Hi,
I’m taking seven IB classes and have A’s in those, but I’m getting really behind on my EE and CAS. If I’m applying to top colleges, how badly would it hurt me for college admissions if I kept the same schedule but dropped to IB certificate so I don’t have to do my extended essay and CAS?
Thanks!
It won’t hurt for admissions, but it could hurt for college credit. Some schools give more credit for the diploma than for individual classes.
Most Ivies (and other universities I’m aware of) give credit on individual IB and AP exam scores, so unless you spontaneously decide to apply to foreign universities, it shouldn’t matter.
Just wondering why you are taking 7 IB classes? Isn’t IB a 6 subject program? Plus TOK, EE and CAS.
I really don’t get why EE and CAS are an issue, chuck together an essay and just hope for a 1, and no high schoolers can’t cobble together CAS hours. CAS is something most high schoolers around here don’t even think about. The EE and CAS are the easy bit. Realistically your CAS should be well under way and your E should have been put together for the most part over summer. Americans vs Non Americans though, will have a completely different perspective.
Actually, @wildesfeuer, there are a number of U.s.colleges that give credit for the diploma. (Union in NY, Sarah Lawrence, both after successful completion of freshman year come to mind.). This can be helpful to a very focused student trying to save money.
OP, you should look at your target schools before jumping ship as that seems to be the only way to get credit for SL scores.
With that said, if you don’t care about credit, it really doesn’t matter.
The schools ranked 25-50 we talked to emphasized that being a Diploma candidate was a strong benefit, and it was l clearly a reason my kid did well on his quest for merit awards.
A related consideration is whether, if you are not on track to complete the Diploma requirements, will your guidance counselor check the “most rigorous curriculum” box? To be a competitive applicant at a “top” college, a student needs to have taken the most rigorous curriculum available, absent some substantial reason, such as schedule conflicts, family responsibilities for siblings etc.
On CAS – that really shouldn’t take much more work than the usual busy high school student does. The EE is another layer of responsibility, but it’s basically research, most likely on a subject you care about.
My school added IB computer science in my senior year so I doubled up and took that. After that, it was either drop film and take an elective of just do 7 IB courses so I chose 7 IB courses.
The Creative hours were hard for my kid, Action and Service were easier.
Why do you have to take an elective. Why not just 6 IB classes?
The program is intense and difficult with 6 - I would think 7 would be way over the top. Perhaps that is why you are getting behind on other things. Is it too late to change this schedule?
I accidentally commented and CC won’t let me delete it so ignore this comment
I definitely can’t change my schedule, but wouldn’t colleges see my 7th course as evidence that I am an excellent student even though I couldn’t finish my EE?
Ask your guidance counselor what their practice is regarding students who are not Diploma candidates and the box on the counselor’s rec where they are asked whether student is in most rigorous curriculum etc. If they won’t check that box for non-Diploma candidates, few of the top 20 schools will give a serious look at the applicant – they all say they want students in the most rigorous curriculum (unless there are compelling reasons, such as after school family responsibilities for younger sibs etc).
My dd has taken 4 HLs instead of the standard 3 - I was told that will get the “most rigorous” label.
I’ve never heard of anyone at our school doing more than 3 HL’s and 3 SL’s and we had 10+ Ivy acceptances last year.
More is not always better.
At my kids’ school, many will take 4 HLs because of the history and English reqs for jr and sr year. It doesn’t get you the extra special rigorous tick though. Just the normal one. 3/3 isn’t standard at all. In 8 period schedules these kids are often doing 4/2 with at least one AP course per year, sometimes 2.
6 periods plus TOK would make the world of difference to the schedule here. IMO it should be an IB school req. Sure the AP double up is an advantage but the IBD scores reflect the issue.
It probably depends on the school you attend. If you attend a full IB school abroad - there are no APs.