IB diploma or not?

Applying to College
1

hey. im a sophomore in san diego high school and an IB student. I am taking Honors Intermediate Algebra (a killer), pre-IB World History, IB (pre?) Spanish 5-6, IB Chemistry SL, and Pre-IB English. I have decided to go for the IB diploma. However, today in history class, before i took a test, this guy told me that he’s switching out of the Pre-IB hist, and just do regular because he is going to take AP instead next year because “AP is nothing compare to IB”. since then I’ve been thinking “am I better off taking AP classes or IB?”. I don’t know if AP is any easier than IB. My IB Chem class isn’t that hard nor challenging, but only 6 people in my class got a B and above. And yet, it is challenging AND hard, but not really. All my other advanced classes are the same… they seem hard, they ARE hard, but somehow EASY. it depends on what i’m learning. Anyway, I am going to take IB statistics in my senior year, and i know 4 sure that there is no way that i could ace it. i suck at math. so, if i do take the IB statistics exam and don’t pass it, i don’t get the IB diploma… would the colleges know that? Also, does the IB diploma requires an IB art course? i am in the badminton team, and i was supposed to take painting and drawing next semester, but changed my mind and switch to PE to do badminton. am i at risk?? shud i take drawing & painting, and take the IB art next year, or PE for badminton?? i have so many questions about IB, as well as AP… so please!! answer!!! this this jan. 31 is the second semester… im in a dilemma… ART or PE??? HELP!!

so even if u take IB classes and IB exams, it’s not going to matter if you take the AP exams without taking the AP courses??!! im confused!!

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<p>IB is overrated - its not as difficult as everyone makes it out to be (no more difficult than AP classes, certainly), and it's not worth it. Just go with an AP program...</p>

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<p>if you plan to apply to top notch schools, IB programs definately beat AP's where you can just come and take a test. For instance at USC, they willl adjust ur gpa for the rigorness of the class more than AP. However, if you can take classes at lets say UCSD, that would be better than an IB diploma.</p>

<p>Most schools grant you a freshmen year off if you successfully completed an Ib diploma.
AP = anyone can take
IB = must be an International Baccalaureate student to take test</p>

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<p>I took the IB because the international school I attended didn't offer anything else. The adcoms are always quick to point out that the IB is always treated (a little unfairly, in my opinion, as some diploma packages are clearly harder than others) as 'the most rigourous course load available'. I didn't find it hard, but I know many of my classmates were battling a downstream current for the good part of two years.
The greatest values of the IB, imo, are the extended essay (the 4000 word research paper you have to write), and the fact that it is universally accepted (as I also applied to the UK), as wellas the forced depth of the curriculum (you have to study every subject for two years). Also, it takes away temptation to choose silly courses - you're never in danger of not taking a less-than-rigorous course load. </p>

<p>Just to clear things: there is no art requirement for the IB, so go ahead and take PE.
You have to take a first language, a foreign language, math, a science, a social science (or history or geography) and a sixth subject of your choice and fulfil the TOK, extended essay and CAS requirements to recieve the diploma (there are supposed to be 101 ways you can fail it). </p>

<p>Why do you have to take statistics? Just take math methods or Veggie-math (math studies).</p>

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<p>I prefer the IB Diploma, personally.
I think IB prepares you more and makes you a more "well-rounded" student with the TOK, EE, and CAS requirements. As for AP, just take the exam at the end of the year. You don't even have to take AP classes to take the exam in the end (well, at my school anyway). You actually have to work all throughout the two years to succeed in achieving a well-off IB score. Your IAs, orals, EE, etc. etc. that you do in your last two years of HS contribute to your IB score whereas for AP, you could just slack of in class (which I don't think you want to do anyway) and still come out with a 5 with the exam. IB's definitely not like that.
Besides, you could just take AP exams at the end of your junior year even if you are an IB Diploma Candidate. Can't do vice-versa.</p>

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<p>"IB classses are not harder than AP Classes"</p>

<p>Haha its like saying Harvard is as tough to get into as a public school</p>

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<p>and btw to answer your question if there is both IB and AP offered in your school, colleges prefer IB .</p>

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<p>i got to a weird school, where IB and AP is thrown in together as in ALL IB students probably take at least 5 AP's... for example, my IB english was also ap lang, as is my senior english lit. all of my classes are that way- calculus, physics, psychology, etc.</p>

<p>so i would have to say that IB is easier, with the exception of annoying internal assessments. with IB, you know what theyre going to ask you on test day because all they do every year is change the wording of the prompts.</p>

<p>but colleges do look more for an IB curriculum</p>

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<p>IB is above AP. At my school, IB students have the option to also do AP - and they often do. Colleges like to see IB more (and for good reason).</p>

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<p>So I'm better off taking IB classes (majority says it's HARDER) to prepare me for the college rigor??</p>

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<p>"why do you have to take statistics?"</p>

<p>Well, I want to major in Psychology, and have been informed that I should take Statistics for it.</p>

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<p>Another, can you take AP Psychology 1-2 (just because) THEN take IB Psychology HL? Is that possible? And for Biology as well?</p>

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<p>
[quote]
IB is overrated - its not as difficult as everyone makes it out to be (no more difficult than AP classes, certainly), and it's not worth it. Just go with an AP program...

[/quote]

If it's not more difficult than an AP class, why is it not "worth it"?</p>

<p>At my school, at least, IB is clearly more difficult than AP is.</p>

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<p>"this guy told me that he's switching out of the Pre-IB hist, and just do regular because he is going to take AP instead next year because "AP is nothing compare to IB". </p>

<p>thats exaggeration, AP is still very difficult, and as far as individual classes and tests go, AP is just about as difficult as IB. however, it is the combination of all the classes that you are required to take that makes the IB PROGRAM much more difficult overall. </p>

<p>"since then I've been thinking "am I better off taking AP classes or IB?". "</p>

<p>this is a very tough decision. EVERYONE overlooks this statement: THE IB PROGRAM IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. youll have to analyze your situation... what do you want to get out of the IB program? is it necessary that you get the diploma? what do you want to get out of your high school experience? what are your future goals? answer those before you consider AP or IB just because of difficulty or to impress college adcoms. </p>

<p>"Anyway, I am going to take IB statistics in my senior year, and i know 4 sure that there is no way that i could ace it. i suck at math. so, if i do take the IB statistics exam and don't pass it, i don't get the IB diploma... would the colleges know that?"</p>

<p>okay youre in for a tough time then, i took HL math and i sucked at math and the exam slaughtered me. if you know that youre gonna score a 2 or lower on the IB math, then i say dont take IB math cuz WHAT A WASTE it is to put so much effort in all your classes but not get the diploma because of 1 failing subject. this happened at my school, many kids thought IB art was a joke and didnt care, they ended up failing IB art and not receiving the diploma, evne though they worked so hard in their other classes.
1. i suggest that you take SL math studies or something else and supplement your studies with AP statistics
2. colleges wont know and wont care if you get the diploma or not (unless youre applying to UK schools, which base acceptance on IB scores). the diploma comes out in july, way after the matriculation date of april 1st. the only thing that will matter is that you wont get as many college credits to transfer in from IB. </p>

<p>"Also, does the IB diploma requires an IB art course?"</p>

<p>IB diploma requires one of the arts... either music, art, drama, something of that sort. i think if your school offers this, another option is that you can take 2 sciences instead and that replaces the art (my h/s offers this option)</p>

<p>"i am in the badminton team, and i was supposed to take painting and drawing next semester, but changed my mind and switch to PE to do badminton. am i at risk?? shud i take drawing & painting, and take the IB art next year, or PE for badminton?? "</p>

<p>no, not at big risk. you might be a little behind in terms of preparation for art. however, you will have enough time during your junior and senior year to fulfill all the art requirements, so dont worry about that. by the way, if you are going to do art, i recommend HL Art, as you will need A LOT of time to finish all the requirements (SL art is hectic).
also, like i said earlier, is badminton really important to you? if it is, i'd reconsider if you want to do the IB program. </p>

<p>"so even if u take IB classes and IB exams, it's not going to matter if you take the AP exams without taking the AP courses??!! "</p>

<p>yes, you can take AP exams without taking the AP course. so if your IB course is similar enough to the AP exam, then take it just for a backup or for college credit in case the college you go to doesnt grant credit for IB or if only APs can fulfill some prerequisites. i did this myself, i took the AP bio exam even though i only had IB bio for a class. i fortunately passed it, although i wouldnt recommend it (a lot of self studying was required). also note that you have to take the IB course to take the IB exam. </p>

<p>"im confused!!"</p>

<p>message me. i served as IB Association president at my h/s and finished the diploma and im very familiar with the program.</p>

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<p>cindyalsol- I don't really think it's necessary to take both IB and AP Psych. Most colleges consider AP Psychology a very easy AP course. I got a 5 on the AP exam without studying, and I only took IB Psychology SL. Biology might be worth it, though. The AP and IB classes cover different topics (depends on your IB Option). :)</p>

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<p>"Well, I want to major in Psychology, and have been informed that I should take Statistics for it."</p>

<p>its recommended so you have a good background, but not necessary. your college will probably make you take statistics again anyway because it is one of the necessary foundations in psych and they want to make sure you get the college version of stats. having stats or not on your transcript wont hurt your admissions chances into a psych major. </p>

<p>"So I'm better off taking IB classes (majority says it's HARDER) to prepare me for the college rigor??"</p>

<p>yes, if you want good preparation for college, i highly recommend the IB PROGRAM (not just classes, but all the classes together). it is very rigorous and very challenging. </p>

<p>"Another, can you take AP Psychology 1-2 (just because) THEN take IB Psychology HL? Is that possible? And for Biology as well?"</p>

<p>i suggest the other way around. you HAVE to take the IB course in order to qualify to take the IB exam. so its best that you take the IB course, which will then let you take the IB exam AND the AP exam (since the AP exam doesnt require you to have taken the class). however, note of caution: as IB may not cover all the material on the AP exam, you may be in for a lot of self-studying</p>

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<p>"IB may not cover all the material on the AP exam, you may be in for a lot of self-studying..."</p>

<p>Not really true for AP Psych. It's IB psych plus a little biology (see my previous post). Another thing to consider is that few colleges accept AP Psych credit. Self -study is probably necessary for AP bio, though.</p>

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<p>Yes, IB is harder, and it prepares you better for college. It's true that it's not for everyone. Just as AP is not for everyone, IB is yet another level of difficulty.</p>

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<p>"Self -study is probably necessary for AP bio, though."</p>

<p>haha not probably. self-study IS necessary for AP bio (especially if youre taking IB SL bio).</p>

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<p>in the US, AP classes will get you more credit. That said, you can take the AP tests as well. I took 2 AP tests, but I had to take them at another school, because they weren't offered at all at my school, looks like you have it easier there.</p>

<p>Some AP subjects don't require any other studying, such as Gov, which I got credit for (my only credits) by looking through a book for an hour. The sciences, you will have to make sure to cover material, because depending on IB options taken, the AP may or may not cover that material. If it doesn't, then it covers something else, which you must study. IB English is good for both AP English tests, just make sure you know the format of the test going in. 3 40 minute essays on slightly longer passages are written differently than 1 2 hour essay on a slightly shorter passage (this is why I didn't get AP credit for this. 20th century topics will prepare you for US History. The math's prepare you as well, but again, pay attention to what IB options you do and see if they match with AP.</p>

<p>Also IB exams are bell curved (across the world), unlike AP.</p>

<p>The value of the IB program is doing the comprehensive program. There is no better college prep program out there. The "AP Program" requires no more than "AP classes"... the IB program requires a fair amount more.</p>

<p>If you want credit, take AP. If you want to be as prepared as you can, take IB.</p>