<p>Hey guys,
I was just wondering if you knew whether or not Columbia values the International Baccalaurate (IB) program highly. It is EXTREMELY popular at my school -- about 25% of my grade is in full IB (taking 7 IB classes) and 35% of the class of 2009 is signed up to take it next year. I currently have a 3.85 in full IB (6 As, 1 B...stupid IB physics) and I want to know if this holds more or less weight than a 3.85 in full AP classes. Also, I'm probably going to take some AP tests next year along with my IB tests...do you know which scores Columbia prefers?
I know Barnard is pretty much in love with IB, because when I went to visit there they said if you come there with an IB diploma you can pretty much skip the first year of required classes. But obviously, admissions to Barnard and Columbia are completely different.</p>
<p>I went up to the admissions director and asked her if one was viewed more favorably than the other. She responded no, that they were viewed equally. My school has both a full fleged AP and IB curriculum...and people from both got in. I think it's actually easier to get credit at Columbia with AP classes.</p>
<p>this is true, but then again an IB higher level class is two years of work and hence they give u credit for two semesters worth of class if u get a 6/7 on your IB exam</p>
<p>Yes, and for several APs that were only a semester I can get 3 credits for each, and most people who do a full fledged AP program end up taking more subject exams than IB people.</p>
<p>It honestly all depends on what your school offers. If you can challenge yourself more with IB with your school's curriculum, do so. If your school offers full fledged AP and IB programs as mine does, choose whatever is more challenging to you...they will not look down on you for choosing AP. Some people find they can take a curriculum that looks more challenging with IB instead of AP (i.e. least number of HLs possible, SL math, SL science) so that can often work in your favor instead of taking many APs. One cannot be favored over the other unless you're discussing individual curriculums and class choices. I know my AP schedule is more challenging than other IB schedules, and that some people's AP schedules are less challenging than other IB schedules.</p>
<p>To sum it up: whatever is most challenging, or looks the most challenging, is the best.</p>
<p>I also asked a Columbia adcom this question at a program about a week ago. The response was an immediate "We love IB"--although I did not ask the "relative to AP?" question because I thought I already knew the answer. Every top school lists "rigor of secondary school program" as the most important criteria for admission. AP and IB both equate to rigor. This is especially true with full IB diplomma candidates. Chicago, especially, gushes about this. The adcom from Chicago said that they can recognize full IB diplomma candidates because they write the best admission essays. Both schools expressed the view that it was meaningful when a student had access to and selected a program in which they had to, not only take a proscribed core curriculum, but had to complete the extras that are required as part of IB. I think that they saw it as a real intellectual commitment, and when you are looking for students with intellectual drive, the ability to think independently and critically and such, the IB approach stands you in good stead. By the way, this also came up at a small meeting with a Penn rep and the same thing was said. She actually called IB the "gold standard for rigor." </p>
<p>Now--before the AP folk get defensive, let me just say that a full complement of AP classes is extremely rigorous and will not disadvantage you in any way. It's just nice to hear adcoms expressing an understanding of an appreciation for what IB brings to the table. They want to see students challenge themselves, they want to see that you are ready for the rigors of a difficult school with talented students--I think that what I heard is that hearing that someone is a FULL IB diplomma candidate is shorthand for adequate, rigorous preparation.</p>
<p>They're different programs. You can't generalize that one program is entirely harder than another without discussing individual classes and complete curriculums.</p>
<p>Well, yes--it's a "prescribed" curriculum in the sense that what you take follows a dictated set of rules. I suppose you could also say it has a "proscribed" element in the sense that there are some things that are prohibited, such as taking too many SLs as a junior or not enough SLs overall, etc. But I think you're right--it's more accurate to say "prescribed".</p>
<p>Assuming you are asking about credit, such as that given for AP, you should look at the school's website. Some schools are very generous with credit and even give sophomore standing to those who have earned the Diplomma. Columbia gives credit (or a course bump) only for high scores earned in the HL classes. This is similar to the bump/credit given for AP. However, because HL classes are two years long, that means that you can fit in more AP tests and, potentially, get more credit. It is not uncommon for students to take AP tests along with their IB tests (depending on the scope of the IB class) or to supplement their IB schedule with AP classes.</p>