<p>I am a sophomore in high school in the Philly suburbs and our apps for the IB program are due soon for enrollment. I’ve just been hearing so many mixed opinions on the program that I don’t know know what to do! Does a college like Penn look at it any less than the AP courses? Will it actually hurt my chances?</p>
<p>Well, if you take the full IB diploma, I know for a fact that the Penn ppl will automatically give you the highest rating when it comes to "courseload".</p>
<p>Wow, that would be awesome. Just out of curiousity, how do you know this for a fact? (It's not meant to come off nastily or anything)</p>
<p>My rep said so. He was like, "If your school has the full IB Diploma, we expect you to take it. If not, we understand." And all of the college admissions books/counselors blah blah blah says so too.</p>
<p>Oh I see. That's very interesting. I figured since I went to a school in suburb in Philly, that'd also give me somewhat of an edge. What is most interesting is that last year there were 4 students accepted to Penn ED, all IBers (just invented the word for the sake of ease) but this year, out of the 7 ED acceptees, I heard only 1 was enrolled in IB.</p>
<p>Well, the thing is, if you are NOT in IB, but still taking an equal amount of APs, it doesn't make a dint of difference. I got in, IB kid...senior year in my IB school = brutal.</p>
<p>I looked at my options both in IB and AP and I see what you're saying with the equal amounts. The only thing I don't like about IB is the fact that you can only take one science whereas in AP, I'd be able to take two, or even all three if the guidance will just stop being stubborn and schedule me in. The harships in senior year, I don't really mind. The outcome is what really matters.</p>
<p>Where are you from? Did you get accepted early this year or are you already a student at Penn?</p>
<p>I took all three sciences: AP Physics, IB/AP Bio SL, and taking Chem HL this year. Got in Huntsman this year ED. WOOHOO!</p>
<p>That's awesome! Great job! </p>
<p>I wish I could take a science load like you did. We have so many restrictions, like we have to take bio and chem at honors levels first before AP or IB and many more... one rule leads to another and its a pain in the a** when you're very science oriented and your school tells you you can't take physics before bio or chem because the basic trig functions are too hard. I wish I went somewhere else.</p>
<p>Well, my school, particularly my counselor, did not approve at first of me taking AP Physics sop. year...I had to fight them every step of the way. But, ultimately, IB and AP can be as different or as same, all depends on the school you go to.</p>
<p>hey canadia..</p>
<p>if you have the option of doing IB - dont even think twice...just do it! in a sense, yes, AP is pretty much as hard as IB itself....but with IB u're required to do tons of stuff outside the specific coures...which comes with added bonuses....</p>
<p>Im from canada - and i applied ED to huntsman...and my acceptance was definitely partly due to the IB diploma....</p>
<p>but jus a word of caution - if u are taking just IB courses, as opposed to the WHOLE diploma (3HL, 3SL, TOK and EE), then it doesnt really matter whether u take IB or AP</p>
<p>also, my rep also told me (and i heard for many other reps from other unis) that if ur school offers the IB diploma and u choose not to take it, then we will really wonder why....its like, if u have the opportunity go for it...</p>
<p>but IB senior yr - A LOT OF WORK!!</p>
<p>gud luck!!</p>
<p>All this really confirms what I was going for and it has all been very helpful. Thanks!</p>