<p>I am parent of a junior in IB and feel that S hit the wall.
No more math or physics available. Move sideways to
AP Chem. and AP Stats is the best choice if S stays
in IB. Alterative is to switch to AP track and local college
math and physics. Saw this problem last year and was
told we could solve these problems, maybe physics 3
would be available, maybe math online program. How
important is IB? It starts out the strongest, but may end
weaker that AP with college as a Senior.</p>
<p>First off, I will say I am not a supporter of the IB program. It is a bit of a joke at my S's larger suburban high school. It is the superintendant "showcase" program so it gets lots of PR from the school district. </p>
<p>My S took the AP track, as did the top students in his class, and found they worked harder, learned more, got more college credit from AP than those who followed the IB program. </p>
<p>From watching those who did IB the past few years, I saw no advantage to the program unless student honestly intends to study internationally. If your school offers AP and IB, I think the AP route leads to more challenging coursework and potentially more college credit. If AP is not available, I would certainly look for local college courses to fill in the gaps.</p>
<p>I think it depends a bit on what type of college/university your S is aiming for, and what fields of study. I think the selective LACs value IB pretty highly in making admission decisions, especially going for the IB diploma. I think the IB program is also very compatible with the liberal arts approach to education.</p>
<p>If your S is aiming at a research university with a math/science/engineering focus, the IB program might not count for as much.</p>
<p>Our D did the IB diploma and is now attending a top LAC. From what we can tell, the IB program was great preparation for her. I'm not sure what, if any, course credit she will get for her IB scores, but in my view the IB and AP programs are best viewed as top notch preparation for college rather than as a way to get a BA or BS in 3 years. Many of the most selective colleges put so many restriction on giving course credit for IB/AP exams that it is not that easy to get credits, though they may be used to place into higher level classes starting freshman year.</p>
<p>We had four kids do full IB last year. One went to penn (wharton), one went to caltech, one went to delaware on full scholarship, and one went to u of rochester. granted, most kids that were on an AP track went to very reputable schools, too. in the class below me, i only know one full candidate. he got rejected ed from dartmouth. I think it just goes to prove that admissions is really one big crap shoot, but i think there is some allure to the IB program (if for nothing else, then for the rigor of the course work). </p>
<p>Personally, however, I felt it was too much stress. and since it was implemented relatively recently, there wasn't a whole lot of options available for course selection, compared to just taking an ap track.</p>
<p>For my S, it is not about credits. It is about admissions.
Big dreams and maybe he has earned the right. His direction
is applied mathematics. AP Calc and Physics 2 this year.</p>
<p>I'm an IB senior and truly enjoy the IB program. Even now - all of my work will be sent away to be graded in the next few weeks and it is only a few short months until I have to sit for exams. Still do not regret it for a moment.</p>
<p>Do not do the IB program if the primary goal is college credit. Do not do IB if you want a very heavy math/science focus (though this is not impossible). IB requirements really coincide well with the standard curriculum that colleges recommend: math, science, foreign language, English, etc. IB is for students who value a well-rounded education and learning for learning's sake. The extended essay is a unique experience, as is TOK. AP tests may teach you how to memorize (and I know, I've taken several), but IB teaches how to think and analyse (and use British spellings)...which can be applied to any and all work your son will do in the future. IB adds a dimension of cultural perspective that will not be found in other programs. But if your son really finds the program stifling, then drop it.</p>
<p>Another point that is often brought up is that many very selective colleges will, if IB is offered at a school, expect a student to have taken it.</p>
<p>IB at the OP's school must not be up to par. AT my school We have all the sciences 1-3, and math classes extremely hard (I think the highest is something past Calc 2 and it only had like 10 kids, but I dunno I'm not a math person). Are there any other schools area that might offer a better program? Also, IB at my school makes AP here look like a joke, people in these boards all come from different schools and IB/ AP in your case is going to be completely different from somebody else.</p>
<p>Yeah, it's definitely possible to find "heavy math/science focus" in the IB. I know people who are taking math/chemistry/physics HL (with English/second language/humanities SL). As someone with interests all over the board, I've found the IB to be both incredibly challenging and incredibly rewarding. </p>
<p>It really depends on the school, though--I can't emphasize that enough. I go to an international school that only offers the IB, and as a result is able to devote the entirety of its resources to the IB program. At a school where the IB is treated as an afterthought or takes second place to AP, the experience would obviously be much less satisfying/worthwhile.</p>
<p>well IMO, schools shouldn't have both programs. They should pick one, and put all their resources and teachers into it. The AP program allows for more subject specialization, while the IB program demands high performance across the board, which (much like it was previously posted) equates well with a liberal arts education. Though there's no reason you can't take HL Physics, HL Chem, and HL Math (and then college classes if you want), if your school has them.</p>
<p>If you run out of math classes in IB (where the highest level goes further than AP BC, the hardest AP math), you can fill the spot in your schedule with a community college course. I have a friend who did this. Senior year he took two college math classes, which I believe were multi, and linear algebra (though not positive, I'm not a math person).</p>
<p>If you want credit, get out of the IB program. Colleges all over the country stiff IB students on credit (example: IB calc 1 is "standard level", and top colleges will only give credit for "higher level" courses). AP tests are really a notch below IB exams and other required work. Tons of people buy a study book (or not even buy a book) and get 5 after 5 after 5 for classes they didn't even take.</p>
<p>The IB program is the best prep program out there, when done correectly. If the IB program at your school isn't any good (which the IBO would probably like to hear about), maybe AP is the better choice.</p>
<p>RMB, Sounds to me that the problem is not the IB program per se but in the high schools implementation. Our high school, an international school in Asia, also has both IB and AP. Kids who went on to the most selective US colleges did so with every possible combination AP only, full IB diploma, AP+IB courses, full IB diploma + AP courses. I really couldnt discern any advantage of one track over another in selective college admissions.</p>
<p>For my son, going for the full IB diploma was the right choice. There were certainly aspects of the program that could have been better (the art studio was stultifying, math either too advanced or too simplistic) but overall he benefited greatly from the experience. The Extended Essay and the Theory of Knowledge course were particularly note worthy as was the overall emphasis on analysis and writing. Hes still using his EE topic as a talking point for internship opportunities.</p>
<p>I also strongly agree with soccerguy that schools should choose one or the other, AP or IB. Having both not only waters down the course offerings and spreads resources too thin, but it also creates two competing camps. At our school the teachers actually promoted their own preference and put pressure on kids to take their courses which was confusing and stressful for kids and families.</p>
<p>As far as the colleges attitude toward IB, Id give it a slight edge over AP. Theres a kind of European/International mystique attached to the whole IB organization, part deserved, part smoke and mirrors but I definitely felt in presentations at selective colleges that an IB diploma would be considered an asset. As it turned out my son received NO credit or advancement from his IB courses. Like the OPs son this wasnt his objective, but I mention it because I think that colleges still have a hard time categorizing and quantifying IB courses and exams. They just dont fit into the pre-existing AP mold.</p>
<p>In his senior year, my son took seven courses, five IB and two electives. If your sons system is the same, conceivably he could supplement his IB courses with AP or honors advanced science.</p>
<p>My son is a Junior IB at his public magnet school. Can he take the AP exams anyway to see how he will score ??? Will he need special permission to do it ??
My thing with him on the IB ( unlike my D who was a Catholic prep school that required hundreds ofcommunity hours to graduate ) is the community service while doing the heavy course load on weekends . But he will manage ............</p>
<p>In America IB isn't all that important. The only recognition I will receive from doing the full IB diploma is the same amount of credit awarded to AP students, but only for achieving 6s and 7s on my HL exams (not necessarily an easy feat) I find it a little annoying that for all my hard work I essentially get nothing, while my counterparts attending European universities are rewarded for their good marks. </p>
<p>In terms of US universities I would say the IB is of little or no extra advantage. Unfortunately that seems to be the case. It's sad in a way because I think it prepares very well for college, more so than most high school programs. </p>
<p>It all comes down to practicality. If the program is not practical for your child, or doesn't fit into their schedule or they don't like it, its not imperative. It does not offer any real extra incentive. </p>
<p>On a side note the US schools I've seen doing IB approach it very differently than many of the schools around Europe that do it. I think the quality of the program also varies between many schools.</p>
<p>easydoesit,
You can take an AP test with or without any specific course. I think you just sign up with College Board. An IB course might be very good preparation, but it might not -- I'm not sure, and it probably depends on the subject and the teacher.</p>
<p>Easydoesit,</p>
<p>My daughter is also IB at a public magnet. They actually make the kids take the AP exams since it reflects well on the school. Some of her teachers do teach to it somewhat and they take special pride in high scorers and high pass percentages.</p>