Hi! I was researching college apps in the US and was surprised to find that a 5 in an AP course was widely regarded to be equal to a 7 in an IB HL class, and superior to IB SL classes and scores below 7.
Is this the case in selective universities, or are admissions staff there familiar with the nature of IB courses?
Also, in your experience is having done the Full IB Diploma as well as self-studying a few AP’s a significant boost over just Full IB or just AP, or is it not all that impressive on your resume?
Yes, admission staff are familiar with the IB curriculum, although that doesn’t stop IB students from complaining that the difficulty of the IB is often under-appreciated relative to other credentials (AP exams, A-levels, etc).
That being said, I doubt that taking AP exams in addition to the IB is a good use of your time - particularly if you were to take AP exams in subjects you are also studying for your IB.
Succeeding in the IB program indicates that you are prepared academically and likely to succeed at any university in this country. What the most selective universities (Ivies and the like) are looking for beyond that are applicants with the potential to become leaders in their field. They want some academic superstars - the guys who ace international academic competitions or do graduate-level work in high school. They want some students who are politically active. They want some competitive athletes. They want some students committed to social causes. And so on and so forth.