Reply to IB Diploma Success Stories?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]You also have to realize that IB will slow down the most advanced kids. You are limited in the number of HL classes and IB is limited to the last two years of high school. My most advanced kid chose AP instead of IB at one of MCPS’ school IB programs. The key was that she has AP classes in all areas - English, Calculus, History, Govt, Sci, Foreign Language. [/quote]

They really limit the number of HLs you can take? Or are you saying there just isn't a way to fit in as many as a kid would want becuase each takes 2 years?[/quote]

"Each student takes at least three (but not more than four) subjects at higher level, and the remaining at standard level."

https://www.ibo.org/university-admission/support-students-transition-to-higher-education/course-selection-guidance/[/quote]

This is the issue with IB. Top students will take about 15 AP’s, while IB students take at most 4 high level (HL). For the extended essay, AP also has the diploma program with AP Research and AP Seminar. Few high schools offer it, but there’s also the option for online. IB is less flexible and in my view not the best choice for the top student.[/quote]

IB is 11th grade and 12th grade only. During 9th grade and 10th grade, "top students" take APs. In addition, universities give credit for IB SL classes as well as IB HL classes. For example, University of Maryland College Park: https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/IBGenEd.pdf[/quote]

Not sure you actually read the link you posted. [b]Take math for example,[/b] it only gives credit for HL for Calculus I and Statistics 100, no credit for SL. The distribution of APs is not the same over all high school years. Often strong students take 10 APs in 11th and 12th, compared to 4 HL for IB. It is still in favor of AP. You can do a combination of IB and AP but it just highlights that IB is not that great of a program on its own.[/quote]

There are a lot of other SL classes that UMD does give credit for. Math is not everything. Plus if you're a math person, you're taking HL, not SL.

Are AP and IB the same? No, but then nobody said they are. HL classes are two-year classes, so yes, if your goal is to have the largest number of tests, then you should do AP, not IB. [/quote]

Right. It all depends on the student/family's goals.

If the student's priority is to rack up as many college credits while staying in the school building, then AP makes sense.

If the student's priority is to rack up the maximum number of college credits that are more likely to transfer AND they want to get out of their high school building, than dual enrollment makes sense.

[b]If the student's priority is to take on course work that mimics college in terms of demanding writing, research and expression of thought, than IB is the best as that seems to really prepare students best for the 4-year college expectations, with the bonus of being transferrable especially if the student is interested in international study.[/b][/quote]

Genuinely interested in knowing what evidence you have for the bolder, besides anecdotal stories. You hear that all the time from proponents of IB, but I’m not sure it’s that clear cut.

AP English Lang and Lit, all History, AP Capstone etc, they all are very demanding in terms of writing, critical thinking etc. can you honestly say they are less demanding than IB?

I don’t want to generalize, but an International studies major is just too narrow and it sounds like one of those useless degrees. [/quote]

Review the replies in this very thread where story after story is shared about how IB better prepared their kids for college. Anecdotes is all I have for you because I'm a parent and that's what I have to rely on.

Also, the admissions impact for students who apply to college pursuing the IB Diploma versus kids who just take an assortment of AP classes suggests the holistic commitment to the IB program stands out as a win for admissions and college preparation in general.

Here's a recent article from an online university that backs up this viewpoint: https://www.dwight.edu/dwight-global-online-school/about/online-learning-blog/do-colleges-prefer-ap-or-ib

[QUOTE]College and university admissions representatives consistently speak highly of the program, saying success in the IB Diploma Program correlates with success in competitive colleges.[/QUOTE]

Here's some research from 2018 that says IB students are more sought after by more elite universities as well: https://pages.crimsoneducation.org/rs/039-NBM-750/images/FL-10-2018-ib-student-acceptance-rates-at-top-us-universities.pdf?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWTJaalltRTJOV0kzT1#:~:text=One%20thing%20is%20for%20sure,pushed%20yourself%20to%20get%20them.

[QUOTE]A survey of more than 4,000 students conducted by the International Insight Research Group in partnership with the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) showed that [b]the acceptance rate of IB students into Ivy League universities is up to 18% higher than the total population acceptance rate[/b]. The gap is even more significant for top-ranked universities outside of the Ivy League, [b]where it is 22% higher[/b], on average.[/QUOTE]
[/quote]

Uh ..

Look, I think IB is a great program, but that's not proof of superiority over AP.

"total population" is not the same as "AP Scholars". You have to compare similar course loads attempted, and correlate by middle school / early high school performance.

Dwight says "Do Colleges Prefer AP or IB?
[b]Both academic options are looked on favorably by colleges and universities, [/b] and both can help earn a student college credit, depending on exam scores. The IB is increasing in popularity in the United States, especially among international families and students who hope to study abroad."

That web page is an SEO info dump pushing both sides, not a judgement of which is better.

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