<p>I wanted to know how the curriculum at top prep schools compares to the IB diploma program in a regular school. Which one is more challenging and which prepares students better for college?</p>
<p>I’m gonna go with a “That depends on the particular situation.”</p>
<p>Definitely depends on the specific program.</p>
<p>Screw these guys, the IB school will ALWAYS BE BETTER! Remember that and let it shape your future decisions.</p>
<p>IB is excellent for college prep. I highly recommend it!</p>
<p>I really don’t think there’s any program that can beat IB in difficulty. Plus, if there is, then it’s not nationally known. Hence, take IB cuz it’s free at public schools and probably looks better on college stuff</p>
<p>A lot of my friends applied to a top boarding school, and when some didn’t get in they were devastated. I was happy for those that got in but had a really hard time convincing the others that doing IB is in some ways much better than that school.</p>
<p>For me, IB will always be the best.</p>
<p>I mean clearly any good top prep school is going to have a lot of either IB or (most likely) AP courses. And the individual normal classes at a prep school will be universally better and tougher (doesn’t IB Diploma only start in junior year?)
So at the TOP prep schools - the big name east-coast boarding schools and the equally academically rigorous prep day schools - it is better than an IB Diploma.</p>
<p>Personally, I really dislike the IB program. One of my close friends was in it and was almost driven to serious madness because of the stress (her hair was falling out, etc, etc). That’s just me personally, I know a lot of people on here love it and think it’s perfect for them. I think that your experience with either a top prep school vs. IB would be great preparation for college/life, and it’s just a matter of you. Is money a factor? Classmates? boarding/day? These are all factors. Good luck, you can’t go wrong</p>
<p>^My personal experience is that all the IB kids at my school love it, and all the AP kids think we’re crazy. So I can see where you’re coming from.</p>
<p>Prep School all the way.
Especially going to an East Coast Boarding school. The people you meet there are like your family and they are the most competitive people you’ll ever meet. Overall experience is unbelievable.</p>
<p>Thanks for all ur replies
By prep schools i meant those top east coast boarding schools (Andover, exeter etc)</p>
<p>IB.
Prep school elitism is no match for the cosmopolitan IB at school with a good program. IBers are extremely driven regardless of their income and generally are much more intrinsically motivated by knowledge than the prep schools.</p>
<p>Also prep schools, especially those elite east coast ones, tend to put you into that secluded bubble (though you may already be inside it, due to the 50k a year required to attend) that cuts off interaction with “normal” people, unlike IB, whi., although some kids do</p>
<p>I’d definitely say prep boarding schools for the rigorous academics and superb opportunities. Especially the ones in NE like Choate, Hotchkiss, Exeter, Andover, Deerfield, St Pauls and some others…while it may seem like a ‘bubble’ it is the most amazing preparation you can ever get for all aspects of life. It is an absolute unique experience on it’s own and produces amazing graduates. IB isn’t that great as people make it to be. A prep school education is definitely better for the right person.</p>
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<p>“normal” people? What do “nomal” people do then? Because “normal” people sure don’t go to IB programs.</p>
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<p>Prep Schoolers are equally as driven. How does income matter?</p>
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<p>The people who take IB classes are probably more “normal” than the people who go to $50,000/year prep-schools. </p>
<p>Also, you can see and interact with “normal” people if you do IB at a public school, since you still go to the same school as the people who take regular classes…</p>
<p>id say that as a rule, if you can get a high-quality education that you’re looking for at a public school, do that instead of a private/prep school.</p>
<p>the perspective you gain from learning and living with everyone else in the world is very valuable experience.</p>
<p>A prep school education, besides the connections, is only slightly better, if not at the same level, as the highly rigorous IB program, though those connections can also very easily pass as elitism and seclusion. And the prep school costs 35-40k, so IB is probably much better cost wise.</p>
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<p>Thank you.</p>
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<p>Amen.</p>
<p>Here’s what I personally believe. If you only look at doing and pushing academics, go for an IB program. If you want to be well rounded and pushed to your limits in all aspects, go to an elite prep school. Prep school prepares you for college, work, and the rest of your life.</p>