<p>You`re right on that. Colleges probably like Ib diploma because it really is the most demanding curriculum...only year and a half to go....</p>
<p>My son's international high school offered both IB and AP classes. The kids who were ultimately accepted at the most selective American colleges were fairly well split among those who completed the full IB diploma, those who took a selection of IB AND AP classes and those who only concentrated on AP. There was no discernible difference.</p>
<p>Having said that I feel strongly that going through the full IB process helped my son enormously, both personally and academically. All of the selective colleges that he applied to recognized the rigor of the IB program (though their individual methods of awarding credit for IB classes/exam grades varies widely). He was -- and still is -- able to use his extended essay topic as a discussion entry and a point of distinction on his resume. And most importantly, the writing and analytic skills emphasized by the IB have stood him in good stead at his demanding and writing and analysis intensive LAC. </p>
<p>I also think that seeing the program through to the end adds a cache of accomplishment, closure. Kind of like achieving Eagle Scout is better than years of Boy Scouts. How much weight "full IB diploma" actually carries with adcoms is impossible to quantify. It is intangible, but, in my opinion, a definite plus.</p>
<p>Special mention for theory of knowledge: the insights gained in this class on thinking about how we think (or learning about how we learn) have surfaced again and again in all sorts of college discussions. Invaluable!</p>
<p>But back to the OP's original question about IB diploma vis a vis SAT scores:
yes and no. There are many things that can compensate for low-ish SAT scores. It's not a tit for tat situation. Think of it as putting the SAT scores in the negative column and the IB diploma in the positive. You will need other pluses as well like ECs, strong essays, recommendations. You may also want to consider taking the ACT or concentrating on schools that don't require the SAT.</p>
<p>Have you already taken any SL exams? If you did well include that on your application. Also, if your SAT scores are lopsided (e.g., you are a humanities person and scored better in CR than math) you could emphasis that as well.</p>
<p>It's good to hear how much Full IB pays off later. I'm enjoying my TOK class and the EE, but I only wish I had more time to work on the EE. My school basically has us do it during the fall of our senior year, which doesn't leave much time for it with all the other stuff happening.</p>
<p>I go to a school in which 38 of the 449 people in my grade are IB. I am not in IB (regrettably so, I really wanted to do it but I was committed to Academy of Finance, a rare program that only 2 schools on Long Island have), but I have taken 9 AP + 1 IB. I hope that this doesnt hurt me (my counselor explained that it is impossible at my school to do both IB and AOF), and I am definitely not a slacker, I always look for the hardest classes. If I had it to do over again, I would go for IB definitely</p>
<p>It is a lot of work, but there is a lot of personal satisfaction to be gained from it. </p>
<p>Only 6 more months to go and I will have done the whole darn thing - all 7 years of it!! I hope that will look good to colleges although it still won't compensate for my lackluster SAT scores.</p>
<p>by the way, to the OP, a 2160 isnt a low SAT score</p>
<p>If you don't get into those schools, your SAT won't be the reason why. Your full IB Diploma will be seen as a the hardest schedule, and [honestly] likely won't be given the respect it deserves. Colleges treating it the same as AP and giving less credit is stupid. ie: no credit for calc 1 from IB, b/c top schools don't give credit for SL tests.</p>
<p>When you get to college, you will smile on the inside when people stress out about things that now are completely normal to you, such as big papers, lots of things due around the same time, and not getting much sleep.</p>
<p>/May '04</p>
<p>I have heard IB diploma kids have a much higher rate of success in college versus AP kids.</p>
<p>Is it even possible to get 4.0 with the IB programme?</p>
<p>full IB is crazy.. lemme tell ya'll .. lol! my first draft EE was supposed to handed in to my advisor like 3 months ago and i havent even get started on it! =( screwed IBO</p>
<p>Is it even possible to get 4.0 with the IB programme?</p>
<p>Well, I've been in the Full IB Program since Junior year (when our school starts it), and I have maintained a 4.0. I'm taking/ have taken Physics 1-4, Spanish 7-10, English, 20th Century World History, History of the Americas, TOK, Social Anthropology 1-2, and Math Methods 1-2 SL. I'm writing my EE right now. Final due in three weeks (panicking, but not that big of a deal).</p>
<p>Let's hope this gets me into Duke or Stanford...</p>
<p>I'm not sure what OP means, but I'm not saying my 2160 is low, but the cr + m is a 1390. Good, yes, but not spectacular for the schools I want to go to. My 31 on the ACT puts me in all of the ranges, but it doesn't seem like the upper tier schools use the ACT as much. I've put so much work into studying for these tests (taking lots of practice tests, no tutors or classes), but it doesn't seem like IB helps much on the SAT or ACT. I've gone from a 175 on my PSAT to a 1970 to a 2160. It's a different way of thinking and learning.</p>
<p>gcards1: IB is a different way of thinking and instead of memorizing, IB students are trained to analyze and challenge the information given to them, rather than accept it. IB kids are also known as great contributors to discussions and that is the way it should be. IB kids (in my experience) are not motivated by the grades they receive (although important), their goal is to understand the material. An "A" is nothing if you did not get something out of it besides the grade. The IB kids that come back every year for the diploma ceremony always say that IB was excellent prep for college. Note most of these kids go on to very selective schools and they have always said that college has been rather easy for them because of the demands of the IB programme. IB (not classes, but the full program) is the absolute BEST preparation for college. </p>
<p>As I said in my previous posts, an IB diploma will not make up for lower SAT scores. This is what I have heard (only on cc) but I wish it was not true because I believe otherwise. By the way, your SAT scores are great. I have always stated on other threads that one should only take IB if they are doing it for themselves. I do not recommend enrolling in IB for the purpose of looking good to colleges. It is a tough program and if you are doing it for yourself only, you will get a lot more out of it. </p>
<p>We all know that colleges use SAT scores to compare one applicant against the other, taking into consideration other factors of course. I believe SAT scores are an important (although not the most important) factor in the decision making process. Colleges absolutely have to use some type of standardized measure to compare one student against another. However, when it comes to IB - it is the most accurate tool to determine if a student is capable of handling the demands of college level courses.</p>
<p>Problem with US colleges is they give you acceptance before IB scores come in early July. Therefore SAT must count. In the UK, you get a preliminary acceptance based on your IB scores. My son got a preliminary acceptance to the UCs as long as he scored over 30 or above on his IB exams (I am not sure exactly what the requirement was). So the UCs are aware of the exams. I thought that was good. He decided to go to an LAC where he got almost a full years credit including HL and SL classes for his work. It will be credit for classes outside his two degrees. No matter it will help with graduation for sure. He got an A on his EE in music and a B in TOK....He gained all the extra points so you students out there still slaving away know that you may be rewarded for your efforts. Hang in there. I know he felt really good about the process when it was over.</p>