<p>Does anyone know how colleges weigh AP vs. IB classes. For example, I have been an IB student since sixth grade, six IB classes a year. Do they care that I'm a DP candidate? Just wanted to ask and see what others thought.</p>
<p>Hey fellow IB’er,</p>
<p>let me just say this,</p>
<p>One of my friends was all like i’m in AP classes for senior year! hoot hoot.</p>
<p>Another older friend turned to me and asked what I took, I said IB.
He said that’s an international thing, right?
I said yep.
He said, wow, good job. College will love you. The American education system stinks, so if you have the same curriculum as a teen from China or Europe they’ll notice how much harder your classes are.
I said, wow! Really?</p>
<p>and he said yep, for sure (mind you he is a college grade with his masters in tow)</p>
<p>So yes, it’s better. ^_^</p>
<p>Mind you, that’s a real conversation.</p>
<p>Now as I read it ,it looks cheesy lolz. But it’s real! lolol</p>
<p>Good to know that it’s been worthwhile!</p>
<p>There is huge thread on this topic in the “Ask a Dean” forum.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ask-dean-topics/475905-ap-vs-ib-do-colleges-prefer.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ask-dean-topics/475905-ap-vs-ib-do-colleges-prefer.html</a></p>
<p>The typical response I’ve heard is that they’re weighted equally (as in, you won’t be discounted for taking AP or IB if your school offers the other). Colleges want you to take the most challenging courses available to you, but AP/IB isn’t so clear cut as AP/Honors, for example. They aren’t going to penalize you for something so ambiguous, possibly out of your control, when in both cases you’re probably electing to take the most rigorous curriculum available to you.</p>
<p>It depends on your school. If it only offers IB, I sure hope you’re taking it. If it offers only AP, that’s fine, and I still hope you’re taking it. If it offers both, ask a guidance counselor. At my school, IB is considered more rigorous because virtually no other students are able to take a total of 14 AP classes (14 IB classes, including TOK, for the diploma) by the end of their senior year.</p>
<p>Hi guys , What about British A-levels ?
I have taken 3 A-levels : Biology . Maths and Chem
should this be enough or do i need to do more subjects ?
FYI , I am an International student</p>
<p>Amrnabmans for A-levels you going to have to check each colleges admissions policy for foreign tests. </p>
<p>IB is considered as a US advance learning programme not just international tests given to US students.</p>
<p>Now that I know what my oldest dd got on both her AP and IB tests I might be able to shed some light. She did get her IB diploma. She will get credit for all her IB HL tests because her college only requires a 5 or better(some require a 4 or better and some a 7) and she will get a class credit for her TOK and EE grades combination. She will get credit for 2 AP tests. I just thought it would add up to more at the college she is attending. She will get 24 credits. Some other schools give more or less credits depending on the college. Had dd gone to her other choice of college she would be granted 39 credits.</p>
<p>The real truth it is that is quicker to gain college credit with APs. Harder to gain credit with IBs classes because it takes two years to complete the HL IB classes and you only get the same amount credit as you do for an AP test in general that takes one year. Colleges are not all the same either. Some give 30 credits for the IB diploma automatically. Some colleges only give credit for HL courses with certain score and some for both HL and SL IB tests all with a certain score. </p>
<p>Colleges like IB because you have to do more than course work to complete it. It also makes sure you are more well rounded student because you have to take courses in 6 areas. This way they can tell you are not just a math geek or math challenged. </p>
<p>Do yourself a favor and check each college you plan to attend for their credit policy for AP and IB.</p>
<p>I will say most of the kids I have spoke to said that college was no harder than what they experience while doing the IB program.</p>
<p>I’ve been told from many a former senior at my high school that the IB prepared them much better for college. The workload for IB is so high, as is the quality of work expected of you, that college-level work becomes second nature for many former IB students.</p>
<p>IB is definitely more challenging than AP, in my opinion. Hopefully colleges see this as well.</p>
<p>(Btw, I’m in IB too.)</p>
<p>AP is better. IB is dumb. If I could do it over again I would do AP and save my self the trouble of doing all the extra IB crap like extended essay and cas. Mostly I’m just ****ed that I did badly on some of my tests and only got college credit for one.</p>
<p>I’d say if your school offers a full IB diploma program, go for it. It really prepares you for university level education not only academically but also personally.
For instance Extended essay and theory of knowledge make you a better thinker. But when it comes to American institutions, some prefer AP in course placement over IB…</p>
<p>I went to a non pre-IB middle school. Now I go to a high school that offers AP classes and I’m more or less coasting. Some of my friends went a charter/magnet school that offers IB. I often hear them complain about how their coursework is so hard. Keeping that in mind, IB is by far the more superior and rigorous college prep program. Therefore, it prepares you more for college.</p>
<p>However, since not all high schools offer IB, most colleges have decided to weigh AP and IB the same. AP also has a couple advantages that make it more favorable. One of these includes the fact is that due to AP being so “mainstream”, it’s easier to buy a test prep book. You can also take AP tests while not being enrolled in the course. Also, for some, IB may hurt their GPA significantly. And finally, you can take more AP classes at a public school than you can take IB HL courses at an IB school. This usually allows AP to open up more doors in college, or at least skip a few of the introductory courses. </p>
<p>So overall:</p>
<p>Rigor- IB>AP</p>
<p>Usefulness-IB<AP</p>
<p>A Vanderbilt admissions guy told me they care if you are a Diploma candidate (instead of certificate). If a school offers IB, then the diploma is often considered the highest curriculum available to you.</p>
<p>IB is more useful if you want a more global perspective, especially if your major is something like International Business, etc. AP acknowledges the strength of IB’s well-rounded diploma and global outlook because they recently created the “Advanced Placement International Diploma” (sound familiar? look at the requirements… <a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools). Personally, I think IB is better, but that’s because I’m biased :D</p>
<p>At my school, you can (if you are a crazy person) take both the IB and AP test for a subject. This may not be the way to go, but it’s what I was planning to do before my school started requiring us to pay the ~$1000 dollars for our tests ourselves.</p>
<p>IB is useful mainly if you want to do something internationally.</p>