<p>D’s high school is described that way. How do admission counselors view that versus other high schools?</p>
<p>When a school offers AP or IB courses ( which are generally ranked higher than honors but not always if the school for example like older Ds school only has honors, but every year has students admitted to the most competitive schools)
then students are expected to have taken advantage of those courses, as compared to students who attend schools that don’t offer that level of course.</p>
<p>Your school will have a [similar</a>](<a href=“http://ghs.seattleschools.org/documents/profile2006.pdf]similar”>http://ghs.seattleschools.org/documents/profile2006.pdf)sheet to include with applications so that colleges will be familiar with offerings.</p>
<p>So IB courses are generally in-between honors and IB? Because if the school is described as having “All IB courses”, then wouldn’t that mean that the regular courses are at IB level, with honors and AP above that?</p>
<p>Basically, what the school, or admissions officers, won’t necessarily tell you is that it means your d must take the full IB diploma program to be considered to be taking the most challenging courseload at her school at the selective schools, even though it requires “extras” that aren’t necessarily available through other programs. You’re still expected to take advantage. And, if she can handle it, I would recommend she does. It’s a good program and good preparation. </p>
<p>The exception would be if you have a good, explainable reason for not doing diploma. For example, some students who are heavy into music find they can’t fit a certain requirement into their schedule with orchestra, and therefore can’t do diploma and music. From what I’ve seen, as long as this is explained and the student still strives to take as many IB classes as possible, this is still looked at as okay, and probably better than just dropping music.</p>
<p>Now if you aren’t thinking about the most selective colleges, then you have some slack. However she should still do some IB courses in this case anyway in the subjects she is strongest in. Admissions officers at most colleges view the full IB diploma program as a very strong preparation program. They should be familiar with it.</p>
<p>Both IB and AP would be ranked above any honors courses (you can often get college credit for them depending on your test scores and the colleges you apply to-colleges may all have different standards on what ones they give credit for); it may mean that they are emphasizing a full IB program curriculum rather than offering different AP courses.</p>
<p>Yes- schools generally offer either IB or AP not both- at least in our area
To be more clear, when comparing students who have taken most rigourous courses at their school, whether that be IB,AP or honors, more goes into evaluation than noting which courses the school offered.</p>
<p>AP students usually have to take AP tests, which may also allow them to receive credit for that course when they register for classes at the college.
While IB classes give students an excellent preparation for college, to my knowledge, there isn’t a similar test to obtain higher standing or credit when registering for college courses- at least from my nieces experience who both had IB diplomas, but were advised not to take AP tests, as it covers different material.</p>
<p>Most colleges that award credit also give credit to IB HL tests…but not SL usually. The whole idea of AP to award credit is sort of slipping away anyway from what I’ve seen so I’m not all that concerned about the discrepancy myself but it is something that comes up often around here since both AP and IB (but not both in the same school) are prevalent. </p>
<p>Over the course of the discussion of the lack of honors classes in our school systems in this area, many have insinuated that SL IB is the equivalent of “honors” therefore this is somehow unfair to AP schools. Not really, since in the second year of most courses it’s an SL/HL split (everyone in the same class, take a different test at the end). It’s still the same class though, I mean…I’m doing French SL for diploma and it’s an HL/SL split. Second year of IB science is SL/HL split. History and English are automatically HL, no choice there. Math Methods is the only thing that’s truly two years of HL or SL. (BTW all school systems work this differently so this won’t necessarily be true at the OP’s d’s school). SL/HL splits aren’t uncommon though due to size of classes.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone. This is why I ask: My D did not take a lot of AP and honors classes…school is extremely competitive and requires a 95% or higher the entire previous year in the prerequisite class in order to take AP. For honors its 90%. But, if the entire curriculum is IB anyway, would that help?</p>
<p>Do you mean your d’s current school or one she is going to?</p>
<p>For example my school has two tracks, regular classes, and IB classes. IB classes are college prep classes. Per county standards these are open enrollment (provided you passed the prerequisite course). Regular classes are also obviously open enrollment. You can choose to take the Diploma program for IB, or just individual IB classes.</p>
<p>Some schools make you apply to the Diploma program because they have limited space or something. Sounds like your D’s school description just says they have an IB program…if she took AP/honors then it probably won’t really have much of an effect on how an admissions officers reviews her profile. However if getiing into AP is that competitive then I think that will be taken into account. That should definitely be mentioned. 95% in the previous class is pretty strict. But it most likely doesn’t mean that all classes are on IB level because an IB school has to be certified by the IBO and you have to take the exams, so if your D didn’t take any IB exams then it won’t be considered and IB class.</p>
<p>Her current high school. All girls parochial in MA.</p>
<p>Oh okay. I think I understand. I edited my previous post, but IB classes are considered an equivalent to AP classes really, it’s just a different program (European). The school probably has a diploma program, but if it’s a small private school and the requirements for AP are so strict, I imagine that you probably had to apply for it in 9th or 10th grade and it’s a small program.</p>
<p>Oh, okay Princedog. I think I have a clearer picture. Hopefully, school profile that GC sends to colleges will outline the requirements to get into AP. Does anyone else’s high school have strict standards for taking AP and honors classes? (Or am I just imagining that these standards are very high.)</p>
<p>They seem quite strict to me since in this area public schools are mainly open enrollment for AP/IB (although I imagine if you had a D in the prerequisite class you’d be discouraged…technically they can’t stop you though if you passed). But I don’t know. I know some places have requirements but a 95% is over an A by basically any grading scale. 90% is an A on some grading scales, generally at least a B+. I have heard of strict application standards to get into an IB diploma program because sometimes when small schools offer them there is limited space. This could be the case with AP classes at your D’s school also. They also may want to avoid having students take too many that they aren’t prepared for. However it should be taken into account on the school profile. You should probably inquire with guidance whether it is and if it isn’t, ask that it be included on the counselor recommendation? if they are sending one.</p>
<p>My daughters’ high school offers an IB diploma magnet program where students are accepted by competitive admission (though preference is given to minorities and students who are zoned for the school). They are required to take the equivalent AP tests as they go through the program and sit for the IB exams at the end of senior year. There are also IB specific requirements (extended essay, theory of knowledge and CAS/community service hours). <a href=“http://www.ibo.org/diploma/[/url]”>500;
<p>Yes that’s how some schools do it. I don’t know anyone who bothers to take the AP exams at my school, probably because of the money/time and the decent chance you’d get no credit. </p>
<p>To clarify, there are some “all IB” schools that only have IB, and no AP. My school (public, small, nonmagnet) is one of these. The schools in this county, with the exception of one or two large ones, have either AP or IB, however anyone can pupil place into either program (you have to provide your own transportation though). The IB school happens to be my base school. As I understand, back in the early 90s when the county decided to offer IB, they chose the smaller and “less desirable” schools so the program would act sort of as a magnet. The vast majority of people go to their base school though, I probably know like three pupil placed kids. If you place into IB you have to do the diploma program as opposed to certificates. No idea what you have to do if you place into AP, but since my sister is a freshman at the local “AP school” now, I guess I’ll find out. </p>
<p>However my school still has a “regular” track, as do the AP schools.</p>