I’m going to be a junior in a couple weeks and my school offers both the two-year IB diploma program and a large list of AP courses. Our IB coordinator strongly encourages students to join the IBDP because the “course rigor” is more impressive to colleges. This past year some of the IBDP students got into school like MIT, Harvey Mudd, Berkeley, CalTech… However the program sounds really unappealing to me. It takes up 7 out of 8 periods, I’d have to start a new language (Arabic), only some classes give the 5 boost rather than 4 points, I’d have to take physics for 2 years (meaning I will have never taken chemistry)… Also once I’m in, there’s no out. Also fascinating is that most of the top 15 in the class of 2017 were not in the program, including the two valedictorians (however I’m not sure what colleges they are going to). The AP program sounds more interesting to me. I want to focus on computer science or engineering in college, and if I don’t commit to DP I get 4 electives (since I don’t have to continue Spanish or PE, etc) which I can dedicate to things like AP Comp Sci and continuing my Project Lead the Way engineering class (which I can’t do if I do DP). It sounds so much more flexible to me, I’d still be challenging myself (with like 5 or 6 AP courses), I’d have more of a chance of being at the top of my class, and I’d be exploring things I’m interested in. The thing is our IB coordinator really says that colleges want IB kids, and they will know and frown upon us if chose to not participate in the “most rigorous” program offered at our school. Is that true, and would IBDP really help and give me a competitive edge when applying to college? I want to do what’s best/most helpful to me, but also what I want to do. Thanks for helping!
The IBDP in and of itself is not more impressive to colleges versus AP. However, if not following the IBDP at your school means that the GC rates your schedule as “very rigorous” vs. “most rigorous” then that will be an issue, particularly if students whose schedules have been rated as “most rigorous” are applying to the same colleges as you.
Personally, I agree with your thoughts. Although my HS did not offer IB, I would not have taken it if offered as I feel it is too limiting, particularly for STEM kids.
Do what interests you. A student should only take IB if they are interested. It is a different type of learning for sure and a different approach.
AP is more flexible and may be better for certain major like engineering. However, you should your GC to see if you may have an as rigor schedule as the IBOP with AP at your school.
While IB is generally thought of as a highly rigid and structured program, different high schools’ offerings of IB courses do vary (e.g. which ones at SL and which ones at HL, etc.). It looks like your high school’s offerings of IB courses do not match your interests very well. Also, your high school’s IB program spending two yours on IB physics but not allowing you to take chemistry seems odd, since it is generally preferred to have both physics and chemistry (as well as biology) in high school. Limiting the IB foreign language to Arabic seems odd if the high school is in the US (unless in some parts of Michigan or similar places).
If you make your remaining high school course selection in the IB program and not in the IB program and compare, you may get a better idea of which will work better for you.