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How useful is an IB diploma? I'm doing IB Concentrated Studies right now at a school that where AP courses are less highly rated(the kids). That kind of atmosphere. Concentrated Studies involves taking at least three IB courses, community service etc. I'm taking mostly IB courses right now along with some fine art classes. Should I try to switch into full IB which would involve making up a credit during the summer/or taking another class this year. Or should I just stay in the classes I am in? I like both options and am not really sure which would benefit me the more.

By Calliandra (Calliandra) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 07:26 pm: Edit

This coming from a kid who dropped out of full diploma to do certificate, it depends on where you want to go to college. If you want to go to another country to study, then IB will help you greatly in admissions. I've heard IB helps you on the east coast (and especially Florida) in admissions, but California colleges place more emphasis on AP. Since I plan on staying in California, full IB just didn't seem worth it to me.

If you stay a certificate kid, remember that college won't take any Standard level courses for college credit; take either Higher level or the AP test (which in some cases is much easier).

By Dramatica (Dramatica) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 10:36 pm: Edit

The full IB program leading to an IB diploma is highly regarded by the best colleges and universities worldwide. Whether you ultimately succeed in getting the certificate at the end of the process is immaterial. By that point all college decisions will have been made. However, if you do well in IB you will have no problem going to the school of your choice. The rigor of the program is recognized and IB students are considered "desirable" applicants.

So if you think that you can handle the work and do well, by all means do it. However, if you will have difficulty with the higher level courses in 11th and 12th grades, then you may be be better off doing AP courses of your choice. Incidentally, if you have any Ivies in your plans, going through IB would be a wise choice.

Good luck!

By Tsdad (Tsdad) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 11:30 pm: Edit

At USC, IB highers give you 6 general education credits while APs only give you 4. Plus you can get 2 extra credits for the IB diploma with a score of 30 or above. However, not many IB courses can be used to replace specific USC courses.

IBs are huge in the Florida publics. If you have an IB diploma you pretty much enter with sophmore status. Unlike other schools, Florida's public colleges recognize IB standards and waive some introductory courses if you have taken them.

By Momrath (Momrath) on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 01:29 am: Edit

There are three separate but related ways in which the IB is "useful" 1. Getting accepted, 2. Being prepared and 3. Getting credit. Although all selective colleges know about and respect the IB program, after that there's a wide range in their understanding of what it actually entails. It isn't so much that they prefer AP over IB, as they understand AP better and try to fit the IB into the AP mold. Those highers and standards can be fairly confusing to people not familiar with the program. And remember, by the time your scores come out college acceptance will be long over.

A full IB program will definitely help in overall acceptance. IB has a kind of mystique (maybe it's that European thing) and adcoms are impressed with the commitment.

The rigor of the IB program, the emphasis on writing and reasoning, the theory of knowledge class and the extended essay will really help you be prepared for college.

Every college treats IB scores differently for credit. Some are very generous, some don't offer much at all.

My son, who is at a NE LAC, didn't get any course credit for his IB scores, eventhough they were pretty good. In some cases he could have used the scores to skip introductory classes, but for various reasons, chose not to. He definitely did benefit in general and personally from the program and would recommend it.

The only caveat I would give is that you should investigate further your school's IB fine arts program. At my son's school this was a weak area, I think because the IB tries to quantify and standardize evaluation and that's hard to do with creativity. If you plan to pursue IB art, talk to the teachers and current students to see how they feel about the program.

By Debelli (Debelli) on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 05:18 am: Edit

My S just graduated with his IB Diploma from a magnet school. It's a very rigorous course of studies, but it was perfect for him.

One thing I had to interject was in reply to Dramatica's comment "However, if you do well in IB you will have no problem going to the school of your choice" This is not true, unfortunately.

My S's friend graduated #1 in the IB magnet program, # 1 in the school (class of over 600), had PERFECT SAT scores AND got a perfect 45 in his IB exams (never done in the school before). His first choice was YALE, he was flat out rejected. He did get in to Harvard though, but his first choice was still Yale.

I don't mean to burst any bubbles, but I'm sure you understand that even with an IB DIPLOMA, just like anything in life, there are no guarantees.

By Clipper (Clipper) on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 07:44 am: Edit

I totally agree Debelli - my daughter was just a hair shy of your S's friend's stats and she also did not get into Yale or Harvard. So it still is a crapshoot though like the adcoms say, most kids who apply can do the work there. Also, the IB tests are not given until May of their senior year so the college choice has already been made. Her GC had to "estimate" her IB score and since he didn't even know her name (the guy is senile - seriously) we are curious as to what he estimated for her. I am sure he was way off.

She did "enjoy" her 4 years of hard work - she has slept most of this summer and told me yesterday that she is making up for the 5 hours of sleep each day she got the last 4 years. LOL She is innately (sp) intelligent - things come easy to her too. There was just a lot of work - hours and hours of work. Not that she was sitting there studying - she was just doing her homework.
The positives are that she was with kids who were mostly like her - very smart and loved learning. That was why Yale and H were so appealing.

As far as AP vs IB - my daughter took AP tests in the subjects that she had an IB class in just to make sure. She did very well (AP National Scholar) on them bc the IB material covers more than the AP material does.
As far as credits - depends on the school. UVA was prepared to give her over 50 credits but Georgetown would only let her have 30 (but she earned more) which is one year. Take that into consideration. Also the higher levels count for most colleges but the lower tiers will take Standard level scores.

Would she do it again - the answer would be a resounding yes.