Need help with S's HS schedule (IB)...

king81
Fri, 08 May 2009 02:06:19 +0000

Hi all –

I’m hoping you can help me advise my son on whether or not he should continue the IB Diploma program.

My question is specific to the Univ of Calif system… Here’s the dilemma - I can’t get a straight answer to the following:

Does the UC admissions process confer any advantage to an IB Diploma candidate, over someone who has taken the highest IB classes offered but has chosen not to take the Diploma path? (doesn’t do the extended essay and CAS).

This is our high school’s first year - my son is guinea pig - and here are the conflicting things we’re hearing:

1) Our high school IB coordinator says Diploma candidates are viewed very highly by UC.
2) But, UC Davis, UCSB and UCSD admissions staff have all told us they don’t give any admission advantage to Diploma candidates.
3) A rep from the Calif IB high school association (whatever…) implied that UC won’t say that they give preference bcs not politically correct, but in fact they do give preference. (huh?)
4) I hear that there’s a question on the UC app that asks “Are you an IB Diploma candidate?” If that’s true, I assume it must be important to them?

I’m not asking about AP vs IB, and I’m not asking about college credit. And there’s no real difference in the IB classes he will take. It’s all the extra stuff that’s overwhelming… So, I’m just about the chances of UC admission for a Diploma candidate vs a non-diploma IB student who’s taken exactly the same courses.

Hope my question is clear – and that some of you have figured out the UC system!
thanks so much