<p>Hello Stanford-ites,
Our DD is academically gifted, and has set her sights on Stanford as her 5 year plan. </p>
<p>Our school has IB, but I am hesitant to push her into it, as I have heard varying reports on whether it is really necessary, and consistent reports that it is grueling. My concern is that she will only have time for academics, and will have to drop other interests such as art and running. </p>
<p>Did those of you who are attending do IB? Did it help? Do you think you could get in to Stanford without doing it? (I realize that it is a chance thing to get in even with perfect grades - just wanted to get your opinions before I make a recommendation to her). She tends to be a perfectionist - I know that she could do the work but am concerned about the cost. </p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Hey shoot4moon,</p>
<p>I don’t go to Stanford myself, but I have done the IB program and while there is a lot of work to be done and a lot of sleepless nights to had, it is completely worth it. One thing that is very different from the AP system is that it is already interdisciplinary at an early stage. The IB makes you stop and reflect on a lot of the things that you have learned a lot of the time. I can only recommend taking part in it. While you might not go into as much depth as some of the AP classes do (mostly science classes), you definitely take away a lot from them for the rest of your life. If your daughter wants to think instead of remember, choose IB, I guarantee you it will be worth it.</p>
<p>PS: Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to take part in ECs, I played soccer year-round my junior year and it was no problem to complete the work.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the reply. It’ a tough decision - she would have to really address her perfectionism as right now every assignment is her masterpiece - you can’t do that in IB, and I don’t know that you can do that in life without stressing yourself out. Part of me thinks that it would be good time management practice - the other part thinks it would create unnecessary stress. To you perfectionists, what did you do??</p>
<p>There is a generalization out there that extremely selective schools expect applicants to have taken the “most challenging” course loads available at their high school. If your school offers X amount of AP classes and the highly ranked students take X amount, this is what your student should be taking in order to have that box checked off on the counselor rec form. The same goes for high schools offering IB programs. If your student elects not to take it, they may not be considered to have taken the most challenging curriculum available.</p>
<p>Now whether this is always the case or not, who knows? But it makes sense and that is why it is a generalization that everyone mentions. The college counselors at my kids’ high school certainly stressed taking the most challenging load you could realistically handle. </p>
<p>This is also a great time to learn to deal with academic expectations in a more mature light— learning how to manage time efficiently and learning how to deal with imperfection. These skills will be necessary in life and in a competitive college. Taking a hard course load in high school, in addition to sports and other time consuming EC activities, has provided many challenges to my kids, but they learned how to put effort where needed “right now” and how to let other stuff go. These lessons learned in high school prepared them well for the challenges of college.</p>
<p>I don’t know if this is just me, but it seems that the people who are getting in to the really selective schools like Stanford aren’t taking the most challenging courses imaginable, like we see on CC. If I were you, I’d just pick whatever you think appeals more to your daughter: if your school has a ton of AP classes, then they might be better due to the modularity, and your daughter could end up taking more classes at higher levels than with the IB program (or dual enroll, if possible). If all the best teachers are in IB and your school views IB kids as “more elite” than students taking just AP classes, then IB may be better for counselingr, recommendations, and internal prestige-factor. It sounds dumb, but things like leadership or school nominations do depend on what your school adminstration and peers think of you, and IB vs. AP could make the difference between being thought of as the smart girl vs. the really smart one.</p>
<p>Far more important, if getting in to Stanford is your main goal, are extracurriculars. If there is a certain EC that your daughter excels at, PURSUE IT, even if that means not doing the IB program. Schools like Stanford don’t try to take the kids with the highest test scores, best grades, and most difficult courses - they try to take kids who have shown that they are really talented and accomplished at things outside the classroom AND in the classroom. A nationally recognized soccer player, writer, debater, dancer, mathematician, researcher, or whatever with decent (by Stanford’s standards) scores, grades, and courseload has a much better chance of getting in than someone with a full IB diploma making great grades and scores but no hook.</p>
<p>…well said camomof3…and huehue…you are partially correct…Stanford looks for students who have not only challenged themselves academically at the highest level at their local schools (they don’t expect or want “perfection” in having perfect As or 4.0 (in easy classes)…or a 2400/36 on the exams)…but those who have pushed themselves in one or two extracurricular activity(ies) they are passionate about at the highest level…preferably at least state…national…international level…</p>
<p>…to be able to handle both the academic challenging courses along with an extracurricular activity(ies) at the highest level bodes well for such a student to excel, enjoy, and thrive studying at a place like Stanford…</p>
<p>…you might want to read this recent Daily Op-Ed:
[Stanford</a> Daily | Superfish in a Pond: A Freshman Perspective](<a href=“http://www.stanforddaily.com/2014/01/14/superfish-in-a-pond-a-freshman-perspective/]Stanford”>Superfish in a Pond: A Freshman Perspective)</p>
<p>^Yes, sorry. I did not mean to imply that she shouldn’t take hard courses, but just not to make them a priority above all else.</p>
<p>I am quite like your daughter and consider myself a perfectionist as well. I embody the example of perfect scores and grades and a tough as hell schedule - I have been deferred from every school of Stanford’s caliber so far and will probably be rejected by many more over the next three months. I’m just not super good at any one thing outside of school. Don’t do what I did - you really need to get extremely good at something outside of school. If doing that means not going for the IB diploma, AP (if available) or dual enrollment (ditto) offer fine substitute. YMMV, but friends who do IB at other schools constantly drone about how much work it is, but I have found AP classes to mostly be less work than even honors ones.</p>
<p>^^No prob…more to your point…Stanford can/will forgive students who get a few Bs here and there in AP Physics-C or AP Hebrew because the student was too busy performing at Carnegie Hall/Royal Opera House…or representing the country in Math Olympiad in Tokyo…or competing at the Olympic trials…or acting in a movie…</p>
<p>…they are looking for future movers and shakers in ALL fields (contrary to popular belief)…and they definitely are not looking for grade-grubbers or test perfectionists…</p>
<p>…they are looking for students who are not afraid to FAIL…or SUCCEED! Most successful students know when you compete at the highest level in sports, music, science/math, art, drama/acting, etc…you will learn to lose or not come in 1st frequently…and yet, they dust off the dirt…and compete again learning from their past mistakes or shortcomings…practicing harder…perfecting the trills…improving their landing (figure skating/gymnastics)…touching up on their British accent for the part…making their science project really stand out…studying every theorem/proof known to man…</p>
<p>…they know…for every success (top prize in their endeavors)…each applicant will have experienced their ups and downs…it is these “unteachable” moments that strengthen their resolve and conviction…</p>
<p>…and it is these experiences that can be translated into whatever the future Stanford student aspires to…</p>