Reply to NOVA Stats for spring '17 UVA, W & M & Tech acceptances (or not)

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I've spent a lot of time looking at the AP test stats at lots of schools.  Regarding the number of kids who take a full complement of classes in AP, (from looking at the stats), it appears that most AP kids take:

World Hist  (2600 tests in FCPS) + & US Hist (2700 tests) & US Gov (4300 tests in FCPS)
Eng. Lang (3000 tests in FCPS)
AP Calc (either AB or BC = 3500 tests in FCPS)

(that accounts for three of the four core subject areas).  The question mark is whether those kids who took the three core subjects above also took a science course -- which is hard to say.  I actually would expect that most kids who take a science AP feel confident enough to take one history, one english and one math AP class.  I wouldn't say the reverse (i.e. I don't think everyone who takes an AP history + AP eng. + AP math necessarily takes an AP science class).

But, at any rate, 1500 take AP Bio, 1000 take AP Chem, and 2100 take AP Phys I.

So, you probably have about 3000-3500 kids who take at least three of the four core subjects as AP classes, and perhaps half of those (or more -- based on the numbers who take a science AP) take all four AP core classes.

The other two subjects in IB are business/mgn and fine arts.  I'm not sure that I even care whether a student takes a college level class in those areas.  That's where IB falls off the rails for me.  I support my kids taking band/strings/art, but that's not where I would want them to put their efforts in college prep efforts (unless they wanted to pursue that as a career).  To me, those non-core IB level requirements seem a little "check the box" -- for most kids, they would be better off taking another hist/psych/statistics/science class rather than "must do ALL six genres b/c that's what we predetermined we want IB kids to do!"
[/quote]

Maybe you should read more carefully. There is a rather serious foreign language (3+2) requirement in IB, that many special snowflakes avoid taking as AP.

Another fallacy is the statement that SL classes aren't college level. In fact, more and more colleges provide recognition for SL level classes as well. Even *gasp* the holy grail of Virginia William & Mary:

http://www.wm.edu/offices/registrar/documents/catalog/prematriculationexamtable.pdf

But the most important point you are missing in your comparison of AP and IB is that IB isn't just a collection of courses. The papers that are written require interdisciplinary analysis of the curriculum in all six areas of study. In terms of preparedness for college or, frankly, and career requiring critical thinking, you can't beat that.

[b]You know why AP is more popular and parents in the more affluent FCPS HS don't choose it? Because it is easier to test in AP (multiple choice), why should my oh-so-gifted future engineer also have to write. Some of the FCPS IB schools require that diploma candidates take IB English HL. You can't escape the writing in an IB program[/b].[/quote]

There is substantial research to demonstrate that affluent parents successfully find ways to maximize the future success of their children.  If IB were a means to further that goal compared to AP, they would be all over it. They aren't.

That being the case, why should we pay more for IB?  The arguments that (1) it assists slightly less affluent students who couldn't handle taking multiple AP courses and/or (2) IB families are prepared to accept challenges that more affluent AP families look to avoid seem entirely contrived and unconvincing, particularly when you consider that most TJ students (who work harder than students at other AP or IB schools) primarily come from the AP pyramids.  [/quote]

Ugh, this again. Listen, parents try their best. And many think getting the AP program, which is a known entity, is a better choice for their children. I actually think the push to AP-ize everything is problematic. That's why you end up seeing college students re-taking calculus for example because even though they got a 5, the student didn't have a strong enough fundamental to be successful in STEM majors for example.

I actually really like IB. I like the continuity in writing across the disciplines, I life the theory of knowledge course (a fantastic critical thinking experience), I even like the project because it's a good way to get my kid thinking of learning beyond the classroom and in the real world (and is a great way to build up an idea for college essays). I like the resources. I like the mentoring my kid is getting by faculty. I pretty much think it's awesome and people are missing out and it's their own choice on how they raise and educate their kids. I like that IB is available.[/quote]

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