<p>ukusmom, Swimming is a great EC, especially if she is willing and able to swim competitively at her college. When she gets to the equivalent of junior year she can begin reaching out to coaches. There are plenty of parents and students on this board who can give you tips on how to proceed.</p>
<p>I would also suggest developing her art skills. Art is something that can be pursued independently so even if her program doesn't offer IB Art perhaps she could take a class at an art center or a museum in your community? If she is really talented I'd strongly suggest submitting a portfolio along with her application. This usually consists of 12 to 20 slides of work in a range of media -- drawing, painting, sculpture, photography -- plus any back up information about art involvement.</p>
<p>To me the combination of academics + athletics + arts is unbeatable.</p>
<p>And . . . as the cherry on the sundae, living overseas is a great EC in itself. Though the UK isn't exactly an exotic location, there has undoubtedly been culture shock, adjustment and alienation which can make compelling essay topics. Colleges love American expats. They bring a global perspective to the campus table without the worry of visas and language issues. Your daugther should use this advantage.</p>
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Our IB program is a selective entry magnet program; over 90% graduate with the full diploma.
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<p>100% last year, and the school's scores on the IB HL history test were the highest in the world.</p>
<p>(Just had to brag a little. Counting Down's DS2 is in the same IB program my daughter graduated from last year.)</p>
<p>Counting Down, your son is lucky in that he can downsize his least favorite subject, math. My daughter's least favorite subject was English, and of course our school, like a lot of IB schools in the U.S., requires everyone to do HL English. She found it a most unpleasant experience.</p>
<p>That goes to show how strong and reputable the program is that colleges will give you the benefit of the doubt and accept you with only one complete year in the program.</p>
<p>Marian, I knew it was consistently well over 90%, but I didn't realize last year was 100! Am VERY glad to hear about the History scores. That's DS2's big passion and the reason he picked IB over other schools. Do you know anyone who took some of the other (non-IB, non-AP) history courses? They offer stuff not available elsewhere and it seems like the classes would be really good, given the strength of the IB history dept. Or not...</p>
<p>DS2 is SOOOOO close to breaking through in English. He really enjoys the classes -- he just needs a little more oomph in his essays. Am VERY glad he was able to step off the "fast" track for math -- as if Calc AB as a junior is "slow"! He will be glad when the doc gives him clearance to start up sports again -- he is so much more efficient with HW when he has practice all afternoon... :)</p>
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The diploma and senior year test scores don't come in until after you've been accepted to colleges.
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<p>This is true, but teachers in the IB program are required to estimate "predicted" IB test scores for each of their students in each subject. I have heard that the teachers are under pressure to make sure that the predicted scores are within 1 point of the actual score (i.e., if the teacher predicts a 5, and the student does not score a 4, 5, or 6, there is a problem). I believe that for applicants coming from non-U.S. IB schools (this may apply to the OP's child at an international school in the UK), the predicted IB scores play a large role in college admissions.</p>
<p>For students coming from U.S. IB schools and applying to U.S. colleges, predicted scores don't seem to be important. My daughter and her classmates at a U.S. IB school didn't even know what their predicted scores were (although I suppose they could have asked, and since the scores at this particular school are consistently good, most of the estimates would have been 5s or 6s). These students were presumably admitted to colleges based on their GPAs, rigor of curriculum, SATs, SAT Subject Tests, ECs, and essays, just like other American applicants.</p>
<p>CountingDown, I don't know about the non-IB history courses because my daughter and her particular friends didn't take them. Sorry.</p>
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While 3 HL and 3 SL courses are required for a diploma, the school that I am familiar with lets some kids take 4 HL and 2 SL.
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<p>At the school I'm familiar with, it's permitted but discouraged. </p>
<p>There is such a thing as spreading oneself too thin. In addition to their six IB exam subjects, IB diploma students have to complete their Extended Essay, their TOK class, and 150 hours of CAS (Creativity/Action/Service), all in two years. Most also have outside activities, and those are important in college admissions as well. And in the United States, at least, IB students may be taking additional courses that are not part of the IB diploma program -- to fulfill graduation requirements or to complete the 7- or 8-period school day in those semesters where IB doesn't fill all the time slots.</p>
<p>In my experience, those IB students who did not overload themselves either academically or with too many extracurricular activities earned better GPAs and were more likely to be admitted to the colleges they actually wanted to attend than those who tried to do everything and ended up doing none of it particularly well. </p>
<p>Remember that in a lot of school systems, merely being an IB diploma candidate gets you the "most rigorous" curriculum designation on your guidance counselor's recommendation form. It is not necessary to make the hardest possible choices within the IB program to be considered successful.</p>
<p>P.S. And while you're at it, if you have a major extracurricular commitment (a varsity sport, student government, whatever), but it doesn't fulfill all three of the CAS categories, try to do your other CAS stuff in the summer. It will take a lot of pressure off of you during the school year. Also, remember that the Extended Essay counts only for bonus points. You have to complete it in order to get the diploma, but it does not have to be of the highest quality. In fact, it can outright suck. People who realize this are less likely to have nervous breakdowns.</p>
<p>momrath, thanks for the comments. Swimming is tricky in that she might or might not be good enough for a college team, it will depend on each school and coach's need for particular swimmers that year. She is not at national level. Her many years of swimming show dedication and passion, that's for sure. My big concern is whether she will be able to keep spending 3 hours a day every day on practice in 11-12 grades! </p>
<p>Regarding art, her school actually does offer IB Art, but I'm not at all sure it is worth taking. She talked to one student taking it now, and he complained of very little direction from the school. It just may create a lot of stress. Maybe she is better off taking one more science instead (it's allowed). She has been taking art lessons for years before we moved to UK, and already has a portfolio (sort of). She can take pre-foundation art courses at art colleges in UK once she turns 16, so she can certainly build up on her existing portfolio. I don't know if it's a good idea to submit the art supplement when she is not going to major in art. All college sites warn you not to submit unless it is of exceptional quality. I'm not an art expert and can't judge the quality of my daughter's work. I can see that it shows above average ability and experience in many media, but it is probably not out of this world, and any professional artist will find many flaws. Is it a good idea to submit it in such case? I read that it can actually harm your application... </p>
<p>Oh, and I agree with Marian that taking 4 HL classes may be just too much with everything else going on at the same time.</p>
<p>us uk mom, my D is very similar to yours in that she is in IB, and also was a 3 hour a day club swimmer. My D is a senior now, and quit club swimming back last May, but not due to the overload of just IB. She had also swam for many years, and her decision to quit was due to a combination of factors, she was going to Governor's Honors for 6 weeks over the summer, and at the time was taking 2 SL IB exams, 3 AP exams, 3 subject tests, and the SAT I. Basically, she was overloaded. That being said, for her entire Junior year until the very end she did manage both quite well. I'm sure if you D has good time management skills, she should be able to maintain both. IMO even though she may not have a huge quantity of EC's, it will be obvious to Adcom's her dedication and time commitment. My D had swimming, and just a few others, and will be attending top LAC next fall. Good luck to you and her.</p>
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Regarding art, her school actually does offer IB Art, but I'm not at all sure it is worth taking.
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<p>IB Art is very time-consuming because of the hands-on nature of the work. There's no quickie way to do the projects. If your daughter really wants to do it, that's fine. But she may want to check with some upperclassmen and see how many hours per week they have to put into it. Depending on her other time commitments, she might want to consider a different sixth subject.</p>
<p>doing the IB is great for the experience you will have as it is the recognition you will gain from the admissions committee. i am currently in the DP program and taking my exams this May. i was just accepted to Brown Early also. many of my friends claim the workload and the preparation you get in the IB for college makes the transition a whole lot easier. I sent in my predicted grade of 44/45 through during the admissions process, so it is clear that they consider even the grade that is not final. i am hoping to get credit with my scores later, and perhaps even graduate early with advanced standing. but not all schools only take your higher level scores. brown for example can give credit for standard level courses. when i first started the diploma programme i also wondered about the 3 HL and 3 SL requirement. some of my friends are taking a fourth HL subject. and in some cases, if you are good in a subject your teacher might urge you to take the higher level test if there is not much difference. i was told something similar by my French teacher, but I have decided to stick with preparing for my SL exam. although most only consider HL scores, i think you would have to check each school's policy. i think the IB gave me the edge, and i am now very glad to be going to my dream school. You should be very happy that your daughter is in a program like the IB.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your early acceptance to Brown, balichic!</p>
<p>IB really does provide excellent preparation for college, and that is probably the most important thing.</p>
<p>Predicted scores (such as balichic's 44/45, which is extraordinarily high) are very important for IB students from other countries who are applying to U.S. universities. For U.S. IB students applying to U.S. universities, they are not as important because the universities have a lot of other, more-familiar criteria on which to judge the student (GPA, SAT, etc.).</p>
<p>I suggest taking at least one or two AP exams (something relatively easy like AP Euro, AP American, and/or AP Environmental) in 9th and 10th grade (pre-IB), and then focusing on actual IB exams in 11th and 12th grade. However, if you take SL IB exams that have AP equivalents and the university you plan on going to doesn't offer credit for SL exams, take the AP equivalents. The university I chose to go to (UF, just in case my username didn't give it away) doesn't differentiate b/w SL and HL IB exams and doesn't let you bring in more than 30 credits. Like many of my classmates who went to UF (my high school's IB program is a HUGE feeder school for UF), I ended up with a LOT more than 30 credits (50 +) after all of the AP and IB exams we took...so it was kinda pointless (except perhaps in gaining admission...)</p>
<p>There are no real AP equivalents for History or the sciences (maybe environmental?). My S is in an International School in the US with a full IB Diploma program beginning in Pre-K. Almost everyone at his school receives the IB Diploma. He also plays violin very seriously (3 hours/day). It is tough and he works very hard, but it can be done if your child is focused. His school's college lists are incredible. Most of their kids get into top schools in the US, UK and elsewhere. It's a terrific program and will give your child a very strong education focused on the entire world, not just the US. This is worth the possible loss of a few AP credits to me especially as the US becomes forced to look increasingly beyond its borders to solve all kinds of problems. These IB kids will have a lot on the ball and we have the impression that the colleges know it. My S is applying to music school, but all of his best friends have already been accepted into top colleges (U. Chicago, Oxford, Amherst, etc). They are not taking a lot of AP tests so don't worry!</p>
<p>They're not important to college admission.</p>
<p>However, the SAT Subject Tests are important for some colleges and universities in the United States. Prior to 11th grade (international translation: the first of the two years of the IB Diploma program), an IB student, or the student's parents, should talk with people at the school about the SAT Subject Tests. What Subject Tests will the student need to take (this depends on which colleges and which programs within the colleges the student is applying to)? If the student has choices, which tests do people from this particular IB school do well on?</p>
<p>The IB curriculum is excellent, but it was not designed with SAT Subject Tests in mind. Some of the courses a student takes as part of the IB diploma program may be a good match for the material that these tests cover; others may not be. Also, it's important to recognize that SAT Subject Tests need to be taken by the fall of the student's last high school year, at the very latest; students will not have completed any HL subjects at that time. Planning ahead will save the student from making poor SAT Subject Test choices or having to do a lot of unnecessary self-study.</p>
<p>Here is another question popping up at our house:
D can go for the IB diploma, but to do that, she will have to take IB Math Studies, as she doesn't have the prerequisites for IB Math. </p>
<p>Teachers are really wanting her to do the full IB, but I don't see any point in her taking a math class that is designed for non-science, non-engineer types. I think she is better off by staying on the regular math track (Alg II next year followed by a year of IB Math (school doesn't offer any other higher level math), so she can go into the sciences in college. </p>
<p>Does anyone know what would happen if she did take IB Math Studies? I am worried that she will have to take a lot of math (after high school) to catch up to where she needs to be to go into a college science program (which she wants to do). </p>
<p>Regardless, she is planning to take 3 HL IB courses (English, Biology and Chemistry) next year. I'd like to see her take art or choir for fun and relaxation, rather than a full IB schedule. </p>
<p>Oh, I also see no point in her being over-committed. Most of the IB kids here don't do anything but study. D is on school sports teams throughout the year, and loses a lot of study time when they travel. I forsee a lot of stress if she does the full IB.</p>
<p>Am I nuts for thinking that her transcript will show plenty of "challenging, rigorous courses" without doing the full IB program? Or is it okay for her to show diversity instead?</p>
<p>If she's taking three HL IB courses next year, that's pretty close to the full IB anyway. I guess she wouldn't have to do CAS or EE, but if she's an IB junior now, she's probably already done a fair amount of work on both.</p>
<p>Karen Colleges: It depends on what sciences your daughter is interested in. </p>
<p>Although there is some math required in the biology and chemistry majors, it is not all that extensive, and it is not usually necessary for students to take it right away because it is not generally a prerequisite for courses required in the early stages of the major. So if you daughter needs a semester or two to catch up in math and then takes the required courses as a sophomore rather than a freshman, it's no big deal.</p>
<p>Physics or Computer Science is an entirely different matter. There, being behind in math would probably mean delaying the start of the course sequence for the major, which might mean needing summer school or an extra semester to graduate.</p>