Best high school route

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I hope you're ready for a very long entry:</p>

<p>My school currently has an enforced MYP program. I don't know how other MYP programs work, but the highest level of offered classes are AP. Next year, my school is offering the IB Diploma Program for the first time and my class (2016) will be the first ones to have the opportunity to be enrolled in the program. However, the classes will be AP/IB conjoined. Many people who have already decided not to take the DP program explicitly state, "I don't want to be the guinea pigs." I know, you may not have enough info to answer this question, but I will ask it anyway: will first year DP candidates of a school really be guinea pigs or should I trust that my school knows what they are doing? </p>

<p>We have been informed that for the HL classes they are offering, they are basically eliminating the AP equivalent to them such as English HL, Spanish HL, and History HL. They are making these classes go by the DP curriculum. This is making me concerned that since these classes are by DP curriculum, does that mean I will be unprepared for the AP tests? This also means that I would have to take the AP English Lang and English Lit tests in the same year because both years involve a mix of both - good idea? I'm not sure. Does this also mean that if I choose to stay in AP, I will be wasting the DP test opportunity since the curriculum will most likely be preparing people for the DP test? Does that mean those classes will have a lot of essay writing too? How much are the DP tests anyway? And this whole idea of my school eliminating the AP equivalent, is that stupid? Should I just switch schools now? Haha.</p>

<p>Anyone taken TOK before too? What is that class like? Also if anyone knows, is there AP Gov or Econ material in the second year of US History HL?</p>

<p>Would you recommend taking the AP tests along with the DP tests because apparently, they are easier to get credit for? And does DP really prepare you for college much much more than AP? Because our previous graduates seem to struggle, but do well in college without the DP program.</p>

<p>Does DP make you look better to colleges? I heard that AP earns you more credit</p>

<p>One of my most respected and intelligent teachers told me that if I were his daughter, he would tell me not to do the program because my school is not completely ready for it.</p>

<p>It's June already and my school has not told us anything of what the classes will be like. They just told us that there will be DP tests and it makes you more desirable to colleges.</p>

2

<p>Also, I took one AP in ninth grade and 3 in 10th so to finally begin feeling like I was getting the hang of it only then have to learn a new test format and such - is it worth it?</p>

3

<p>I’ve only taken APs, but I have heard about the IB program.</p>

<p>DP in my opinion does make you look better for colleges and will prepare you better / give you some college level challenges that aren’t found in AP classes…
But, it really depends on your major and the college you attend!
I can bias the AP program for the engineers: You want as much credit as possible and APs do a better job at counting for credit / eliminating GEs as they are more widely accepted. And if you eliminate GEs, in college as an engineer, you will barely have to do any of the type of writing assignments that an IB student takes part in.</p>

4

<p>Can I take both AP and DP tests? Like for English HL and History HL, but the rest of my classes AP tests such as AP Calc BC, AP Psych, AP Chem… etc</p>

5

<p>Yes you can. As a junior, seek the ones that are most impressive. As a senior, aim for the ones that give the most credit.</p>