Prospects Helped w/IB?

<p>If one has the International Baccalaureate program under their belt with high marks (6s and 7s), then does that improve chances of getting into university... or can one get the same chances going through normal school and getting high marks?</p>

<p>... [I'm weighing how depressed I should be for missing the IB application deadline (it was due to an utter lack of knowledge.)]</p>

<p>.
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<p>Thx.</p>

<p>Umm I think you should be happy not to go IB just work your tail off in normal high school and forget all that IB junk because a lot of my friends went the IB route and worked really hard but weren't accepted because they had not destinguished themselves above the other hundred thousand hard working IB students.</p>

<p>If your school has the IB program and you didn't participate in it, your chances at top schools are zilch. Colleges look at your academic performance through the context of your school. If your high school offered IB/20 AP's and you didn't attempt to take the hardest courseload, you will be looked down upon heavily.</p>

<p>i don't think that's necessarily true. At my school, a lot of kids enroll in all IB classes without getting the diploma. That way, they're still taking the hardest course load available. At the end of the year, they just take the AP test instead of the IB test.</p>

<p>Actually, its the norm that IB students across the nation will take the IB exams, IN ADDITION TO the AP exams. They take both, and most of them score very well. Hearing from my friends and my personal experiance, getting a 5 on the AP is easier than a 7 on the IB, but other's differ on that.</p>

<p>Cryptic is simply saying that if your school did offer the IB program, that was the "hardest route" a student could have taken, therefore it would have been to your benefit to join the program. </p>

<p>I would also highly disagree with what LockMonkey said. In most of the schools that offer IB, the IB students are usually the most involved students. This is because highly-aiming students know what is expected of them, so they are usually the ones that join many clubs and get leadership positions. </p>

<p>I would never call IB "junk" in any sense. But then again, I'm just too IB-proud.</p>

<p>i only know 2 IB students who have ever taken AP tests, and that was just to get out of the final for that class :)</p>

<p>in my experience, most IB students don't take AP exams, since there's really very little point to taking both an IB and AP test. If you do well on one, chances are you'll do well on the other, and i hardly think that colleges would want you to take both!</p>

<p>But i agree with Tami that IB students are incredibly involved, especially since they have to fulfill CAS requirements.</p>

<p>All the IB kids at my school also take AP exams. Unfortunately, I am slowly awakening to the reality that this is completely insane. Oh well. I'm going to do it anyway because I give in very easily to peer pressure.</p>

<p>dying_ember: Participating in the International Baccalaureate program definitely helps your chances when applying to the top universities. However, it is not the only option if your school offers a large number of Advanced Placement courses. Either way, you should take the hardest courses that you can.</p>

<p>LockMonkey: I have to disagree with you. The fact that the students you mention didn't distinguish themselves has nothing to do with the IB program. However, it must be noted that the IB program alone will not get you in at a top university.</p>

<p>koala717: Your experience is obviously different than those at other IB school, including mine. And I totally disagree with your saying that there is no reason to take both IB and AP tests. Many students choose to do so because one test is easier than the other. Also, in many cases it is easier to receive college credit with AP tests. Taking AP tests can also be beneficial to a student because they can be taken any year. For example, a friend in IB Biology--a two-year course--took the AP Biology test this year even though he will not finish the class until next year.</p>

<p>Gorbachev_Sez: Insane? Maybe. Ludicrously expensive? Without a doubt.</p>

<p>Insane? Definitely. Several friends of mine completely cracked under the pressure. Our school is uber-competitive, especially among IB kids.
Expensive? Well, it depends on your classes. For some exams (and the number you take) the school will pick up the tab.</p>

<p>Some info that we need.....
-What school (or at least what state) are you going to
-What colleges are you applying to
-How many kids take IB at your school</p>

<p>With this info I might be able to give you an accurate response</p>

<p>I'm rather surprised to hear that only 2 kids in your school's IB program take the AP tests. When I was in highschool, many, if not all of my IB peers, as well as students in my cousin's school in Canada, took both AP and IB exams. I think it's because some schools recognize AP tests, while not really leaning towards the IB exams. This is by no means because one is easier or harder than the other, it's simply that the AP is just more widely known. I know Ivy caliber schools and others which are top-tier universities definitely recognize the IB program, however.</p>

<p>I'm not saying at one school don't join the IB program. I'm saying that if you can go to one school and take IB or go to another and take a bunch of hard APs and EC's I think it would be generally better not to bother with IB. I have a lot of friends who did VERY well in IB and applied to top colleges but didn't get in, one of them was 2nd in his class and he didn't get into Wesleyan with awesome recs and a good essay. So basically, I wasn't saying "Don't take the hardest route," I was saying "AP over IB."</p>

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I'm rather surprised to hear that only 2 kids in your school's IB program take the AP tests.

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<p>In my daughter's IB program, they are required to take the AP tests also.</p>

<p>I'm an IB student and almost no one in my school takes AP tests except for those who take IB Math HL - they're required to take the AP test in lieu of an exam.</p>

<p>Well I'm in the IB program. I would say its benefial to take AP exams especially when taking a SL IB course (standard level). For all of those who don't know about the IB program you need 3HL courses and 3SL courses. And checking top college's policies, I've seen all of them do not give credit for a score of 7 on a SL exam. So i guess it seems that colleges think that SL courses are inferior to AP courses. So when taking SL exams its best to also take AP exams to show colleges SL courses are up to par with AP courses. So it is beneficial to take BOTH exams. Also AP exams and IB exams are a lot different. They cover a lot of different material. So if you planning to take AP exams and your in IB you need to prep first.</p>

<p>"I'm not saying at one school don't join the IB program. I'm saying that if you can go to one school and take IB or go to another and take a bunch of hard APs and EC's I think it would be generally better not to bother with IB. I have a lot of friends who did VERY well in IB and applied to top colleges but didn't get in, one of them was 2nd in his class and he didn't get into Wesleyan with awesome recs and a good essay. So basically, I wasn't saying "Don't take the hardest route," I was saying "AP over IB.""</p>

<p>I took a bunch of hard IBs and had a lot of good ECs. If I can do it, any mortal being can.</p>

<p>Actually, my school doesn't have IB or AP. It's this other school I was thinking about switching to- and I missed THEIR deadline.</p>

<p>So my school doesn't have IB.
Though I'm switching to this OTHER school because I really don't like my current school- and yet that one doesn't have IB or AP either... hmmph.</p>

<p>Well colleges will understand that. Just take the hardest course available.</p>