<p>My son attends The International Academy in suburban Detroit, which is a top ranked public school. It is an IB school, with all students required to apply for the DP and take a full IB DP class load. He is presently getting a 3.65 unweighted average.</p>
<p>Compared to my older son who attended a very well respected high school and graduated with an unweighted GPA of 3.9 carrying all AP classes (2 as a sophomore, 5 as a junior and 6 as a senior) his AP work load was no where near the work that my IB son is receiving.</p>
<p>Therein lies the dilemma. In order to receive a "you're admitted" letter from MIT (everything else being equal), is my 11th grade son better off sticking with the IB and obtain his diploma and a 3.65 unweighted GPA or would he be better off transferring back to his home school, taking 6 AP classes and ending up with a 4.0?</p>
<p>THE International Academy? I would stick with it if I were him. He can’t bring that 3.65 back up to a 4.0 anyway, so it’s probably best to stay.</p>
<p>Hahalok–You got it–THE International Academy. Phenomenal school, and a great group of kids. I know it would blow his mind if someone from his old school who just took AP classes in lieu of a Full IB Diploma at The International Academy would get in because of the difference in GPA (all other things being equal).</p>
<p>FAFSA Parent–there is SO much more to this decision than how it will affect college admissions. Is your son really willing to switch schools at such a late point in the game simply to coast through his senior year with a 4.0? Remember that schools will really only see his grades for the first half of senior year, and the three years of grades that contributed to his current GPA aren’t going to simply go away if he transfers. Won’t transferring just for senior year force him to quit school activities he’s participated in at the International School for the last three years? Won’t he be sorry not to be graduating with his friends?</p>
<p>I think the best thing you can do is encourage your son to talk with his guidance counselor about putting together the best applications he can with the grade point average he has earned. The guidance counselor will also be able to give him an idea of what schools previous years’ graduates with credentials similar to his have been admitted to. It’s quite possible that for a prestigious school, a 3.65 will be viewed very favorably, but there’s really no telling without talking to someone who knows.</p>
<p>momtimesfour–This is my son’s decision to make, not mine. All I am doing is gathering information for him so that he he can have all of the pros and cons of making such a decision. I have recommended against making any changes for a multitude of reasons, including some of the ones you have listed.</p>
<p>Personally, I think him even bringing it up is that his friends who are at his old high school (friendships which he has maintained even though no longer actually being in class with them) are showing him the little amount of work they are doing in their AP classes and getting all "A"s. When he compares their assignments and work loads to what he is doing at The International Academy, I know he sometimes questions the decision he made to attend The International Academy.</p>
<p>He realizes that switching now even if he got all "A"s in AP classes in his senior year is not going to have a huge impact on his cumulative GPA. I think he is looking at it from more of a “how hard do I want to work in my senior year” and a “I could save an hour a day of traveling” standpoint. </p>
<p>It will be interesting to see what he decides. As with his decision to attend The International Academy in the first place, we will support him no matter what he decides. Thanks for your thoughts.</p>
<p>Originally, he might have been better off in the AP curriculum. However, at this point, he is better off staying at the International Academy. </p>
<p>Assessment of his performance will be taken in context of the other GPAs at his school as well as the strength of the students, regardless of whether they explicitly rank.</p>
<p>Magnet schools tend to place more students in places like MIT, but the problem is that these guys have at most minor blemishes (1 or 2 B’s) because at any place there are going to be students who master the curriculum. That said, MIT sometimes overlooks grades and certainly doesn’t sort people by things like GPA’s.</p>
<ol>
<li>Do not undesrtand how 3.65 GPA can become 4.0 in one year. That UW .???</li>
<li>10 + APs with A’s will have similar weight compared to IB. I do not buy the arguement one is easier compared to the other. While an average student who undergoes IB diploma has some what of a fixed rigorous load, the AP porgram allows flexibility warranting the thinking that IB is better as students can just take few easy AP courses. But when compared to 10 AP “good” courses and probably going beyond AP by attending college courses many students who undergo AP program exceed IB requirements. So it all depends on the student.</li>
<li>While GPA is an important factor, when it comes to MIT it is what the student has done on his own initiative outside the school regular curriculum wll matter more, I think considering the delta GPA improvement and the IB/AP discussion we are engaged here.</li>
</ol>
<p>It is my understanding that admissions committees at top universities know the top high schools in major cities well. I think it is quite possible that the admissions committee might see through a switch from the IB school to another school and question why your son left. The higher GPA might not end up being a real benefit, in that case. </p>
<p>Also, consider what your son can accomplish outside the classroom at the International School. Research opportunities, leadership opportunities, and other means of distinguishing oneself from the crowd of other applicants with high GPAs and SAT scores can be very valuable.</p>
<p>4getit–Thanks for your thoughts. The admissions committees do have what they call “profiles” required to be submitted annually by high schools who have students seeking admission to their schools. </p>
<p>They are very interesting reading, especially for a statistics junkie like me. Go to your high school counseling office and get a copy. I got them from my son’s home school (HS) which is AP based and from The International Academy (IA), the IB school he is now attending.</p>
<p>Stats I found were composite ACT for HS is 22.3; IA is 29.0. Credits needed to graduate: HS=21; IA=31.5. SAT-1 Verbal and Math: HS=1193; IA=1319.</p>
<p>I don’t really understand the different levels of the National Merit, but here are the stats for what they’re worth. HS–Class of 2010 (370 students): National Merit was 4-Finalists, 1-National Merit Scholarship, 3-Commended. IA–Class of 2010 (207 students): National Merit was 37 Scholars of which 23 were Semi-Finalists and 13 were Commended.</p>
<p>Based on his experience of being so bored that as a 7th grader in all Honors classes, he decided to leave his circle of friends, the ease of being able to complete almost all of his homework at lunch and instead deciding to skip the 8th grade so he could go to the IA (it starts at Grade 9) and signing a contract before being admitted acknowledging that he will have three hours a night homework, I would be very surprised if he decided to go the easy route now and go back to his home school.</p>
<p>Ultimately, it is his call and we will support whatever he decides. </p>