<p>If both IB and AP are offered, does Union look more highly on the student enrolled in the IB program? </p>
<p>How, in Union Admission process, does IB rate? Is it preferred over AP.</p>
<p>They carry equal weight when it comes to course selection review. We want to see a student taking courses at this level, though we do not have a preference of IB over AP. As for credit, we will give credit for up to four AP exams and students need to score a four or higher (except for AP Calc, which is a three+). For the IB, we will give credit for a score of six or better on a higher level course (and we will allow up to four credits). A student who completes a full IB diploma can be granted the equivalent of a full year’s work at Union.</p>
<p>My daughter was told by her on campus-interviewer, that IB was more highly regarded than AP.</p>
<p>I think it is also a function of what your HS offers – for example our HS (a mega-competitive NY area public school) only has APs. As long as you take a challenging schedule, I expect you would be fine with either AP or IB classes.</p>
<p>Both represent the top course level in our scale and so there really is no distinction as far as application review goes. The difference, though, is if a student completes a full IB because he/she could receive the equivalent of a year’s worth of study at Union (as mentioned above). Your interviewer might have had this point in mind but just didn’t communicate it precisely. Happy1 is correct: a student is fine with AP or IB.</p>
<p>Eldest took only AP. I don’t think he had to write more than one or two papers and no oral exams. Daughter has the extend essay, oral exams, and a few 1500 word papers. </p>
<p>If a school offers both, I don’t see how they are equal. I have seen the comparative work first hand. Appears to have been a colossal waste of time in Union’s review.</p>
<p>On the contrary, I commend Union for extending a full year of credit to a full IB student most schools do not offer this. In addition, most colleges consider AP and IB courses a rigorous course load so I do not think Union is any different in this regard. Some high schools AP programs are very rigorous in fact just as much as an IB level course. I am sure if your daughter has done well in her IB studies it will be recognized during her application review.</p>
<p>orangemom12, I believe there are many benefits to the IB program that don’t give an immediate payoff (admission, course credit) which are helpful in college and life. These include time management, working in teams and functioning well during high stress periods. I think it also helps foster a global outlook and a multi-discipline approach. Every year, I am more thankful my two children got the IB Diploma and I see the lasting benefit in their lives.</p>
<p>Both my children also took AP’s, one was National AP Scholar, the other
Scholar with Distinction. While AP courses are good, as a rule they don’t meet the rigor or benefits of IB. Partly, because they stand alone and are taught to help you pass the AP test. I also think it depends on the teachers, both AP and IB have many amazing hardworking teachers.</p>