IB or AP?

Applying to College
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<p>The age-old discussion...IB or AP?
I'm strongly considering the IB Diploma but doing so requires me to make some sacrifices in terms of electives. I'm on track for the IB Diploma though, where I am right now as a sophomore. Which are you taking and why?</p>

<p>Also, do colleges prefer that you have an IB Diploma if you go to an IB school, or would mixing and matching IB/AP be equally effective? At my school, IB HLs are supposed to be harder than APs, and APs harder than IB SLs.</p>

<p>General question, I know! But thanks!</p>

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<p>As long as taking X amount of AP classes and the IB Diploma are both considered “most rigorous” they will be seen as equals.</p>

<p>IB is all interconnected, you take two years (three if you count soph pre IB, like at my school) of IB English, SS, math, and science (although in some situations it can be subbed out for another HL), four years of one language, your elective “6th IB subject”, and TOK. TOK is what melds together IB into one great cohesive learning experience, and it can be great depending on the teacher. With AP you don’t have any kind of culmination, not as much of a tight-knit community, it’s kind of a random slur of classes that all don’t necessarily continue (IE, you take take AP Bio for one year and then AP chem the next vs two years of Bio).</p>

<p>Furthermore, IB is made into a LEARNING EXPERIENCE rather than just classes prepping you for some exam at the end of the year. You also have CAS hours, Creative Active Service, 50 hours of “creative” activities, 50 hours of athletic activities, and 50 hours of community service. It’s easy to get in 1 1/2 years, and it can help you find a niche.</p>

<p>And finally, you have the EE, the extended essay. 4,000 words on an IB-subject (science, english, history, etc), with a self selected topic. I can’t say all that much about this yet.</p>

<p>To some extent AP can have a more varied number of classes, depending on the school. Or IB might if your school is IB first and foremost. </p>

<p>I personally find it hard to believe any AP would be harder than an IB SL. Oh sure for SLs with no continuation of HL, there is no test to prep for, but IAs and the essays and tests you will be administered are a nut cruncher.</p>

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<p>Before I start, I’d like to say I’m BIASED in answering this, but here goes:</p>

<p>Being in IB, I’ve found that having your cirriculum set it amazing. There are no silly scheduling conflicts or questions whether one AP is better than another. All classes are somehow interrelated and there’s no getting lost on the wrong track.</p>

<p>With this, I’ve found the core of IB students at my school have built a community that is really close knit, which I enjoy.</p>

<p>I found the EE to be very, very helpful. Before I wrote it, I was very confused on what I was interested in majoring in. Obviously, after writing it, I’m not 100% sure-on-track-signing my life away, but it gave me valuable insight as to what’s important to me.</p>

<p>Lastly, I think that taking a full plate of AP is much more difficult than IB. Courses work together in a certain way, and the homework coordination is quite nice. Of course, it’s a lot of work, but so well worth it, I think.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>My daughter is an IB candidate. At several of her preferred schools (Bryn Mawr, for one), students completing the entire diploma are granted sophomore status. That can be a $50,000 bonus if the school you love does that.</p>

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<p>IB is good if you like learning about lots of stuff.</p>

<p>AP is good if you want to specifically learn alot about one subject. You can take a heck alot of AP courses, but in my opinion, the educational quality is a bit lower >.></p>

<p>I’d go with IB.</p>

<p>Edit: if you like procrastinating, don’t take IB. EE will eat you alive. And so will CAS.</p>

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<p>

Utterly brilliant advice. Anyone making the choice should heed it carefully.</p>

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<p>I’m an IB diploma student and do have that strong tendency to procrastinate, but I absolutely love the IB program. CAS and EE are done very gradually, so as long as you meet deadlines for small amounts of work over the first year (EE is done junior year at my school, might be different for others), you’ll be fine. </p>

<p>You might be uncomfortable that, as a result of the two-year courses, you can’t send in any AP-like standardized test courses (unless you take a risk and take an AP test anyway, or some of your classes double as AP, like my Stat and Calc AB classes did) except for certain 1-year courses such as Music and ITGS. I find, however, that IB is terrific if you like discussion-based classes and–probably–seeing the same people in all your classes (which does make for a tight knit group, as other posters mentioned). If you’re also considering attending a foreign college, the IB diploma is supposed to make that easier to do, since it’s recognized all over the world.</p>

<p>My school has a slight shortage of teachers, so for Math HL, I was basically put in two AP classes, Stat and Calc AB, that counted for IB credit. After a year of the program and being able to experience both types of classes, it seems to me that IB really stresses critical thinking–being able to work thing out for yourself–rather than taking in tons of information and spitting it back on a test like in the AP program. This critical thinking is also vital for college, or so I’ve heard. It’s nice to be able to develop the skill early.</p>

<p>However, if you tire easily of repeated puns, definitely reconsider AP. If I hear one more “IB stressed” joke, I’m going to lose it. xD</p>

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<p>lol I haven’t started on my EE yet :(</p>

<p>I say IB is better, but there’s more choices in AP so it’s all up to you</p>

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<p>^^^^dude i haven’t started either!!! lol go us</p>

<p>i’m in IB, we can take like 1-2 AP classes each year in addition to our IB.</p>

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<p>Thanks! We have PIB classes at our school so I’ve been taking those until now. I was especially interested to hear about the close-knit communities in IB - I’ve noticed that, since my school is a primarily IB school anyway, but didn’t really register it until your comments.</p>

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<p>Heck, I wish my school had IB :(</p>

<p>Anyways, go IB. Way better in my uninformed opinion (since I’ve only done AP, but heard nothing but raves about IB from here and others)</p>

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<p>Im saying this as a word of warning. If you do decide to pursue an IB Diploma, I strongly urge you to carefully consider your choice of class; i.e which subjects are HL or SL. Unlike AP, IB classes have a lot more “cause and effect” to them. Your choice of classes for junior year strongly impacts you class options for senior year. Also, keep in mind that if you change your intended major halfway through junior year, you can get screwed over. For example, I did not think my IB classes carefully enough and when I decided to switch majors from pre med to bio engineering half way through junior year, I was put at a severe disadvantage in my college apps since I took Math SL and therefore was unable to take a math class during senior year. </p>

<p>Bottom line is, be careful what you choose if you are going IB. You will be so restricted in what you can do and what you cant do.</p>

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<p>actually besides math, HL/SL classes are quite blurred in gr.11, and can be changed.</p>

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<p>since when do you choose majors?</p>

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<p>to the OP: In my child’s school, I see that the IB students are the ones more likely to end up with acceptances to Ivy’s and other top-20 schools. More of them are accepted into the state flagship honors program. There is an occasional very strong candidate who did AP’s because they wanted to specialize in a subject direction more than IB will allow, who subsequently did get accepted to a top-20 school, but in general, the IB students are academically stronger. If that consideration is important to you, then figure out which track the best students take in your school, and follow them.</p>

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<p>Eurasianboy1112, that’s great advice! I’ve already planned out my four years but have been having second thoughts about some classes so I’ll be sure to keep that in mind when talking with my counselor in the future. Thanks!</p>

<p>memake, thanks for the advice! That’s great and I didn’t register that at all. Now that I think about it, my dad said something along those lines about careers!</p>