Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 19:54     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD is STEM focused and wants to go into math or engineering. Looking at the IB curriculum, it seems very heavy on humanities, so she is declining full IB. If anyone can correct me or fill me in, TIA.


IB is great for lab sciences--a lot more lab-work than AP--and more like college labs than canned labs. But I wouldn't say it's particularly strong for engineering. IB Physics is a very good course. IB used to have the hardest HS math class (harder than AP Calc BC), but they no longer offer it--I think the current HL course is kind of like combining AP Calc AB and BC, but throwing in some topography and linear algebra and not covering everything in BC--but I can't remember for certain. It doesn't precisely align with the US way of teaching math--it's more integrative.
Doing IB does involve a lot of writing though--so if your DD doesn't enjoy writing, it might be a struggle. But on the other hand college involves a lot of writing--even for STEM majors, so it's good preparation.


Thanks, I'm the PP. she has been led to believe that she is limited in the number of HL courses she can take if doing full IB. So for Junior year she wants to take HL English, French and History, then AP Physics, Chem and Calc BC. She thinks this is more rigorous than full IB, but I am clueless.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 19:54     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
I think it's definitely helpful for admission. Your student won't know if they actually got the diploma until the summer after graduation but that doesn't matter for admission by the point.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 19:18     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Not valued very much at UVA. My nephew did not get many credits for is full IB diploma.


The value it highly in terms of admissions. Often the kids that get in from our HS are the full IB students.

Our IB director said that there are many schools that don't hand out the credit for IB classes like they do for AP -- that's a real problem if you want to/need to graduate early. But if you are on the 4 year plan anyway, why not retake the Calc class, etc and have an easier time of it in college rather than advancing through to the next course right away.


If your school offers the IB Diploma, completing that is the "most rigorous" program offered at the school and for highly selective colleges that want you to take the most rigorous program, not taking it would count against you.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 19:18     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
^^^Agree. And not just the extended essay but the whole process of learning how to develop an appropriate research question and then answer it. Certainly seems more college level than the AP classes.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 19:15     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
Anonymous wrote:DD is STEM focused and wants to go into math or engineering. Looking at the IB curriculum, it seems very heavy on humanities, so she is declining full IB. If anyone can correct me or fill me in, TIA.


IB is great for lab sciences--a lot more lab-work than AP--and more like college labs than canned labs. But I wouldn't say it's particularly strong for engineering. IB Physics is a very good course. IB used to have the hardest HS math class (harder than AP Calc BC), but they no longer offer it--I think the current HL course is kind of like combining AP Calc AB and BC, but throwing in some topography and linear algebra and not covering everything in BC--but I can't remember for certain. It doesn't precisely align with the US way of teaching math--it's more integrative.
Doing IB does involve a lot of writing though--so if your DD doesn't enjoy writing, it might be a struggle. But on the other hand college involves a lot of writing--even for STEM majors, so it's good preparation.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 19:07     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Not valued very much at UVA. My nephew did not get many credits for is full IB diploma.


The value it highly in terms of admissions. Often the kids that get in from our HS are the full IB students.

Our IB director said that there are many schools that don't hand out the credit for IB classes like they do for AP -- that's a real problem if you want to/need to graduate early. But if you are on the 4 year plan anyway, why not retake the Calc class, etc and have an easier time of it in college rather than advancing through to the next course right away.


This is the thing--the credits are really useful if you're trying to cut down a semester or two of college to save money. But most kids going to a 4 year school want to go for the full 4 years. The IB credits are enough to buy you some breathing room in your college--take a lighter load in a tough semester etc--but I don't even think our kid used them all.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 19:04     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
DD is STEM focused and wants to go into math or engineering. Looking at the IB curriculum, it seems very heavy on humanities, so she is declining full IB. If anyone can correct me or fill me in, TIA.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 19:01     Subject: Re:Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
Doing the extended essay (essentially a college-like research paper) for the IB diploma was the best preparation for our kid for college at a rigorous school.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 19:01     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
Anonymous wrote:Not valued very much at UVA. My nephew did not get many credits for is full IB diploma.


The value it highly in terms of admissions. Often the kids that get in from our HS are the full IB students.

Our IB director said that there are many schools that don't hand out the credit for IB classes like they do for AP -- that's a real problem if you want to/need to graduate early. But if you are on the 4 year plan anyway, why not retake the Calc class, etc and have an easier time of it in college rather than advancing through to the next course right away.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 18:55     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
Do schools value it, yes, does it prepare you really well for the rigor of college, yes. However I would personaly recommend against it. Based on first hand experience and several people I have also spoken too, the IB made HS unnecessarily difficult, to the point where college was actually easier than IB (or more relaxed). I am sure this differs based on the HS, the college and most importantly the degree, but just food for thought.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 18:33     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
Not valued very much at UVA. My nephew did not get many credits for is full IB diploma.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 18:28     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
I’ve heard it is highly valued at W&M. Maybe less important to UVA.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 18:04     Subject: Re:Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
I think it made a difference for our kid a couple of years ago--admitted to both UVA & W&M.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 17:57     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
Sounded like too much work to me. I wanted DD to get the IB credits that count as college credits but didn't see the value in the diploma. She's getting it anyway and got into her ED school so we'll never know if it made a difference.

It would be really interesting to see their analysis of her application, how much did SAT, GPA, essay, recommendation, ECs, and expressed interest all factor in. Was it a slam dunk or did she barely get in. I guess we'll never know.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2024 17:49     Subject: Does a full IB diploma make a difference?
Curious to hear from parents whether they perceived that the IB diploma made a difference in admissions? My kid has a 4.3 weighted GPA, 33 ACT and will be completing the IB diploma in VA. Does it make a difference? UVA is the target if that matters.