IB Diploma, IB Certificate, AP and or Dual Enrollment.

Applying to College
1

Hello,

I am currently a high school freshman and am uncertain if I should stay in IB. I am currently enrolled in the IB Diploma program, 3 AP classes, and I am set up for an A.A degree through Dual Enrollment before I graduate highs school. However, I feel that IB is not challenging and limits the rate at which I can complete classes. In my school, the IB program is set up with a Pre-IB and IB. Where SL is divided into two years, with one year of preparatory classes and one year of HL. This year I took AP Psychology, AP Physics 1 and AP Human Geography. Next year if I remain in the IB diploma program, I will take AP Chem (Likely), AP Macro Economics(Counts as Pre-IB Econ), and AP European History. However, I must also take IB Pre-Chem, IB Pre-English, IB Pre-Calc and IB Pre-German (which I’m okay with because I am not great at foreign languages). Then on the Dual Enrollment front, I am set up for an A.A which would eliminate 64 credits from an Aerospace Engineering degree. In Dual Enrollment, this year I took College Algebra and English (Which is more intense then Pre-English). Then this summer I take Pre-Calc with limits, another Science and another English.

This brings me to my dilemma. Pre-IB classes are weighted 4.5 and I do not want to retake classes that I have already taken in Dual Enrollment and AP. Because IB has their own special rules, I cannot test in the Diploma Program until I have taken the IB version of the class and I cannot take the IB version ahead of time. One counselor suggested dropping IB, Maxing out on the schools AP classes, Some Online AP classes, and continuing Dual-Enrollment. Another Suggested remaining in IB and just dealing with it. Then one of my professors who went to Dartmouth recommended doing the IB Certificate Program to test out of Specific Classes and have more time for extra AP and Dual-Enrollment. Lastly, my brother who went to Notre Dame recommended possibly doing some IB classes online through Pamoja.

At the moment, none of my workloads has challenged me. Outside of school, I have endless free time, while my peers are struggling. In the end, I really just want to go to an Ivy League and I feel IB’s rules may hinder me from reaching my potential. Thank you for your time.

2

If you don’t like the restrictions of the IB system, it is perfectly OK to ditch it in favor of AP and/or dual enrollment. Lots of people do. Just as many ditch AP and/or dual enrollment in favor of IB.

You are fortunate that your achool offers all of these options. It is fine to choose the ones that work best for you.

3

On one hand, I like the appeal of IB to colleges as a well-rounded program, but on the other hand, it limits my GPA and forces me to take the same course over again. By any chance do you know anything about the certificate program? I understand that the Certificate program is usually meant for those who find the diploma program too hard. Also, do you know if there is any way to test out of IB classes?

4

The certificate is a way to take IB exams without taking the whole diploma - so a way to get credit for HL classes for students who want to mix and match programs. It seems like your school is set up to allow that. You shouldn’t feel compelled to do all of them. Or even one of them if mixing and matching makes better sense for your intrrests!

I would guess that the way to test out of IB classes is to take the exam (and submit any other work) given by the IB. Your school can tell you whether you have covered the necessary material in their version of the course. (Ours had several classes that led to either the SL test or an AP.)

5

Can I take the exams without actually taking the class?

6

You would have to ask the IB coordinator at your school. But you know that in many (most) classes, IB is not just the exam - there may be papers, labs, etc. that have to be submitted. AP basically means you passed a test. IB means you completed a course and passed an exam on the material.