Reply to If AP is more popular/better/more flexible, why does FCPS put IB in all the lower-ranked schools?

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Reply to "If AP is more popular/better/more flexible, why does FCPS put IB in all the lower-ranked schools?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm switching my child from our home high school to a high school that offers the IB program because I find IB to be the superior program and my kid can commit to doing the full diploma.
My reasons:
1. It is a recognized qualification for university, both in the US and internationally.
2. The full diploma program is more rigorous than anything I have seen from high schools which offer the AP program.
3. The level and amount of writing required is much higher, which I think is good preparation for university. 
4. I prefer the IB exam format to the AP format.

The one major drawback is the lack of flexibility.[/quote]

We are considering doing the same thing and moving our child from an AP school to an IB school when she starts HS. Your reasons sum up our own reasons well.

Friends have a son who did the IB diploma recently in FCPS, and he told them that in his first freshman history class at college, the professor asked, "Who here has written a research paper of at least 3,000 words?" This kid was the only student who raised his hand. (The IB diploma requires a 4,000-word research paper.) So far the student reports that he feels well prepared for the research and writing demands of college, and friends around him seem to struggle with the idea of writing anything in depth or at length, and the kid credits his confidence to IB. I know that's just one anecdotal example but it does make an impression on me.

We are still looking at AP as well. Unfortunately, while  IB schools offer detailed, presentations dedicated to explaining IB for those making the choice between IB and AP, the AP schools (at least the ones around us) don't seem to bother to explain or promote AP much, from the information we've been given.

It's also interesting to see the posts on here about how AP is more "popular" than IB and the implication that the more popular program should somehow "win" and the less popular should be dumped. I think the issue is that parents and students, when looking at both programs, find the more prescriptive IB curriculum and organization are harder to understand at first than AP, which is a simple "a la carte" system. A school administrator at an HS curriculum night this week referred to AP courses as being in "silos" whereas IB had students make connections across all the courses. And this was an administrator at an AP school, promoting AP. The comparison and presentation didn't exactly win me over for AP.[/quote]

I'm the poster you quoted, and while I obviously prefer IB I have to admit that there are some pros to the AP structure.

It is far easier to specialize in an area of skill or interest in AP, because AP students do not have to take an AP in a subject they dislike while IB students must take their IB classes across all areas of the curriculum.

AP is better known by many US universities and often gets more college credits than IB.

It is possible to self-study APs and take the test, getting university credit for a high enough score even without the class.

AP students seem to be able to take more AP tests than IB tests taken by IB students, which is another reason AP students can get more college credit.[/quote]

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