<p>I am a student studying the British A-levels in China. I have already done my O-level GCE's with good grades(8 A's).I've just finished the first year of my A-levels and am expecting reasonably good grades in my AS level exams. As the school i'm studying in is a very small school with limited resources, i dont have great EC's.</p>
<p>HOWEVER...</p>
<p>I have just been offered a 100% scholarship by an IB World School for the IB Diploma Program. As i've already studied an year of A-levels, doing the IBDP will mean that i'll have to 'lose' an year and repeat Grade 11.</p>
<p>As i hope to get into top universities in the US, what do you suggest that i do. Continue my A-levels, or take up the scholarship offer and study the IBDP.</p>
<p>Any kind of helpful suggestions/opinions will be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>I'd say keep the A-levels. Many US universities award credit for A-levels, just like IB tests. The IB program is probably more well known here, but I think that A-levels are seen as just as rigorus.</p>
<p>EDIT : Are you paying to attend your current school? Would accepting the scholarship be financially beneficial? That could be a factor in your decision.</p>
<p>With limited ECs, it might be more difficult to get into top schools (that said, given that you are an international, schools may give you some more leeway, due to differing circumstances)</p>
<p>Is the IB school one of the United World Colleges?</p>
<p>re book_worm: yes, i'm paying to attend my current school. i know many universities award credit for A-levels, but dont you think doing the IBDP with good scores will strengthen my college app?(due to the 'wholesome' nature of IB, with all the CAS and TOK)</p>
<p>re CDN_dancer: the IB school that's offered me the scholarship is relatiely new and so i dont think it's one of the United World Colleges.
What do you suggest i do?</p>
<p>Which is the program for you? Both are prestigious and rigorous. Yeah, IB's more well known, but only because we have it in the States as well. The US doesn't have A-levels so it's a trickier system to break down for internationals. If money's an issue, take the scholarship. If not, decide based on which one appeals most to you. Would you benefit from an extra year of high school, or do you feel like one more year is enough before you move on? The issue here is not prestige; both programs are known and rigorous.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice glassesarechic, but
money isnt an issue, but what i want to know is which looks better on a college application
A-levels with weak EC's, or IB done with good scores....
CONFUSED:(</p>
<p>Good scores with A-levels and with IB will look good; both are rigorous programs, and are recognized by universities.</p>
<p>With the IB school, would you then be able to become involved in more ECs? Can you become involved in more ECs while at your current school (perhaps in the community, rather than in school; or, you could even try starting a club?)</p>
<p>with the IB school, i' think i'll have more opportunities for EC's and have a better idea of what i need to do,,,,,
with the school i'm in, it's really difficult to start a club because of certain reasons....since i'm a foreigner in China, activities in the community are hard to come by</p>
<p>the IB one hands down...it has all the resources i could dream of,,,
but the flip side to it is.that in my current school i have a great rapport with all the teachers and students</p>
<p>There's a balance to strike and a decision you have to make: do IB Diploma, which can really, really make you stand out if you get top test scores and grades; or, stay at your current school and make the most out of your relationships with your teachers.</p>
<p>This is a very important choice. Me, I moved from my old high school where it seemed like everything was set up for me, to an IB school. The education is much better, and I'm on great footing on my teachers, but it has taken me a lot of time and effort to make sure my teachers know and understand me.</p>
<p>Are you willing to make that effort? If so, IB is the way to go. Colleges like to see that you're taking your education seriously. As long as you explain why you end graduating a year earlier, I'm sure it'll be fine.</p>
<p>If you're not that social of a person, or if you don't feel that th epeople at the IB school are very welcoming/the teachers aren't good (if there aren't good teachers, it doesn't matter if it's IB or not) then don't do it.</p>
<p>thanks for the detailed response Ealgian....
i'm not really social, but i think given time i can build up a rapport with the teachers. on your other point, as the school has recently opened(just a few years) i cant really gauge the quality of the teachers....
i could take a risk and do IB, but what if it turns out the teachers arent good enough......then i'll really be screwed,no?</p>
<p>Is it possible for you to contact people who have been at the school? Since it's a new program I can definitely understand why it's difficult to gauge the teachers' expertise, but this is definitely v. important. The IB school I go to has been doing it for 10 yrs and there are some very, very good teachers (English and Calc, especially. History and Philosophy are pretty good, too, and it seems Physics does well also). </p>
<p>IB teachers are much more important in relation to IB than regular teachers are in relation to regular classes because IB is not something you can self-teach like AP. The reason is because IB is not about memorization, it's about learning techniques. There is a lot of writing involved with IB. There are a lot of strange requirements that the IBO has for different assignments and placement, etc. A good IB counselor/a knowledgeable IB teacher is essential for these reasons.</p>
<p>Good students can sometimes make up for that, though. Some simply understand whatever is thrown at them, and in these cases you can get help from your fellow students rather than the teacher. But the teacher's instruction is still crucial for you to hit those "IB objectives." However, the objectives are only important for the culminating IB exams, and not the actual classes. Grades are still built upon coursework, although coursework is oftentimes comprised of IB assignments (Internal Assesments is what I'm getting at).</p>
<p>In conclusion, if the teachers don't /understand/ IB, your chances of success decrease dramatically. I suggest you ask some of the students who've already done the program and ask for their opinion because it's, unfortunately, the only way to even get a general idea.</p>
<p>i dont think there has been a batch of students who have completed the DP from this school .Although the teachers that are there have IB teaching experience in several different countries for a number of years.....
is that good enough to establish credibility of the teachers?</p>
<p>as an aside, when will you be completing your IBDP?</p>
<p>If they have been teaching for a while then I feel it's much safer to go there. If there's a way for you to contact them, just to email and talk about it, that might help also.</p>