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I'm a sophomore at a non-IB school. I was just wondering, with all this talk of how hard IB is, colleges are sure to recognice the amount of hard work IB graduates have had to put into getting their IB diploma, so do non-IB students have a sever disadvantage to IB students?

By T2opine (T2opine) on Saturday, January 24, 2004 - 11:45 pm: Edit

From what I understand, IB isn't a very common program in the United States. A college can't exactly penalize you for not having IB classes available. However, if your school did offer IB, then it would probably be a good idea to take it. Then again, I've also heard that some schools don't like IB as much as say AP.

By Wantonwhitey (Wantonwhitey) on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 10:07 pm: Edit

IB is sort of weird because colleges say that they like it. But what they mean is that they like it if you do really well in the IB program. If you don't have IB, don't worry about it. They only care what you have offered in your school system. I happen to know a lot of less successful IB students (sub 3.7 GPA's) who didn't make it into UVA, a school usually viewed as pretty easy to get into because we're in Virginia. A lot of other successful students in IB (think 4.5 GPA and 1600 SAT for instance) were rejected from Ivy Leagues or other top schools. IB is good for you academically, but it's not so hot college admissions-wise. I actually read that it's better to go to a regular public high school than to an IB or private school because it's easier to stand out from your peers, which is what really counts.

By Tinysnow10 (Tinysnow10) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 08:31 pm: Edit

wow..i've been told the oppisite

By Icarus (Icarus) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 02:39 am: Edit

Wantonwhitey is correct. IB is a good thing to take, but only for the same reasons that AP classes are good to take. There is no particular advantage in college admissions for IB. Even doing quite well and receiving the full IB diploma doesn't make a huge difference. I know such students who were rejected from schools like UCLA, Columbia, etc.
But, not a bad idea if it's available to you.

By Conker (Conker) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 11:04 am: Edit

If your focus is to pack your transcript with higher-level courses, then I would recommend the AP program over the IB diploma. Each IB course takes place over the course of two years, not to mention that you also have a Theory of Knowledge course, which is an utter waste of one semester. IB restricts you to taking only 6 courses. Of course, this is better than taking two or three AP courses, but why waste your time with IB (considering its intensity) when you could take 12 or more AP courses during the same time frame? It gives you the same amount of credit, so think about it.

I am personally taking IB French at the moment because it would take just as much time as if I were to take AP instead. This coupled with the fact that my teacher is European (hence, a modus operandi more suitable for a European test) and rumors that the AP exam is actually harder has made this decision a no-brainer for me. But of course, your school could be different...

Conker

By Arizonainsanity (Arizonainsanity) on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 03:50 pm: Edit

Once again..for those that find IB 'not worth it' or as "no advantage" has really no clue what they are talking about. i have researchd this program intensely, and there are many advantages.

dont worry about things that you cant be in, focus on what you have already. there is no point because ultimately worrying about all this can end up hindering chances that you have the ability of getting.

I suggest you go ask someone you know personally who is going through this program instead of getting advice from people who most often dont know what they are talking about.