<p>Hey guys, I'm a sophomore deciding on the courses for my junior and senior years, and this is oh so stressful. </p>
<p>Which of the following do you think would be better?</p>
<p>THE AP ROUTE</p>
<p>10th grade:
AP Lang
AP Calc
General Chem
AP Euro
AP Econ
Chinese 7
Orchestra</p>
<p>11th grade:
AP Lit
AP Stat
AP Chem
AP Psych
AP Comp Sci
Chinese 8
Orchestra</p>
<p>THE IB ROUTE</p>
<p>IB English HL
IB Math HL
IB Chem SL
IB Econ HL
IB History HL
IB Chinese SL (but I would be repeating 10th grade material)
TOK (cannot take orchestra)
+ AP CALC BC by self studying</p>
<p>The AP route:
1) I can take orchestra
2) More variety of the courses
3) Get more college credits
4) Easier to get better grades
5) Would not have to self study AP Calc BC
6) Would not have to repeat one year of Chinese
7) Would be able to interact with more students.</p>
<p>The IB route: I like it because APUSH gave me an impression that AP was mostly memorizing and regurgitating information. I think IB would enable me to actually learn and write a lot as well. I would be able to get close with the teachers. I've also heard that Ivy League schools somewhat prefer IB. However, the advantages of AP I listed above do not apply.</p>
<p>This is probably the biggest dilemma I have faced in my life. :( Please help me out! :) Thank you guys!</p>
<p>^ Um, not its not. Math HL is hard for most people, but English HL is quite doable.</p>
<p>Regarding the OP's question, it's up too you to make the choice. Both programs are great and challenging. Not one is better than the other. It just depends on which you would have the most fit.</p>
<p>Also, if you're in IB, you can always self-study for AP tests as well (but not the other way around).</p>
<p>From my experience as a current Junior IB student, AP Euro and AP econ are both rather simple. You can easily do AP Euro on yourself and HL econ covers almost all of the material on the AP micro and macro tests.</p>
<p>unless you are really into orchestra, i would do IB. The diploma programme is great, and it really forces you to do extra things (like CAS and the extended essay). I pretty much had the same schedule as you, except with HL physics instead of chem and SL econ, and it was quite doable. If you are fluent in chinese (or very close to it) see if you can take Chinese as your A2 language SL, and then you won't have to repeat a year.</p>
<p>IB may often be more rigorous, but you should not take it if it causes you to make many compromises. It's a good option if it fits you well, but if it's going to change who you are into a generic IB student, then it's a bad idea. You'll suffer and regret why you even bothered with IB when you're done.</p>
<p>Your AP courseload is still very well-rounded, and it allows you to take a couple more advanced classes and do an extra EC. That will outweigh the benefits of IB.</p>
<p>They say that IB teachers usually teach a wider scope of things, but from what I see, it's just a lot of inconsistent junk floating around. Anyone with a brain should be able to figure the "IB extras" out themselves.</p>
<p>lovechillipeppers, I take exactly the same HL as you do in IB. well, I do English A1 HL (you might choose to do A2 which is easier) so I can say a few things:</p>
<p>if you have been doing some tough math for last 2-3 years, then I would say HL math is a challenge, but something enjoyable. I LOVE HL English A1 (because of the teacher) and find HL Econ really boring (because of the teacher). But overall, econ is not as hard as Eng or Math so it's not that big of a deal. </p>
<p>I guess, choose whatever you want. Im just giving you more info so you can decide on what is really right for you. If you have any more questions about HL subjects or anything else about IB, pm me.</p>
<p>I actually faced this same problem when I was going into Junior year...</p>
<p>I LOVE choir and it is a major EC for me, and because my school is ridiculous and has a six-period day, it was either the full diploma program and NO choir, or choir and not being a dipcan.</p>
<p>What I ended up doing was a combination of mostly IB, but some AP classes that I think really makes for a good schedule:</p>
<p>Junior Year:
IB English HL
IB Math HL
IB History HL
AP Biology
French 3 Honors
Concert Choir</p>
<p>Senior Year:
IB English HL
IB Math HL
IB History HL
AP Physics C
IB French SL
Concert Choir</p>
<p>I tried to take mostly IB courses, but wanted to be able to do BOTH Physics and Biology before I graduated. Because IB SL classes are typically inferior to AP classes, that's why my science is like that. French is SL because that is the highest language our school offers. The rest of the IB classes are HL, which is what colleges most like to see. </p>
<p>So, definitely consider taking IB classes and not the full diploma, because all you will miss will be TOK, EE, and CAS...but then again, your AP schedule looks great too, and at my school, an all-AP route would actually be less rigorous than an all-IB route.</p>
<p>MAKE SURE to talk to kids in each program to see about workload/teachers/etc...</p>
<p>IB is waaay better, dude! I guess it depends on which school you go to, but at my school, Eng HL is a piece of cake, and everyone who takes the Math HL is a-okay most of the time.</p>
<p>You're right: AP is memorization. How boring and USELESS. IB preps you better for writing in college, which is pretty much most of what college classes are, even if you're majoring in math or whatever, you'll be writing a ton.</p>
<p>If the restriction the Diploma gives you is OK, then do the Diploma.</p>
<p>why? cuz it's shorter, more widely available in the us (you aren't international, right), cheaper, and you actually generate many test scores BEFORE applying to college.</p>
<p>and you don't have to continue a subject you might despise for two years...one year, one test, and you're done.</p>
<p>i mean who remembers specific books from english for over a period of a school year?</p>
<p>General advice--good for college, too. Select the best teachers, the most interesting subjects, requirements, and convenience of schedule in that order. </p>
<p>I think (as parent and prof.) that IB is better college prep iff you're interested in your extended essay and put real effort into the core. You'll improve your ability to write, think, and express yourself clearly, and you're likely to make friends who are quite special and not really "2 school 4 cool." </p>
<p>However, if instructors aren't as good, or you are more interested in the AP subjects, then your AP plan is fine. </p>
<p>One other thought, FWIW, if your Chinese is good enough to do A2 for the bilingual diploma, you might consider taking one of your HL subjects (Econ?) at SL and take the AP exam, too.</p>
<p>You don't have to do EE, TOK, and the other 1000 word essays. Also, you have more leeway so you don't have to be stuck doing a subject for two years. If you like to learn stuff super deep, then do the IB. But I know from experience that many IB students really wanted to switch to AP halfway thru the year, but not the other way around. Just a random opinion</p>
<p>They are both good choices, and how good they are depends on how well your school delivers them. (There have been numerous threads about this on CC--take a look at them.)
Are you sure you can't do orchestra if you are in IB? At my son's school, there is some creative juggling that makes it possible. Some kids will take orchestra for one semester, and then, during TOK (for example) will practice during lunch and still play with the orchestra--they can even get a grade for that.</p>
<p>um, as far as how they look to college, they are the same. all that matters is what your counselor puts on your report for difficulty of classes.</p>
<p>seriously..dont do IB unless you want to have a "crazy" learning experience I guess because the extra work wont help you in college admissions. no one i know has ever said IB has helped them. (my brother actually yelled at my parents because he had to do IB and it did nothing for him).</p>
<p>the only arguments for IB are that you get a better learning experience and it prepares you for college. i suppose those are valid arguments if you are, to be blunt, a nerd that lacks self-confidence. i dont need to waste two years of my life just to improve a bit in writing and get a learning experience that beats the "useless" AP curriculum. sure AP might be useless, but that doesnt mean anything since ALL of high school is useless.</p>
<p>if you want to be busy all the time so you can feel accomplished for no reason then yay, take IB. if you want to have much more free time (that can be used to study for SAT/SAT2, ECs, etc) and more fun, then take APs.</p>