if a student has a strong preference for science or humanities.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all. I read the IB page on the BCC site and got the impression that the kids form a tight bond. Is it still @ 100 kids and a school within a school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. I read the IB page on the BCC site and got the impression that the kids form a tight bond. Is it still @ 100 kids and a school within a school?

A tight bond is probably not unusual for successful IB programs. Kids need each other to survive the program and get the diploma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. I read the IB page on the BCC site and got the impression that the kids form a tight bond. Is it still @ 100 kids and a school within a school?

A tight bond is probably not unusual for successful IB programs. Kids need each other to survive the program and get the diploma.

I would assume its tight bond between a group and then there are the outliers who probably are not included so it can be good and bad. I don't see the point of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. I read the IB page on the BCC site and got the impression that the kids form a tight bond. Is it still @ 100 kids and a school within a school?

A tight bond is probably not unusual for successful IB programs. Kids need each other to survive the program and get the diploma.

I would assume its tight bond between a group and then there are the outliers who probably are not included so it can be good and bad. I don't see the point of it.

OP here - I asked about the bond because BCC is a huge school and my kid will be new. The “surviving” comment is disheartening - why can’t the program be something inspiring that the kids want to go through?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. I read the IB page on the BCC site and got the impression that the kids form a tight bond. Is it still @ 100 kids and a school within a school?

A tight bond is probably not unusual for successful IB programs. Kids need each other to survive the program and get the diploma.

I would assume its tight bond between a group and then there are the outliers who probably are not included so it can be good and bad. I don't see the point of it.

OP here - I asked about the bond because BCC is a huge school and my kid will be new. The “surviving” comment is disheartening - why can’t the program be something inspiring that the kids want to go through?

Kids sign up because they want to. Nobody’s forcing them but IB-D is a very difficult program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. I read the IB page on the BCC site and got the impression that the kids form a tight bond. Is it still @ 100 kids and a school within a school?

A tight bond is probably not unusual for successful IB programs. Kids need each other to survive the program and get the diploma.

I would assume its tight bond between a group and then there are the outliers who probably are not included so it can be good and bad. I don't see the point of it.

OP here - I asked about the bond because BCC is a huge school and my kid will be new. The “surviving” comment is disheartening - why can’t the program be something inspiring that the kids want to go through?

Is your kid entering as a junior? I think as a freshman or even sophomore you can’t really opt in to IB (and as a senior it’s too late to cover all the classes).

There are tons of clubs(/theater/music/sports) if your kid is looking for smaller groups.

[Anonymous]

Any time you have 3-4 classes together with a smaller cohort of kids people start to call it a “school within a school.” But at these big HSs, a “school within a school” is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s impossible to really know 400 classmates. This is why a lot of big HSs have “academies” - to try to create a smaller group with some interests in common so kids don’t get lost in a huge school.

[Anonymous]

The smartest kids do AP. If that is the cohort you are looking for. Strong B students that get around 1450 SATs do IB.