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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Background: High school that offers both IBDP and many AP courses.  I have 2 kids that graduated with IB diplomas.

College acceptances do not vary among the students. IB does not give an edge if you are already taking a rigorous courseload.

It may differ by school, but I agree with the teacher above. TOK is universally hated and viewed as pointless.  Kids who care about education would rather take another class.  And one of my kids loves philosophy/is a philosophy major.  Hated TOK.

It prepares students for college writing and research better than AP courses.

My personal opinion is that it is not as good for STEM.  Both my kids took HL level sciences.  I thought Bio was rigorous, but by taking a 2 year bio class, students often skipped physics or doubled up on science (which can be tough given HS requirements) or took over the summer.  HL physics (at least the one offered at our school) is not calc based.[/quote]

This.

If you opt for diploma then you’re saddled with TOK, community activity and extended essay, when instead you could be taking real courses that align with your interests. Two years for an advanced course is too long, and I don’t think there are many students that can handle an HL/AP level class over the summer. IB HL Physics is indeed not calculus based and it’s not that useful for kids interested in engineering majors.

[b]I’d skip IBDP to take more rigorous classes, either more HL, [/b]AP or for math DE.
[/quote]
I don't know what this means.  IBDP requires at least 3 HL classes, many of which straddle 2 years.  Also, in some schools (like my kid's), the IBDP path includes AP courses starting from 9th grade.

The IBDP really doesn't start until 11th grade.[/quote]

Most FCPS IB schools only offer IB, there is no AP alternative. We are pupil placing into an AP program for our STEM driven child who is hoping to go to TJ. Many of the FCPS IB schools do not offer the HL science classes because there are not enough students interested in them. The HL classes that the diploma students take tend to be in the humanities. The idea behind IB might be great but the execution in FCPS is poor.

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