Hello
I am currently an 8th grader in all advandced classes with a 4.0 GPA, I was wondering which program the IB or the AP would make my transcript look better for the TOP 10 U.S colleges (preferably Harvard). My school offers the AP program I would have to go another school to take the IB program.
Just take AP. Colleges don’t have a preference.
I am not sure. I think they are equal, so go for the better ranked high school in my opinion (but take my opinion with a grain of salt).
Both AP and IB (HL not SL) are equally respected by top schools. The balance would be tipped in favor of IB for international schools, of course.
The actual IB diploma program is a 2-year program that begins in the junior year. Many schools that have the IB program also offer AP classes, so the two programs are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Are you trying to decide between two different high schools?
I personally am not a huge fan of AP classes in general. I once heard them described as “a mile wide and an inch deep,” which seems to be a fairly accurate assessment. They cover a ton of information, but in a rather superficial way. Moreover, the approach to writing is very formulaic with respect to what the testers are looking for and there is not a lot of room for creative thinking.
My impression of IB is that it is a much more writing-intensive program and is more global in its focus. Within IB, there are Standard Level (SL) and High Level (HL). The HL classes are considered to be at the same level as AP classes, but it is harder to get the maximum score on the IB tests than it is on the AP classes.
If I could choose, I’d go with IB over AP, but that’s just me.
They are considered equal for US college admission. Pick the one that interests you the most.
Check which specific AP and IB HL courses are offered in each option, and how they match up to your interests. For example, a student most interested in math and science would not want to choose a school where there were no AP math or science courses, or an IB school where the math and science courses were only offered in SL.
In past IB threads, there appears to be the consensus that IB is a lot of work, but with disagreement as to whether it is useful work or busy work. But at least one student taking IB courses mentioned that that is due to how the teachers at a given school teach (e.g. one teacher requiring a lot more memorization of minor facts than another teaching the same subject).