<p>I have been hearing so many mixed opinions about the IB program and my applications are due very soon (I'm a sophomore). Does it hurt chances (esp. at Princeton)? Is the viewed the same as AP? </p>
<p>To anyone who actually is in the program: truthfully, is it worth all the trouble and as great as it sounds?</p>
<p>I've seen AP and IB content before and personally I think IB is harder. Who knows how colleges view it though.</p>
<p>Hey, I'm in canada doing the IB dip program now, 6+1 courses. IMO, it's definately worth the effort and the trouble. It's not easy, but Ivies apparently really value IB. If not, everywhere else does. I'd really recommend IB, but only if you think you can handle it. You could always go certificate if you find you dont like it. It would NOT hurt chances! They view it as 12-14 AP courses, with the exam viewed the same way.</p>
<p>Who can say which is better?</p>
<p>Ugh, it's all too complicated. I have heard that so many people who are in the program at my school hate it but it just seems so great on the outside...</p>
<p>I actually am extrememly interested in doing it because I like the idea that your scores aren't based on a single assessment and that not everything is based on memorization like AP. Obviously, universities aren't going to straight out say: "We don't like IB." But there's just so much has happened that are starting to get to me. For instance, one apparently really great student was rejected from Columbia ED and this year, out of the 7 people accepted to Penn, only 1 was from IB (compared to last year, 4/4 ED were all from IB). It's so unpredictable... I don't even know what to think!</p>
<p>IB didn't help me with Princeton :X It depends on the school though. If done correctly I can see how it'd be wonderful, but I don't think my school does it correctly (it's disorganized)</p>
<p>Did you have great stats and it just didn't give you the edge?</p>
<p>I have the stats down, but for me, personally, it may have been the lack of national recognition and unique ECs</p>
<p>Well as for national recognitions, I'm definitely out. I haven't 1.) discovered a new microspecimen, 2.) cured a disease, or 3.) won any awards at the national level... :'(</p>
<p>Does anyone here actually got into Pton who is/was in the IB program?</p>
<p>I didn't get into pton, and I'm in california's #2 ranked ib school. Personally, I think IB is a great program for anybody to do who wants to try it, but I don't think that it's a major factor into getting you in a good college. However, it does assure college adcoms that you are taking the hardest classes available to you, and who knows? It may be the deciding factor. :)</p>
<p>Canadia1- I just got into Princeton and I am in the IB program as an IB diploma candidate. In short, the IB is very stressful, filled with too many papers and strenuous requirements. However, I've heard that after going through the IB, college seems easy. More and more American universities are realizing that IB diploma candidates with high grades/predicted scores perform excellently in college and so they are accepting them to their school. I believe that my performance in the IB contributed nicely to the academic side of my application.</p>
<p>Bokonon = double legacy though, I don't know if IB was the huge factor here. IB and test scores probably helped though.</p>
<p>This is all very helpful... thanks guys!</p>
<p>I took IB English, and I find the curriculum very fulfilling. It is truly an international approach to learning, and I believe one that is respected by all colleges. I emphasized this in my interview when he asked why I chose specifically to take IB English as opposed to the full curriculum.</p>
<p>Also, just an FYI:</p>
<p>The three kids from my school in the inaugural IB class who applied early some place were deferred, while the five or so kids I know who aren't IB got in. That might be because right now, we offer a very limited IB curriculum, and sticking with AP can be more rigorous.</p>
<p>Ok here's the deal, IB is tough, sure. It will show college adcom that you took hard courses. IB is good in that it forces a broad curriculum, but bad in that you can't take all 3: chem, bio, and phys. You'll have to choose. IB is good because you write an extended essay that is interesting (you can choose anything you want) and will prepare you well for college essay writing (at least at my school it did). Its good if you want people to be sure of the curriculum you took, the adcom are going to know what your exams were like (hint: they are all the same worldwide! :P) but bad if you don't do very well, because there are thousands of other IB candidates that did better than you and so since its standardized, it would follow that they are better admits than you are.</p>
<p>take it or leave, I loved the IB.</p>
<p>Oh and... this crap about it being THE factor that will get you in or get you rejected is just that-crap. It helps, no doubt about it, the people that didn't get in either had <strong><em>ty everything else (</em></strong><em>ty as in not good enough for the school) or *</em><strong>ty grades (again same definition of *</strong>ty applies).</p>
<p>I take the full IB diploma in Toronto and just got accepted to Princeton Early Decision. You doing the IB shows the schools that you are taking the hardest courses out there. IB Math offers you three normal mathematics credits and IB Chem offers you 2 graduating year science credits.</p>
<p>It definitely helps. All of your higher level courses can be used towards accelerating yourself in freshmen year if you score a 6 or higher.</p>
<p>Additionally, all the graduates from my school who are currently now at Princeton from the past 3 years (about 7 or 8 guys) did the full IB diploma.</p>
<p>This helps a lot! By the way, I don't live in Canada or anything. I live in Pennsylvania.</p>