I was planning on just taking one IB and other AP classes but would it look bad not to get the full diploma if my school offers it?
The IB Diploma prepares you for the rigor of college.
The IB Diploma is the most rigorous course load you can take at your school. If you don’t do the diploma, will your GC mark on your transcript that you have done the most rigorous progam? Is that something useful for the colleges you are interested in?
Some schools give you more college credit because you have taken the diploma over just IB classes, eg. at SUNY Binghamton:
Students in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program may receive up to 32 credits. To receive the full 32 credits, the following conditions must be met:
The IB Diploma must be completed with a score of 30 or more points; and
The student must complete at least three Higher Level exams with a score of 5 or higher.
Diploma holders who meet these conditions receive credit for their individual exam scores plus additional liberal arts elective credit to total 32 credits.
Also ask here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/international-baccalaureate-ib/
No. Full diploma only if you’re interested.
Do the full Diploma ONLY IF you know you can manage it and there are classes that you want to take.
I’m taking the diploma right now (higher level Math, Physics, Chemistry) and the amount of work you have to do is enormous. If you want to pursue engineering or pre-med you will have to take the most challenging classes (Math/Physics/Chemistry). Think of the diploma program as taking about 12 AP courses. You will also have to take classes in foreign language literature etc so class choice is relatively small.
Basically, take IB if you want better college-prep, take AP if you want more academic flexibility with your classes.
If you have any more questions about the IB ask me.
One saying I’ve heard, here and elsewhere (SWEEPING GENERALIZATION ALERT) is “AP gets you into college, but IB gets you through it.”
@NothingToSeeHere for the diploma do u have to be taking six IB courses or can you have an elective? I think I could handle it but there is an elective class I really want to take
My school has 7 class periods and I take 6 IB classes and one elective that I wanted. I also have ToK in the morning this semester so actually 8 classes. It depends on how your school does things but I at least have some freedom in other classes. Also depending on what IB classes your school offers, you can choose good elective type ones from there. For example, I would use IB physics as one of my IB classes and enjoyable classes because I would already be in IB chem but my school doesn’t offer IB physics.
If you do IB, do the diploma. I don’t think certificates impress anyone.
Looks like 12 AP courses’ worth of work, but 3-4 AP courses’ worth of subject credit in college (whichever 3-4 you take as HL courses and do well enough on the tests). Seems like workload for workload sake – not very time-efficient. Students presumably will come out with good time management skills, though.