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AP or IB?, which one is better?
Would you prefer AP or IB?
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sprezzatura
post Mar 21 2007, 08:00 PM
Post #1


Peggy.
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Member No: 214,025



Sophomore is going to end in 3 months (I am currently in pre-IB), but I have to tell my IB coordinator in advance before I could drop out of IB and switch to the AP program. Right now, I am very hesitant.

I might as well describe myself a bit. I am the top student at math and science courses, but I totally sucked at history. It takes me so much effort to regurgitate what is in my history textbook already (currently taking AP European history), not to mention that I have never received an essay score with a score higher than a 5, which 5 is just barely mediocre. I couldn't put any analysis in my writing, it's mostly BS of how my I can regurgitate, especially I loathe history. If I write about literature or persuasive essay in English class, I usually get scores ranging from 7 to 9, so I am pretty okay with English.

On the other hand, math and science is like...the bomb. I do well in those classes and I am one of the top students in the math and science departments.

Advanced Placement
PROS:
1. I get to choose what classes to take.
2. I can get career certification.
3. It is not mandatory to take history classes in the AP/IB level.
4. It is less stressful than IB, but definitely it is still stressful.
5. There is a greater chance that I could enjoy my classes and earn a higher GPA.

CONS:
1. There aren't much AP science classes offered at my school, which AP Biology is the ONLY one.
2. The classes are less competitive because the most competitive kids stay in IB, but I need the competition to stay motivated.
3. If I drop IB, I am not allow to take any IB classes, but I really want to take IB Physics HL.
4. If I drop IB, I can't regret and join IB again.

International Baccalaureate
PROS:
1. It looks good in college apps, but only if you do well in those classes.
2. The classes are competitive, so you can get yourself to work harder.
3. I can take IB Biology SL and IB Physics HL, which are the classes that I want to take.
4. Usually the top 4% of my school are IB kids, although there are a few AP ones and a few regular ones.
5. IB is more rigorous than AP.
6. Well-rounded people are more likely to succeed in IB (which I am not well-rounded).

CONS:
1. It is very stressful.
2. You have a very limited choice of what classes to take.
3. I have to take APUSH and IB 20th Century History HL, and I fear history classes to the most because the AP/IB history teachers are really hard.
4. I might not do well in IB because I have APUSH to drop my grade.

I really don't know what to do. I doubt my ability to do well in IB, because I can't survive history despite how well I could be in other areas. But in AP, I have my choice and I am confident to get an A or B in these classes.

But my school has this weird IB program that I am not allowed to take IB courses when you are not in IB, which I know other schools allow their students to do so.

I am caught between...IB Physics HL and APUSH.
Which way should I go? Should I avoid APUSH and just stick to the AP program? Or...should I stay in IB and take IB Physics and APUSH together and just die like that?
 
 
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sprezzatura
post Mar 24 2007, 04:14 PM
Post #2


Peggy.
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Group: Member
Posts: 2,508
Joined: Aug 2005
Member No: 214,025



^My school doesn't allow IB certificate. It has to be IB Diploma at my school.
 

Posts in this topic
Monokuro Boo.   AP or IB?   Mar 21 2007, 08:00 PM
Katana.Samurai   I want to go to IB because it seems better then te...   Mar 21 2007, 08:02 PM
Monokuro Boo.   ^Do you mean the 150-hour CAS requirement? Persona...   Mar 21 2007, 08:49 PM
rawtheekuh.   You said you weren't very good at History, rig...   Mar 22 2007, 06:18 PM
Monokuro Boo.   QUOTE(rawtheekuh. @ Mar 22 2007, 4:18 PM)...   Mar 23 2007, 07:46 PM
Smoogrish   Take IB. If you've sufficiently motivated, you...   Mar 22 2007, 06:20 PM
kayceeisms   QUOTE(Smoogrish @ Mar 22 2007, 3:20 PM) T...   Mar 23 2007, 10:36 PM
Juanjo   Yesterday I got my accepted letter of IB I will ...   Mar 23 2007, 10:19 PM
icy_wonderland   I'm pre-IB too, I think it's better, even ...   Mar 23 2007, 10:34 PM
catastrophic   I'm in Pre-IB right now, and I'm pretty su...   Mar 23 2007, 10:38 PM
Juanjo   QUOTE(Monokuro Boo. @ Mar 21 2007, 9:00 P...   Mar 23 2007, 10:42 PM
minioligo   Can't you do IB Certificate instead of Diploma...   Mar 23 2007, 10:48 PM
Monokuro Boo.   ^My school doesn't allow IB certificate. It ha...   Mar 24 2007, 04:14 PM
SimplicityGirl   I've been through the IB program. I do not con...   Mar 24 2007, 11:58 PM
GhEtTo_DuChEsS   IB of course! lol.   Mar 29 2007, 05:14 PM
&/degradanca.   take IB assuming APUSH is AP us history... i took ...   Mar 30 2007, 10:28 PM
WickedDreamer   Stick with IB, we don't have it at my school, ...   Mar 30 2007, 11:32 PM
x_lilvietdreamer_x   ^ i thought you only get the college credit if you...   Apr 2 2007, 09:17 PM
Wereismybelt   would it be better to do good in regular courses ...   Jun 8 2007, 09:06 AM
beaucoup   well. sounds like for your case specifically, you ...   Jun 8 2007, 10:21 AM
Wereismybelt   so if your a student that doesnt like to be challe...   Jun 12 2007, 07:15 AM
alysaphobia   AP and IB are both challenging in their own ways. ...   Jun 12 2007, 08:22 AM


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