Is the IB program a bad choice for me?

dfimare
Sat, 22 Apr 2017 21:43:42 +0000

I love the IB program and how it puts a large emphasis on critical thinking and not just memorization. However, my school is very limiting in terms of IB. If I do the diploma program, I must take Math SL, History HL, Chinese SL, Biology HL, and English HL. This presents an issue for me because I want to major in physics, and doing IB means I’ll never take Calculus or Physics as a High School course. I love biology as well, but truth be told I have no interest in history.

To make up for the lack of physics and calc, I would gladly take AP Calc and Physics either online or over the summer. However, I’d like advice regarding whether this is the right choice.

If I do not do IB, I will be taking Honors Physics and Pre-Calc Junior year, and AP Physics and Calc senior year (I am unable to take AP Physics or AP Calc as a junior). This could potentially hurt my GPA because my school heavily weights AP/IB courses compared to honors. I would probably still do IB Chinese and IB English because I like the learning style and the teachers more, and would still have to take history as a junior, but senior year I could take AP computer science instead. Since I wouldn’t be learning Physics or Calc on my own, I’d be able to volunteer, seek out an internship, or do something along those lines in my free time.

I am an extremely hard worker and am currently ranked 1/941 (I go to a huuuugeee school). I dream of being admitted to highly selective schools such as the Ivies, and am worried that if I don’t do full IB, it will come across that I did not choose the most rigorous courseload. I could only take one AP class sophomore year and couldn’t do any freshman year, and feel the IB diploma is the only way to set myself apart from students who were able to rack up over 10 APs throughout their time in high school. However, I’m very conflicted due to the lack of higher level math and physics in the IB program at my school.

What’s the best pathway for me? The IB diploma or the alternate courses I described?