<p>Which is more respected - Advanced Placement or IB - assuming 10 or more AP classes compared to the IB Diploma?</p>
<p>Im going to assume you’re also taking the corresponding exams.</p>
<p>In the US, definitely do AP. Its seen as the same rigor (and is more widely known (in the us)), and the exams are way easier imo. If you want to study outside US , IB has more recognition, though.</p>
<p>While rigor is probably comparable of equivalent classes, AP tends to be more about breadth while IB tends to be more about depth. Take that how you will. </p>
<p>Also, IB is definitely a program, while AP is a pick-and-choose thing. Meaning that if you do IB, you take advanced and rigorous classes in all subjects, while AP is up to you. If you’re not strong at English, you can choose not to take the AP, but if you’re in the IB program, you take it regardless.</p>
<p>IB also has requirements outside the classroom, including a mandatory two-year philosophy class (ToK), an extended essay worked on from junior to senior year, and creative, active, and service activities outside the classroom.</p>
<p>It’s my biased opinion that IB is superior to AP, but unfortunately colleges in the US don’t seem to respect is as much as it does AP - for example, most will only award credit for two-year HL courses, and not for one-year SL courses… even though they do award credit for one-year AP courses. </p>
<p>If you have a child trying to decide between the two, I would let them look at thing beyond just what will look impressive to admissions - they are both very respected and rigorous courses. Besides, you could always do the IB diploma programme and take concurrent AP tests, many (including myself) do that.</p>
<p>They are both respected by selective colleges. Less selective ones are probably more familiar with AP. For a long time it was much easier to get credit with less than perfect scores on the AP, with a higher bar for the IB, but that is changing. I don’t think you should choose one over the other for what colleges think. If the IB curriculum TOK essay and all that appeals to you take that. I think especially for non-STEM people it’s a fantastic curriculum that will teach you to write if you have good teachers. For STEM kids there’s a bit more flexibility using APs. </p>
<p>You should choose the program that is the best in your local school–there is no generic answer to this question. IB in particular is delivered very well in some schools, and not well in others. (I agree that AP is often better for STEM kids.)</p>
<p>Note that 6 to 8 AP classes would be seen as most rigorous (4 to 8 is considered a good number by most selective colleges and the benefits in terms of admissions tend to drop off after 8).
In addition, the “every AP under the sun” strategy tends to be counterproductive. Make sure your class choices are coherent and that you have at least one “fun” class, especially senior year.</p>
<p>For the most advanced students (or advanced in particular subjects), the convenient availability of taking courses at a nearby college while still in high school can be a better opportunity than either AP or IB courses, which would not cover advanced enough material for such students. The actual college courses would also come with college expectations on self-motivation and all that, in contrast to the greater hand holding and monitoring in high school.</p>
<p>Like Hunt said, “choose the program that is the best in your local school”. If it offers both AP and IB, the IB program likely has the better teachers/classes (more resources). </p>
<p>All colleges want students who have taken the “most demanding available” classes. If an IB program exists at a high school, selective schools will prefer students who have taken it unless they and their counselors can present a compelling argument for why a particular student didn’t. That can be desire to take extra science and/or foreign language classes instead of some IB requirements like Theory of Knowledge, for instance, but a student who opts out of IB should expect to explain why.</p>
<p>Overall IB for more selective colleges.</p>
<p>Our personal experience has been with only AP classes. That said, we just came from DS2’s engineering orientation at Clemson. They were advised to retake any science labs that they may have had in an IB program while AP classes were allowed credit. </p>
<p>^ then the pre-med kids will come to the former IB students for help with organic chemistry (saw it a bunch).</p>
<p>It all depends on what’s offered at your high school. Our D’s high school offered both, IB was clearly considered the more difficult course load. You need a lot of detailed information about the courses offered at the high school you attend–including how often courses are offered.</p>
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<p>What evidence is there to back up such statement? And how contradictory would it be to the FACT that the IB program is hardly the domain of the most elite high schools in the nation. The reality is that the IB roots in the US are found in mostly MIDDLING public high school where the fad allowed the ever sought school within in a school. One other reality is that schools that have the FREEDOM to choose programs and not pander to parents and faculty have taken a harder look at the relative value of the IB program. </p>
<p>The largest success of the IBO has been one of astute marketing cum effective bribing of officials that masks the original remediation attributes of the IB program in Europe. </p>
<p>Despite its growing fame, the program remains a grossly overrated hodgepodge of busywork with plenty of holes in STEM areas. </p>
<p>While it might be the program of choice at a number of high schools, it is RARELY viewed as the best program in the city. Take a look at many cities, and the best high schools will rarely be offering full IB programs and diplomas. On the other hand, some truly horrible have adopted it. Often, with public dollars. </p>
<p>As far as successful applicants in particular cities, it SURELY is untrue that selective schools prefer the IB graduates in the cities I am familiar with. The students who combine the toughest AP and college credits do substantially better than their friends in the local IB programs. </p>
<p>But do not let facts get in the way of opinions and idle speculation. </p>
<p>At D2’s international school, IB was viewed as the most rigorous, so that was the track she took. But in comparing the rigor of the IB program vs her old prep school(only AP and honors) in the states, she thought the prep school was better. She also thought there was a lot of busywork in the IB program. One thing we found out was the IB curriculum was not very tailored for SAT II tests. D2 had to study independently for those subject tests.</p>
<p>It’s my understanding that IB is more writing-intense and requires greater depth of study, course for course, than AP.</p>
<p>IB is the essay; AP is the multiple choice.</p>
<p>Fair?</p>
<p>What a wonderfully lively discussion we have here. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and perspectives. While I respect the rigor of the IB program, one reason I don’t favor it is that IB programs leave little time for 11th and 12th graders to pursue other substantive learning opportunities such as service-learning projects. My two sons have undertaken such projects which have enabled them to collaborate with youth in many countries to solve significant engineering problems. They would not have the time to continue such with IB, but more likely with AP.</p>
<p>If you want to study in the North America, I highly recommend everyone to choose AP over IB. In my opinion, IB is a very poorly run program. Having taken IB and self studied numerous AP’s, I can attest that the majority of IB exams are harder to score well on.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, a significant portion of your mark will come for ‘internal assessments’. These are first marked by your teacher. It is then sent to IB and marked again. If the marks differ two much, they are ‘equated’ by IB. By contrast, for the AP exam, 100% of the mark comes from the exam itself, which I think is more fair.</p>
<p>You must also keep in mind that the ‘rigor’ of the IB program is usually seen as equal to AP. That is, an IB diploma would be seen as equal to 6 AP exams. However, an IB diploma is SIGNIFICANTLY more work. Furthermore, most schools only allow you to write the exams in your senior year. Think about this. If you were to do AP, you could take 2 exams sophomore year, 6 exams junior year and 6 exams senior year. The ‘rigor’ 14 AP exams is probably seen as most rigorous. IMO, 14 AP exams spread over 3 years is a much more balanced experience than completing the IB diploma. Any diploma student will know that for every class, there is a crapton of work. Just thinking about all those IA’s I had to do makes me shudder. Keep in mind, you still have to complete TOK, EE and CAS.</p>
<p>If I had the choice to do it all over again, I would have never done IB. It definitely prepared me well for college, but I had a very bittersweet high school experience.</p>
<p>what @xiggi said also really resonated with me. I can’t believe how so many people buy into the idea of IB (and it’s sad to say, even I did). They do a hell of a good job marketing it. Counselors, schools boards, parents and students think IB is some program that guarantees success, when in reality it does more harm than good.</p>
<p>Yes, IB is a lot of work. Yes, you tend to get more credit with APs. Yes, there are a lot of holes in IB-STEM. However in all honesty the benefit of the IB program -if done correctly with good teachers- isn’t necessarily the recognition or credit but rather that it teaches you to think on your feet, to work in groups, to prioritize your schedule, and to write essays in a way that AP classes don’t. Sure you get less credit, but the IB kids I know -myself included- have come into college much more prepared for the courseload; especially in writing intensive history and English classes.</p>
<p>Of course it is very easy to conduct the IB program incorrectly and thus many programs fall short of the “gold standard high school program” that the IBO markets it as. However from my experience a well run IB program is far superior to AP in all aspects EXCEPT for credit.</p>
<p>My son could have chosen not to pursue the full IB diploma, but he did (we are still awaiting his final scores, which should be published this week). He also took AP English Composition and Human Geography as a sophomore; AP US History as a junior; and AP Statistics as a senior. His school and personal experiences differ radically from those cited above. He managed to serve four years on Student Council (Secretary, as a junior; VP, as a senior); was co-President of JSA/Debate for two years (participated all four years); was in Model UN for four years, and co-President as a senior; founded a ping-pong club; was JV Football manager as sophomore and junior; participated in numerous on-campus service projects, along with mandatory work shifts and “co-op” assignments; did a school-sponsored service project on the Navajo reservation during the summer between his sophomore and junior, and volunteered in Central Newark between junior and senior years. He worked all summers, and we took recreational vacations on other breaks. I know that he worked hard, but it was rewarding for him. It would not have been the best course for other students, but he is very well prepared for college. Colleges respect the IB, and students interested in studying overseas should consider it seriously. I don’t think any schools require it, and I am bewildered by the hostility it engenders. </p>