<p>I need to know if it is better to graduate from the IB Diploma Programme or from Governor's school of science and mathematics. Overall, which is better?
Please answer as soon as possible</p>
<p>I don't know what the Governor's School is, so I can't compare it to the IB. However, I know that the IB is an excellent program. Do the IB and you'll learn a LOT, in many different areas. Not only will you have to work hard in your subjects, but also have to do CAS and the EE. The IB is great; hopefully colleges realize that as well.</p>
<p>are you a math and science person -- with hopes for doing research in high school and going all out in a math or science field -- or are you more of a humanities or an undecided person?</p>
<p>IB is fantastic (both my kids do it) but it does detract from those who are mega-math and science kids. If you are a math/science person (like the kind who wants to do AP Calc AB & BC, AP Chem, AP Physics and AP Bio in high school) then the governor's school would be a better choice -- governor's school would also be better if you are aiming at MIT or Caltech</p>
<p>Yes, I am a science and math person. I would like to be a Quantitative Analyst (physics and math). For that, though, I have to go to a special institute. But if I don't become a quant and dont have to go to the institute then yes I would like to go to MIT. Well, thanks soo much! I'm going to apply to gov's school :] hopefully i'll get in</p>
<p>^^yeah i had to make that choice 8th grade; but i chose IB because it is a well-rounded program, and focuses on all your strengths/weaknesses (which prepares you for college).</p>
<p>My son is at an IB school, and he found the math and science content somewhat lacking. He's now dual-enrolled at the local college for his math and science classes, but enjoying history and language in the IB program.
I vote for the governor's school. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>thank you all.. actually I am in 7th grade and trying to decide if I should go ahead and start preparing my answers for the application (to be done in 10th grade) I am in IB right now (actually MYP) and find the math really easy. I skipped 7th grade math class. I might skip again. ANd if anyone can answer this : What exactly do I have to do and know to become and Quantitative Analyst?? I cannot find hardly anything on the Internet about it. Maybe I should meet one?</p>
<p>IB Math HL is a pretty hard class, but if you are in MYP you may even be able to get to that by 11th grade, leaving you no math to take senior year..if you really want to specialize in science and math, I wouldnt recommend IB</p>
<p>I would have to say Governors school. My S in in IB and I am not convinced that colleges appreciate the rigor. They don't understand the nominclature of the math and it does not line up well with College Board tests. Don't get me wrong the IB is a great back up plan, but MIT understands a Governors school environment better, IMHO.</p>
<p>Thanks so much! I will really take your comments and opinions into consideration. And I think my mind is set on Governor's School. Thanks once again! :]</p>
<p>The quality of IB programs varies a great deal from school to school; I took three sciences and was more than adequately prepared for upper level college science courses.</p>
<p>Which state are you in? I would definitely recommend NC's school over IB; I'm not sure about other states.</p>
<p>I am in south carolina :] thanks</p>
<p>since you are younger (7th grade) and the school is one you have to apply to, I would suggest you apply to both (or even a third, if yet another option is available). although Governor's school might be the best choice for you -- you may not be accepted and an IB school would be an excellent second choice.</p>
<p>Just out of curiousity (my son is also in 7th grade IB MYP) what math are you doing in 7th grade? at my son's school, most kids will be taking pre-algebra in 8th grade and my son is taking it this year. Although the math seems thorough (he is studying trig right now) it doesn't seem all that "advanced" to me. I just wondered how the math sequence was at other MYP programs.</p>
<p>Well, I am in MYP right now (before IB Diploma Programme). The math that is done in 7th grade is Pre-Alg. In the eighth grade math class you take Algebra. However, I have done both of those right now and am working on Pre-calc.</p>
<p>wow -- you really are a math person. so, did you already take Algebra I & II and geometry? I just ask because my son would like to move ahead in math and the school seems a little confused as to how he would do that. Did you take the classes somewhere else or did you study it at home?</p>
<p>Ah, although I usually advocate IB (and am a student as well), in this debate I would exhort you to go with Governor's school. I do agree that IB is significantly devalued by many top schools, but for you, IB would not be the best fit. Especially if you aren't good (or not as good) at other classes because in that case IB would lower your GPA, since it is a very balanced program.</p>
<p>I am yet to see a person for whom Maths HL, Further Mathematics SL, and Physics HL would not be enough Math/Physics background in school.</p>
<p>Although, of course, I have not seen much. </p>
<p>P.S. You can always write an extended essay on Schrödinger's PDEs and do math olympiads for CAS :))</p>
<p>True, and even though Further Math is INCREDIBLY challenging, think of the fact that if the student is not particularly good at the other, social sciences/languages subjects, it can ruin their GPA..</p>
<p>yes -- you also would need to be strong in the humanities to do well in IB.</p>
<p>another concern I would have for a math/science student is that in IB you can only do 3 HL classes (sometimes 4 for certain schools and certain kids).</p>
<p>What that means is that you have to decide what type of science to specialize in. Many schools require English as one of the HL subjects, so you could then pick Math HL and one of the science HL -- but, because the HL classes are two years long, you couldn't pick all three of the traditional sciences (Chem, bio and physics).</p>
<p>It isn't an issue with my kids -- but for a strongly math and science oriented kid, I can see where it might be an issue. I also think that a math/science kids might want to focus on research for Intel science fair rather than do the extended essay.</p>
<p>I do all my math at home. The math I do at school is review for me. None of the schools I have gone to have helped me. I am in middle school and I borrowed math textbooks from the highschool and one from a college. The teachers just moved me up a math grade. I may move up another one but then I wont have a course to take in 12th grade and that wont look very good. But for your son, talk to the teachers and tell them that he has already learned that math and would like to move up or just let him get ahead at home and have school math as a review for him. :]</p>