Our IB number is dropping rapidly. My kid is getting excited about the classes and friends at Yorktown since we had to turn in the course request. I'm wondering if it's worth it to switch if we get a spot. My kid has a good work ethic, loves to write and will be in all intensified classes (where offered). My kid also has a busy schedule and I'm worried about burn out. Is it really a lot more work that AP?

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve heard IB does a great job of prep for college esp for liberal arts. In my opinion the AP curriculum is stronger for tech/math/science. So it might be a question of best fit rather than increasing college admission chances.

What's that opinion based on? (I ask because the only APS kid I know of who got into MIT did IB, but I realize that "getting into MIT" is not a reasonable standard for assessing a program's merit)

DD is doing partial IB at W-L in the classes she’s most interested in. Dual enrollment and AP for the others. The pressure doing full IB is intense and we’ve had friends get into great schools that did full IB or Partial IB. For us, the stress is simply not worth it. We’ve been told numerous times that what colleges are looking for is a program that challenges the student in subjects they are passionate about. There is no point for my kid to take IB science when that is not what she wants to study. She is taking IB English, Spanish and Social Anthropology. Activities that relate to interests matter a lot too. The woman at W-L who is responsible for IB at W-L is a bit much and will make you feel during presentations that if your kid doesn’t do full IB that they are destined to fail. Not true at all, but boy does she try to sell it. She would make a great used car salesman.

I asked Stanford admissions officer whether IB or AP are preferred. She said they look at both the same but as others have said are looking for student who takes most rigorous courses available.

I’ve heard IB does a great job of prep for college esp for liberal arts. In my opinion the AP curriculum is stronger for tech/math/science. So it might be a question of best fit rather than increasing college admission chances.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have observed that UVA, in particular, loves IB students.

Well that might be true for schools that have IB program, BUT there are plenty of Arlington students not at WL who get into UVA.

I think the issue might be that you won't get into UVA from W-L if you don't have the "most rigorous" program, which at W-L is IB?

Oh definitely. But I wouldn't transfer from Yorktown to WL for IB to get into UVA (for example).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have observed that UVA, in particular, loves IB students.

Well that might be true for schools that have IB program, BUT there are plenty of Arlington students not at WL who get into UVA.

I think the issue might be that you won't get into UVA from W-L if you don't have the "most rigorous" program, which at W-L is IB?

Anonymous wrote:I have observed that UVA, in particular, loves IB students.

Well that might be true for schools that have IB program, BUT there are plenty of Arlington students not at WL who get into UVA.

I think it's helpful, but don't choose based on how much it increases your kid's chance of admission to selective universities. Think about whether what your kid learns from IB and the process of learning it is going to be worth it no matter what college admissions look like.

I'm not sure that it's so much a question of "colleges like IB students" as "students who can do the work of the IB program are the sorts of students colleges like" -- correlation is not causation.

IB does give kids a chance to hone their writing and critical thinking skills, but it's a lot of work.

I have observed that UVA, in particular, loves IB students.

My W-L student (Yorktown transfer) is a senior. We are still waiting on RD college decisions, but DC has no rejections so far.

Yes

Is it worth it to transfer from Yorktown?

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it matters at W-L because the IB Diploma is the most rigorous curriculum offered at W-L. To be competitive for highly selective schools they'll want to see that you took the most rigorous at your school. If you don't do IB, you need to do the equivalent in AP classes, 5-6 junior year and 5-6 senior year to get the "most rigorous" label according to my kids' W-L counselor.

LOL.

Yes, it matters at W-L because the IB Diploma is the most rigorous curriculum offered at W-L. To be competitive for highly selective schools they'll want to see that you took the most rigorous at your school. If you don't do IB, you need to do the equivalent in AP classes, 5-6 junior year and 5-6 senior year to get the "most rigorous" label according to my kids' W-L counselor.

I’ve heard it’s very demanding. Is it worth it for colleges? Do they actually care at all of my kid takes a full IB curriculum?