<p>Thank for all the input which are very valuable. I was concerned about that math is not at high level at the IB and the most he will have is AP Calculus AB as elective. He does not know what he wants to study at college right now, but he does do better in math/science than social/humanity. I understand for most colleges Calculus AB is sufficient, but if he ever wants to go to an elite engineering school, would that make him less competitive for the admission?</p>
<p>The list of 12th grade courses in that IB program makes it look like the IB program is mainly for those more interested in humanities and social studies (especially if the AP options in calculus and physics are calculus AB and physics B), based on the required and optional HL courses. It does not look like a good fit for someone whose favorite and best subjects are math and science the way a more well rounded IB program (with HL available in math and physics as well as humanities and social studies) could be.</p>
<p>If he attends this IB program, would it be easy to schedule math and physics courses at a local college after exhausting this IB program’s offerings in those subjects?</p>
<p>Agree. That does make me concern since my son is more math/science oriented. But we would miss the well-rounded IB training if we choose to go to math/science specialty center.</p>
<p>Does the math and science school still offer a good solid selection of courses in English, history, other social studies, foreign language, and arts? If so, he could still get a well rounded college preparatory education in all typical high school subjects, while being able to take more advanced courses in the areas of his main interest.</p>
<p>Indeed, given that selective colleges strongly prefer or require a good amount of English, history and social studies, and foreign language, it is hard to imagine any high school where students are likely to be college bound to be too lacking in these areas.</p>
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<p>Considering the demands of IB, I would strongly recommend against planning to take any courses at a local college in addition to the IB program. I think it’s unlikely that the student would be able to go through with the plan.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I wouldn’t rule out the IB program just yet. If taking a full year of college-level calculus in high school is important to your son, it might be a good idea to check with the school and find out whether AP BC Calculus is offered outside the IB program and whether your son could design a schedule that would allow him to take it. The answers might very well be yes. </p>
<p>As for AP Physics, I don’t know of any reason why it is necessary to take it. There’s plenty of time to take college physics in college. </p>
<p>But for some students, being unable to take AP BC Calculus might be a major disappointment.</p>
<p>Without AP or IB HL Physics and Calc BC AP your son will not be considered a serious engineering candidate at an elite school. It may not matter at a less competitive school. I would want my kid to have those classes before the end of eleventh grade if they are applying early.</p>
<p>Your kid should also be planning to do some science research - both programs will require that, I would guess - and that may be more important than grades. What resources and support do each program have to help your son with his independent research?</p>
<p>I would make a decision about the science and math by asking (or finding records online) each college and the “guidance counselor or college counselor” office at each high school for their advice and recommendations.</p>
<p>There are many “getting into college books” that have more information.</p>
<p>DON"T rely on strangers on the Internet for important information upon which you will be making major decisions for your child.</p>
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<p>Do you have data to support this? </p>
<p>Colleges are usually pretty good about not requiring students to have taken courses that their high schools do not offer. If this IB school does not offer these courses, would the college really turn the student down because the student didn’t take them?</p>
<p>I know of IB diploma graduates who were accepted into engineering at Cornell with only SL Physics. But Cornell may not be what you would consider elite.</p>
<p>What the likely choice is:</p>
<p>This particular IB school: well rounded base college-prep curriculum, with stronger advanced options in humanities and social studies.</p>
<p>Math/science school: well rounded base college-prep curriculum, with stronger advanced options in math and science.</p>
<p>The choice should really be based on which subject(s) the student is more likely to want to take advanced optional courses in.</p>
<p>If the question is “Which of these places will get my kid into a better college or university?”</p>
<p>Then the answer is “Neither”.</p>
<p>Because admission to those institutions is so fiendishly difficult and random that there is no way to predict it. Both programs probably send students to top institutions every year - in fact the admissions results are probably right on their websites. Likewise, both programs probably have students who don’t get into any of the top institutions that they apply to, and end up attending a home-state public college or university.</p>
<p>Does your son have a preference? How does he feel about commuting to the IB program instead of attending the Science program at his home school? I know kids who were fine with the commute to our local IB magnet, and I know kids who refused to even apply because they didn’t want to spend one second more getting to and from school than they absolutely had to.</p>
<p>Lastly, since it is admissions season and we are already seeing many, many threads with titles along the lines of “Didn’t get in anywhere I can afford” and “Honors program for free or Famous School for a whole lot of money”, I’d like to suggest that you print out the FAFSA formula, and run your numbers through it. You need to know now if there are going to be any problems with paying for your child’s education. If he is going to have to get a part-time job while in high school to help prepare for the expense of college, a school closer to potential workplaces might be more important than whether it is IB or not. </p>
<p><a href=“http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/010512EFCFormulaGuide1213.pdf[/url]”>http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/010512EFCFormulaGuide1213.pdf</a></p>
<p>I totally agree with happymom’s post. Personally, looking at the college acceptances, the more competitive a school, the harder it is to get to a competitive college.</p>
<p>Schools are reviewing applicants in the “context” of their schools. I’d save the money and opt for the AP/math/science track at your high school.</p>
<p>Editing to say - I just saw your post and you said it is harder to get a high GPA at the public specialized school. Higher the competition, the harder to get selected. What are the college acceptances in the IB school?</p>
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<p>What money?</p>
<p>Except for the costs of the IB tests themselves, there usually is no cost involved in attending a public-school IB program.</p>
<p>Admissions to the most elite colleges are unpredictable. Your S should go to whichever school he thinks he will enjoy more - go for fit, even at the high school level. Any difference in college admissions between the two HSs is probably very modest.</p>
<p>My second suggestion would be to go to whichever school has a shorter/easier commute, if there is a significant difference between the two. HS years are very busy with classes and ECs, so there is a lot to be said for picking the school with the shorter/easier commute. </p>
<p>If you really care about small college admissions differences, it may be worth trying to gain access to Naviance data from both schools. Try to compare identical SAT scores across the two schools, since GPAs may differ at the two schools, and see which has better acceptances to the types of schools you think he might be interested in.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone again for your input. I made several calls to the current students of each school. Here is some info about both schools and also the reasons we still can not make up our mind yet:</p>
<p>IB Program:
- Located at a “ghetto” area and about 23 minutes drive from my house (School bus does come in the morning and afternoon, but not for after-school EC)
- It is much easier to get better rankings since school ranks IB kids with zone kids, therefore IB kids are almost guaranteed to be at top 15%
- It does seem like the IB kids have much higher acceptance rate by our best state college (but I am not sure it is true for Ivy league type of elite school)
- The math and physics are not offered at the highest level.</p>
<p>Math/Science center:
- 3 min drive from home
- It is both hard to get high GPA and class ranking
- Lower acceptance rate to our best state college (maybe due to the low GPA and class ranking)
- It does require a science project every year which I believe my son will enjoy
- Will help my son more if he does decide to go to engineering
- My son may enjoy the program, but lands at a less reputable college</p>
<p>This is really a tough decision to make.</p>
<p>It is Tuesday now and we need to submit our decision on Friday. Why there is no perfect high school :(</p>
<p>In talking to admissions counselors at colleges - the lowest considered thing is the IB Certificate. They mostly view AP and IB diploma well - depending on the school and major an uneven kid can do better with AP being able to choose specific courses where they excel, the all around genius will do well with IB. </p>
<p>I believe most admissions just base it on what they took and what was available at that school. GC’s will rank the student and state how rigorous their schedule was compared to classmates.</p>
<p>However, with a math/science kid I would pick AP over IB.</p>
<p>Wow, I only wish we had a science and math HS near us. Our local HS didn’t even have a math club. Still, knowing that my son was a techy kid, the ip program involved busses, lots of writing, classes in topics that didn’t have much appeal to him, it was a no brainier. </p>
<p>If I was the OP, I’d show your son the curriculum at each school and listen to his gut response. I’d also think about the after school clubs at local school that might appeal to him. Only two of son’s friends chose the IP route, and one left after a year.</p>
<p>Unless transportation to the IB school is a huge issue for your family, I think it would be wise to let your son decide.</p>
<p>That way, if he is disappointed later, it won’t be you he’s disappointed in.</p>
<p>It seems like the ideal school would be if the IB school were located next to your house and offered HL in math and physics instead of being mainly humanities and social studies focused.</p>
<p>The math and science school is likely to be more interesting for him, but let him make the choice based on his inspection of the schools’ courses, curricula, and other characteristics (as in post #37).</p>
<p>Guessing you are in Henrico County. We are facing the same exact issue. Our daughter is leaning toward math/science, loved the classes, teachers, energy. But she has done three years of IB and has been successful. Want to put her in the best position to succeed, but we are running short on time for a decision. Wondering if you have decided yet?</p>
<p>OP - It’s good that you are trying to plan ahead. Checking local contacts is a great idea - they’ll have the most relevant advise. </p>
<p>I’d say try to focus on fit rather than gambling on which school provides best base for Ivy-like acceptances. Those schools are a tough admit for all. The main thing is that your kids gets a good education that keeps him engaged. Not sure which choice is best for him. My math/science geek had a wonderful experience in IB. But other math/science kids get frustrated by the rigorous demands (including many liberal artsy and writing assignment. They preferred flexibility of AP. Also know that IB will be A LOT of work!</p>
<p>My kids went 10 miles to the IB hs. There was a bus from the local hs, but it left after school (before clubs etc). For us it worked out that the hs was near work. A down side was that their friends were scattered across the county. That may be the case whichever school you choose. I do think convenience should be at least a minor factor.</p>