Anonymous wrote:Isn't there an AP Research seminar course? Is it similar to IBDP's Theory of Knowledge (TOK) class?

I live in the hinterlands. I haven't heard of high schools here offering AP Seminar. Or some of the other new courses (AP Pre-Calc).

My younger child is taking AP classes but there's no unified perspective or method across AP classes. I have a hard time understanding what added value AP Seminar would have compared to TOK.

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Anonymous wrote:To me, not really. The actual diploma program is so stress inducing that it's not worth it nor will it give a significant advantage over someone who just took a bunch of IB classes . At the end of the day, someone taking a bunch of IB classes is in the same classes as the IBDP students except the IBDP students have to do a research extensive long form essay.

This is a good thing to prepare kids for college. Every former IBDP student I have spoken to said that the IBDP made college a cake walk. And it's better for the kids to be stressed while at home with support at home than when they are away at college.

Literally every kid my daughter goes to school with who opted for the IBDP wanted out and regretted losing so much of their high school experience the last 2 yrs because of this.

Isn't there an AP Research seminar course? Is it similar to IBDP's Theory of Knowledge (TOK) class?

Anonymous wrote:To me, not really. The actual diploma program is so stress inducing that it's not worth it nor will it give a significant advantage over someone who just took a bunch of IB classes . At the end of the day, someone taking a bunch of IB classes is in the same classes as the IBDP students except the IBDP students have to do a research extensive long form essay.

This is a good thing to prepare kids for college. Every former IBDP student I have spoken to said that the IBDP made college a cake walk. And it's better for the kids to be stressed while at home with support at home than when they are away at college.

To me, not really. The actual diploma program is so stress inducing that it's not worth it nor will it give a significant advantage over someone who just took a bunch of IB classes . At the end of the day, someone taking a bunch of IB classes is in the same classes as the IBDP students except the IBDP students have to do a research extensive long form essay.

We decided it is worth it for my senior to-be STEM (non-engineering) major who is also strong in the humanities. I don’t know if it will matter for admissions, but the ‘extra work’ has been great his academic development. It helped that he has a strong cohort of friends in the program - but he had to jump through some hoops to get in all the sciences he wanted. School is his jam though and he likes being challenged to think.

I think our other kid will opt out and just take APs/selected IB classes. He’s just as smart but less academically curious.

Different kids, different best choices.

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Anonymous wrote:Parent of kids whose school offers both IB and many APs. They only school I've heard it matters for is UVA. It's very difficult to get in from our school if you are not full IB. The only ones I know of were wait listed first. On the other had I know kids at Ivies and top LACs (e.g., Williams) who did not do the full IB diploma.

What about William & Mary?

I'm the previous poster and no, plenty of kids from our HS (WL) go to William & Mary without the IB Diploma. It's really just UVA that it's hard to get into without IB.

Is there any shred of evidence for this? The diploma results come much later than acceptance notifications.

I doubt UVa cares about the IB diploma. By the time the IB diploma is final, UVA has already sent most of its acceptance letters. UVa fills most if its openings with ED/EA not with RD. UVa is pretty transparent with the # of students accepted at each stage of the admissions process.

Anonymous wrote:It matters only if studying at a school outside u.s.a

I mostly agree with this. If applying to colleges outside the US, then doing the full IB can make a big difference in acceptances.

Anonymous wrote:Firstly, PLEASE let’s not turn this into an AP vs. IB discussion. Or how FCPS should cut IB. Kids are slated for IB. I’m just curious if getting the full diploma vs. taking IB classes (but not getting the diploma) makes a difference in college acceptances. Not really concerned about getting college credits. Just wondering if the extra effort a) helps with admissions b) helps prepare for college, c) makes a difference for colleges abroad. There are mixed opinions on whether the full diploma is worth it. I would love to hear from IB parents, teachers, etc. Thank you.

I have two kids who went through process, one of whom is going to college abroad. Here is my answer based on their experience and that of their friends:
a) No, especially not for the US.
b) Very much so. I cannot overstate the value here.
c) it can do. It depends a bit on the institution, but many will want to see the full diploma.

If your main concern is getting into a good US college, then it may not be worth it. But if you’re one of those rare people nowadays that actually cares about your kids’ education, then I would recommend it.

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Anonymous wrote:Parent of kids whose school offers both IB and many APs. They only school I've heard it matters for is UVA. It's very difficult to get in from our school if you are not full IB. The only ones I know of were wait listed first. On the other had I know kids at Ivies and top LACs (e.g., Williams) who did not do the full IB diploma.

What about William & Mary?

I'm the previous poster and no, plenty of kids from our HS (WL) go to William & Mary without the IB Diploma. It's really just UVA that it's hard to get into without IB.

Is there any shred of evidence for this? The diploma results come much later than acceptance notifications.

The evidence is they see your IB courses on your transcript and know you are a diploma candidate, duh.

Seriously, AO will look at the course composition if 3 HLs and 3 SLs and say this candidate will do a diploma and is more deserving than others? That’s some copium right there. They’ll just look at the facts in front of them, not infer and guess.

But TOK is a class I thought. So if you do not have TOK on your course record then presumably you are not going for the diploma.

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Anonymous wrote:Firstly, PLEASE let’s not turn this into an AP vs. IB discussion. Or how FCPS should cut IB. Kids are slated for IB. I’m just curious if getting the full diploma vs. taking IB classes (but not getting the diploma) makes a difference in college acceptances. Not really concerned about getting college credits. Just wondering if the extra effort a) helps with admissions b) helps prepare for college, c) makes a difference for colleges abroad. There are mixed opinions on whether the full diploma is worth it. I would love to hear from IB parents, teachers, etc. Thank you.

Not sure for the US, but if you kid is applying to UK and EU schools, IB diploma is the way to go.

No it is not. UK looks for AP classes.

You’re wrong. UK will look at BOTH from American kids and they will look for IBDP or its equivalent from other European Nationals.

And this board is probably made up of families of American kids, so AP it is for American students looking to UK for higher ed

Just because you did it doesn’t mean everyone else has to. Grow up.

Just ignore the moron.

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Anonymous wrote:Parent of kids whose school offers both IB and many APs. They only school I've heard it matters for is UVA. It's very difficult to get in from our school if you are not full IB. The only ones I know of were wait listed first. On the other had I know kids at Ivies and top LACs (e.g., Williams) who did not do the full IB diploma.

What about William & Mary?

I'm the previous poster and no, plenty of kids from our HS (WL) go to William & Mary without the IB Diploma. It's really just UVA that it's hard to get into without IB.

Is there any shred of evidence for this? The diploma results come much later than acceptance notifications.

The evidence is they see your IB courses on your transcript and know you are a diploma candidate, duh.

Seriously, AO will look at the course composition if 3 HLs and 3 SLs and say this candidate will do a diploma and is more deserving than others? That’s some copium right there. They’ll just look at the facts in front of them, not infer and guess.

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Anonymous wrote:Firstly, PLEASE let’s not turn this into an AP vs. IB discussion. Or how FCPS should cut IB. Kids are slated for IB. I’m just curious if getting the full diploma vs. taking IB classes (but not getting the diploma) makes a difference in college acceptances. Not really concerned about getting college credits. Just wondering if the extra effort a) helps with admissions b) helps prepare for college, c) makes a difference for colleges abroad. There are mixed opinions on whether the full diploma is worth it. I would love to hear from IB parents, teachers, etc. Thank you.

Not sure for the US, but if you kid is applying to UK and EU schools, IB diploma is the way to go.

No it is not. UK looks for AP classes.

You’re wrong. UK will look at BOTH from American kids and they will look for IBDP or its equivalent from other European Nationals.

And this board is probably made up of families of American kids, so AP it is for American students looking to UK for higher ed

Just because you did it doesn’t mean everyone else has to. Grow up.

IB DP versus just courses? It is worth it if your kid is not spiky in an EC or is generally has weak EC. In this case, they will get structure for well balanced EC. If they are spiky they should just take the courses, and then they can really focus on their sport/debate/robotics whatever.

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Anonymous wrote:If you look at Arlington, there is not a huge difference in admissions data between W&Ls IB program and kids at Yorktown taking the hardest level of classes/plethora of APs.

That being said- the skills you gain from the IB program are very helpful in college.

Again the question wasn’t AP vs IB but whether getting the IB diploma vs just taking IB classes is worth the effort.

If you take the most rigorous classes at an IB high school then you might as well get the diploma, it’s not a lot of work beyond that.