IB or AP High School best for USNA chances?

GoldWinger

Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2017
Messages
16
Thanks for any guidance! We are moving this summer and have a choice of districts. Does anyone out there know if USNA admissions looks fondly on IB programs or should we stick to the AP High School? DS is starting 10 grade and for now is focusing on USNA as his #1 pick. Obviously personal performance matters most but if we can help the odds of an appointment we'll take that into consideration for our house purchase. Thank you all.
 
Thanks for any guidance! We are moving this summer and have a choice of districts. Does anyone out there know if USNA admissions looks fondly on IB programs or should we stick to the AP High School? DS is starting 10 grade and for now is focusing on USNA as his #1 pick. Obviously personal performance matters most but if we can help the odds of an appointment we'll take that into consideration for our house purchase. Thank you all.
I don't believe it will make a difference either way. Hell, home-schooled kids get appointments. You're best bet is to put him at the school where he will fit best and therefore excel. Thrive where you're planted. Just one man's opinion.
 
My DS' high school had both the standard "core" degree and the IB program degree.
The AP courses offered (and there are quite a few) weren't really part of a degree program, per se.
So what it comes down to is this; Does he take the courses required in the IB program (which has an emphasis on more of a world view and a second language), or just a challenging schedule packed with AP classes?

With that said, he could do the IB program OR as many AP classes as he can take (and do well in) to prepare to be a competitive applicant.
USNA is heavily into the STEM thing, so I don't think that the IB program has any advantage over a class load rich in AP courses.
He may want to consider this link to the list of majors at USNA. If he finds something he wants to pursue there, then it should inform him as to whether or not he wants to go the IB route.

I can tell you that my DS had a class load littered with all the AP classes that he could possibly take.
He will be showing up on I-Day to be inducted into the class of 2022.

Does that help?
 
-... . / ... ..- .-. . / - --- / -.. .-. .. -. -.- / -.-- --- ..- .-. / --- ...- .- .-.. - .. -. .
@THParent It just dawned on me what this is. Pretty funny. I think I now know your favorite movie. Duhhhhh
 
Last edited:
OP, IMO as long as your DS is getting heavy load of STEM courses that he does well in and has other activities (leadership, sports, boys state, etc.) to round out his package I think he will be OK.

JMO, but I don't necessarily think IB would give him an advantage, so don't do it just to get a perceived advantage. If he is thinking IB would be a good fit for his learning style I would suggest thoroughly checking out the IB program of any school he is interested in. IB is relatively new in most schools and when my kids were in HS the program was just getting started there so course offering was limited, etc. It takes a lot of resources and special training for teachers and some schools just can't handle that burden well.
Not bashing IB at all, just make sure it's a good fit and a well run program if he is interested.
 
Our Urban public school system has gone all-in with IB, but offers 4-5 AP classes, particularly for 9th & 10th grade. For diploma candidates, 11th & 12th grade are all HL & SL IB classes. It is very intense and diploma candidates have a “zero hour” class before the school day starts for Theory of Knowledge class. Yes, there has been a significant investment in training teachers but it has stopped the flow of exceptional kids to open enrollment in the suburbs. DS is my third son through the IB Diploma curriculum and I find it as rigorous as AP but more cohesive.
 
I don't think that the IB program has any advantage over a class load rich in AP courses.

Please read the following with an open mind and understand that I am not being defensive or attempting to attack the original post.
As an IB student, I would just like to say that IB students have to go through the typic AP style class course and load with the addition of the CORE. The core comprises of CAS, EE, and IAs. CAS is an individual and group activity project, during a 2 year period. EE stands for Extended Essay, which is a 4,000-word essay that is written throughout the course of a year to a year and a half. Lastly, IA stands for Internal Assessments. IAs are pretty much a self-driven research in each of the classes. Lastly, IB is a 2-year commitment and the students have to 6 tests with at least a 4 and achieve a total score of 24 points.
IB classes overall with AP classes, but again, IB students have to do the CORE.

As far as the Naval Academy's view on AP or IB. From a conversation with my BGO and Admission Counselor, the value of AP or IB lies within the rigor of the high school. For example: if your high school offers AP classes but you do not take AP classes, then the Academy will question why you did not take those classes. Vice versa, if the high school offers the IB program but you did not enroll in the IB program, the Academy may question your decision.

I am not an expert in this subject, I am just sharing my personal knowledge and experience during my application process. Hope this helps.
 
I agree completely. Especially the either-or comparison. If your school only offers IB, you should do that! If your school only does AP, then take AP classes!

I was thinking of the USNA STEM point of view.
Since IB emphasizes a world view and a second language, it's not necessarily as "sciency", but if you want to major in Arabic, Chinese, Political Science, Computer Science, Cyber-Ops, or Political Science (for instance)
your IB background could be of great value.
 
IB programs, like AP, have opportunities for emphasis. My son has HL math junior & senior year (basically pre-Calc and Calc), HL Physics (junior & senior), SL Biology, SL Spanish (Junior & Senior), HL Language Arts (Junior & Senior). Also, the extended essay is going to be STEM oriented. Chem is also offered but he had Honors Chem as a sophomore. IB diploma candidates can have a STEM focus but all IB students have to be well rounded & all classes require year end testing. They have to score at a certain level in order to earn the IB Diploma.

I agree that it’s not an “either or” - it’s taking the most challenging program offered & excelling. DS was going to take the IB classes but not go for the diploma (mostly to avoid taking Theory of Knowledge class) but he didn’t have a good answer to the inevitable question “Why aren’t you going for the IB Diploma?”
 
I am an IB Diploma program candidate (currently a junior) and I can definitely say that, even if not for admissions purposes, IB is a wonderful program that will prepare you for anywhere you go in life. I may be biased here, but I think IB is a fantastic program and requires a little more hard work that AP.

You have to consider the fact that, unlike AP, where you can pick and chose what courses you want, IB requires you to take almost a full course of IB classes. (At least 3 HL and 3 SL). I am taking HL Biology, English, and History, and SL Physics, Spanish, and Math, as well as TOK. It is a lot of work!

There is more than just demanding classwork and hours of studying, too. There is also a required amount of CAS hours that need to be done (essentially community service, CAS stands for Creativity, Action, and Service), a self-designs and run CAS project, Theory of Knowledge classes, a 4,000 word “extended essay”, and lots and lots and lots of testing. Unlike AP, which has one test per class, IB is made of several tests (IA’s, EA’s, IOP’s, IO’s, WA’s... lots of acronyms to learn!)

A lot of people don’t think that IB will prepare you for a STEM degree, but it absolutely will! I plan to major in engineering myself. The math and sciences classes are wonderful and challenging. There is a more “worldly” and “cultural” emphasis, but this only adds to the experience. The IB emphasis on culture and world views makes learning more valuable and makes you think for yourself and at a higher level.

Understand that being in IB is far more demanding that AP, at least to me (at my school, we call IB classes “AP classes on steroids” haha) but the rewards and benefits are countless. You will have to work hard, manage your time around everything else your doing (ECs, Sports, work, etc...) and put in a lot of work, and a lot of long, sleepless night of studying and cramming, but I know that whoever I go to college, and wherever I go in life, I will be prepared for anything. IB teaches time management, group work, leadership, study skills, stress management, and hard work ethic. There is a lot of benefits that you don’t really get in AP.

If you are up for the challenge, go for IB! It looks great to admissions offices, whether its a service academy or a civilian college, because they know you are putting in a lot of work and dedication to your academics. Some civilian colleges even give scholarships to IB students, and if you test well enough, will let you start college as a sophomore. It also makes you stand out among to huge group of AP students, as IB is less common. In the end, it is a great program and shows that you are a strongly dedicated student and are going above and beyond for academic scholarship. I wish you the best!
 
OH, one thing I forgot to mention is that IB teachers are some of the most dedicated and talented rea teachers you will ever have, at least in my experience. They put so much work into you and into IB, and genuinely care about you and your education. In fact, they have to go through extra training and pay extra money to be trained and certified in IB.

Holy cow, I just wrote way more than I thought I did. But I am very passionate about IB and think it’s a great program. I just simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity to promote it!

Again, I wish you the best, and good luck!
 
USNA has said they treat AP, IB and honors courses as equivalent. I realize people may disagree with this approach, but that is the Academy’s view. And you should take as many such courses as you can successfully handle.
 
OH, one thing I forgot to mention is that IB teachers are some of the most dedicated and talented rea teachers you will ever have, at least in my experience. They put so much work into you and into IB, and genuinely care about you and your education. In fact, they have to go through extra training and pay extra money to be trained and certified in IB.

Holy cow, I just wrote way more than I thought I did. But I am very passionate about IB and think it’s a great program. I just simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity to promote it!

Again, I wish you the best, and good luck!
From personal experience. the IB teachers tend to work better with each other to make sure that the students do not have overlapping tests of major assignments due in the same week. Also, the IB coordinators are the "school counselors" for the IB students so they can write the School Official/Counselor letter or rec. These teachers/coordinators have known the students on a much more personal level, so they should know the students better than the regular school counselors would. That having been said, I am sure that there are exceptions.
 
Back
Top