I’m a ninth grader and currently going to an IB school. This school is hell. But it’s also a very special IB school; it’s actually one of two in the world that allows you to get your IB diploma one year early. (so 11th grade instead of 12th grade)
I also have an option to switch to an AP school. I like the AP school much better.
My following questions are:
Should I switch? Do colleges really value IB over AP? And will it look bad if I switch from an IB school to an AP school because I don’t feel like taking IB? (or can I tell colleges that I switched because the IB school is too far- which is still a valid point for me)
Please keep in mind that both of these high schools are ranked within the top 10 public high schools in our state. In other words, both are highly prestigious and very academically challenging.
Thanks for your help!!!1111
Why is this even a question? You dislike this school but like the other one much better. Unless the school you like much better is deficient in offerings in your areas of academic interest, why would you not choose that school?
IB is not automatically seen as “better” than AP.
Definitely switch. Since you’re going to move to an AP school, that school will be judged in adcom’s eyes as a school with only AP offerings so obviously AP will be the considered the most advanced courseload because they’ll be no IB to compare to. At my high school, there’s both IB and AP offerings, and our counselors weigh the classes equally and in terms of admissions, a full AP and IB courseload is seen equally as well. Also you hate IB so? I hated IB as well–and mind you I was already in the full diploma program–and switched out and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made.
It sounds like you want out of IB so do it. I do not think it is bad to say it was too far as your official reason.
If you were neutral and were asking how each school was viewed, then I would ask to access both school’s Naviance to see how people with similar stats do in the college admission process. What percentage of the class gets into top tier (1-40 Schools). However you sound miserable. Unless everyone in the IB school was getting into HYPSM and NO ONE was ever getting in from the AP school (which I doubt) it is just not worth staying there (and even then it might not be worth it).
I know the public school near me has full IB and partial IB (you take courses from the IB but do not get a diploma), as it turns out, sometimes the partial IBs do better than the full IBs in college admissions (or so the rumor goes, my kids do not attend so I have no direct information).
Thanks for all your advice. That was really fast!
Sorry about my original message, I wrote it in a hurry on my phone.
Answering your questions:
Yes, I am talking about the IB diplomma program. And we do get this diplomma in 11th grade instead of 12th, which the colleges will be able to see during admissions. I should’ve been more specific in my original post.
To SeekingPam: Holy shit thanks. I’ve wanted to know the matriculation of these schools. I’m emailing counselors rn.
Will getting your IB diploma in 11th grade and being able to show it off to colleges during admissions worth it?
My son’s a junior in the IB program at his high school that also offers AP. There’s no advantage with either IB or AP in the eyes of college admissions committees. There are differences between the two, however, and you should choose one or the other based on your personal preference, learning style and how much you’re involved with your EC’s.
IB is a prescribed program while AP is an a la carte program with freedom to choose whichever courses you want to take. Because of this, some would argue that IB offers a more rounded education than the AP program. Students tend to choose AP courses that they tend to like and think they’d do well in while eschewing those they don’t much care for.
Because there’s more work demanded in IB (mandatory requirements like MYP Personal Project and DP Extended Essay, etc.), many prefer AP if they happen to be involved in lots of EC’s. My son had a VERY tough year surviving through this junior year in IB with LOTS of EC’s. But then this is precisely why many would also argue that IB prepares you better for college. You’re better prepared with time management and prioritizing skills with the experience of handling the above mentioned Personal Project and especially the crucial Extended Essay. Even at a place like Harvard, there are many students who came out of high school never having written a paper longer than 5 pages. These students struggle academically. My older son, who went through the IB program and just finished his freshmen year in college, reported to me that college is easier than the high school. I have no doubt in my mind that my younger son, likewise, is going to be well prepared to tackle the college life, wherever that may be.
Then, there’s a matter of college credit. Colleges typically only accept on average 3 AP courses or less for transferred credit and typically with scores above 4. For those colleges that accept and offer IB credits, you can get all IB courses transferred as long as you meet the score requirements. Not only you can graduate early with tens and thousands of $$ saved but you can also bypass taking those pre-requisite courses that are basically a waste of time. My older son is scheduled to graduate early, and he’ll use the extra time preparing for his medical school.
At my boys’ high school, all entering 10th graders have to choose either the AP route or IB. Knowing the reputation of IB, about 300 students end up choosing AP while only 60-70 choose IB. When my boys were entering 10th grade, I really had to struggle long and hard with the decision. Upon looking back and with the hindsight now, I’m so glad that my boys chose IB.
While the results of high school play a huge role in where you go to college, it should not be an extended admissions test. If one program resonates much more with you, take that path. This isn’t a choice between 4 years of woodshop and 4 years of academic rigor!
The top colleges are so ridiculously selective that you can’t guarantee yourself a spot at any of them, even with intensive resume building. Why spend four years in misery for something that may not happen anyway? These are important years in your life. Work hard, yes, but enjoy them as well.
I think IB and AP are equal in AO eyes.
I think AP and IB are viewed equally, and to be honest, I don’t see the big deal in getting the diploma in 11th grade rather than 12th grade.
For the most selective colleges, admissions want to see that a student has taken the most rigorous curriculum available to them at their school. If you switch to the “AP” school, and take an appropriate AP load, then you would be taking the most rigorous curriculum available. No reason to be miserable for 4 years in the hope of some kind of pay-off in admissions by attending a school you describe as “hell.”
I will say, my kid is full diploma and, while it has been brutal at times because he is deeply involved in a sport and in the arts (at least meeting CAS hours was not a challenge), even he says that the diploma has absolutely been worth it for the education he has received. The complexity of the reading, the regular writing in a variety of courses, plus the time management skills, has made him more college-ready than I ever expected. And we routinely hear from returning college students that, after full IB, college really was manageable.
I will also say, be careful of the “grass is always greener” phenomenon – it may seem that life at the other school would be a breeze, but think about how you would transition your extra-curriculars, your friend group etc.?
But, on its own, transferring high schools for a credible reason, and then taking the most rigorous curriculum available at your new school, should not hurt you in admissions. Do check on how the new school will take your grades from the prior school – will the classes count for the pre-requisites for admission to the AP classes at the new school? Sometimes, schools only allow students to take specific AP classes when they have done the “unofficial” prerequisite. Is the grading scale different between the two schools? If so, find out how the new school would show your first year grades on its transcript. I would suggest a meeting with your parents, you and guidance counselor at the new school to find out about what classes you would be place in as a 10th grader.