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Comparing Goodness of Fit for Gifted Students: AP vs IB

Today we are revisiting another of the most popular articles in our Davidson Gifted Database. In 2011, Jay Mathews, the noted Washington Post education columnist, led a Davidson seminar comparing goodness of fit between Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes for gifted students.  View the full article here.

Some key points from the article:

• Seeking flexibility? Advanced Placement (AP) courses may be the better option. 
• If your student is an 11th or 12th grader and you are choosing between AP and IB, Mathews feels IB is the better program.
• What do college admissions officers prefer? They love both "fervently and equally". If you have taken 5 IB exams but not done the full diploma, you are still going to be regarded an identical, at least in that dimension, to the student who has taken 5 AP exams.

• How many AP or IB courses and exams should students take? Based on conversations with admissions offices at the most selective colleges, three to five is the target number. It is fine to take six or more courses and exams if the student enjoys them, but it will do nothing to improve his/her chances of getting into a top university.
• Familes taking 12 APs may not have enough time to show the passionate extracuricular involvement in activites that many colleges seek. That would be bad. Be careful NOT to fill the activities box with several different enterprises. The student should put a lot of effort into only a few activities, no more than two.
• The most important point is that IB and AP courses are only as good as their teachers, so check with parents of children older than yours on the quality of instruction, then select withever program works best for you.

The article has also generated a good dialogue, with comments including:

"As an 11th grader in the IB Diploma Programme, I can definitely attest to the statement that IB is tough and to an extent, takes over your life. However, I’ve found that IB is more than manageable if the student has good time management skills . . . My experience with IB has been great, my teachers (for the most part) are wonderful and well trained, and I genuinely think I learn just as much in my classes as from the other students in IB. I am confident that IB is preparing me for college, and although it is tough, I truly think IB is worth the effort. To any parents reading this: I am glad my parents encouraged me to challenge myself and do the IB program. I am a better student, thinker, and person because of it. IB is definitely more effort than AP (I’ve done both) because throughout the two year IB program there are several research essays and other assignments one has to complete that contribute to one's overall IB scores."

"If you can't manage your time well, don't take IB, because everything piles up and it gets very hard. I'm involved in soccer, and that hasn't hurt me academically, but I do stay up some nights past midnight doing my homework. The IB is very good at teaching critical thinking, while AP is much more memorization (as I've heard from friends who take AP classes). It is true that the IB is very rigorous, but it is definitely doable. I'm glad my parents chose an IB school for me because it did challenge me, but that's not something everyone enjoys or wants."

"IB, due to its curriculum structure, is for students who want to be well-rounded. IB defines what everything is and means. The curriculum is tailored to what they perceive is successful. This is a great place for students who aspire to be well-rounded. Students who would rather be sharp as a tack in many directions should not attend."

"I'm studying in an IB school, MYP, and I think for people who go to other classes, like music, sports and etc. should really choose AP over IB. The assignments the teachers give are sometimes very time consuming . . . IB's great if you really focus only on school and not on sports or anything like that."

Read the full article here >

View a larger selection of our articles related to college planning. 

Recently Added to the Davidson Gifted Database:

Online Coding Program Comparison - This chart provides a comparison of the most popular online coding programs used by Davidson Young Scholars. These program can be utilized in a variety of ways; enrichment, tutoring, curriculum replacement, independent study, etc. 

Davidson Young Scholars - FREE Services for Profoundly Gifted Students The national Davidson Young Scholars program provides FREE services designed to nurture the intellectual, social, emotional, and academic development of profoundly intelligent young people between the ages of 5 and 18 (students must be between the ages of 5 and 16 when applying). Benefits of the program include: Consulting Services An Online Community In-person Connections Community Service Endeavors Summer Programs (fee-based) Applications are due the first of each month. For more information, see the How to Apply and Qualification Criteria pages.