Ap program

Adding IB is often more costly than starting a few AP classes. The programs have different goals as well. IB has more emphasis on writing and developing critical-thinking skills —and not just on the exams themselves. The IB diploma also requires the extended essay a long, college-style research paper and maintains extracurricular requirements. In contrast, the AP is a program focused on teaching students specific content and testing their knowledge via exams.

There is more multiple choice on these tests and a bigger emphasis on meeting certain content goals. However, many schools have financial aid and fee-waiver programs for AP exams , so your actual cost could be lower. Talk with your guidance counselor to find out more about testing costs.

Also, remember that these fees, albeit steep, are much less than the cost of taking the equivalent course in college. If you have proficiency in a language that's not offered by your school or you want to self-study for a niche subject such as art history, then the AP program will give you more flexibility. AP is a good option for students who like to study on their own.

Additionally, IB offers higher-level and standard-level courses. To get an IB diploma, you have to take at least three higher-level courses.

AP courses are offered at a single level, though there are certain subjects, such as calculus and physics, that have different course options. IB higher level is, at some high schools, considered harder than AP. Most colleges give credit for AP exams and higher-level IB exams, but not all give credit for standard-level IB exams. You can search the AP credit policy of various colleges at the AP college database. The IB program doesn't have a similar database, but you can look up the IB credit policy of any college or university by searching "[School Name] IB credit.

You might be attracted to the IB program's focus on writing and a broad education, or you might think the AP program's flexibility makes it a better choice for you. Definitely take these differences into account as you make your choice. But what do colleges think? Does one program have a reputation for being more rigorous? As it turns out, colleges don't automatically consider AP or IB harder or more impressive on a transcript. Since IB is a rarer program, they can't penalize students for not taking it.

Plus, there are huge differences in how both AP and IB courses are taught and graded at high schools across the country. So instead of worrying about AP versus IB, you should worry about taking the most rigorous classes your high school offers. For example, Princeton says on its admissions website, " Whenever you can, challenge yourself with the most rigorous courses possible , such as honors, Advanced Placement AP , and dual-enrollment courses.

We will evaluate the International Baccalaureate IB , A-levels, or another diploma in the context of the program's curriculum" bold emphasis mine. Princeton is more interested in how hard your schedule is considered at your school rather than whether you chose AP or IB.

So if your high school just has APs, then you should take some AP classes. If your high school has just the IB program, you should take some IB classes or, even better, go for the diploma. If your high school has both, you can take a mix. Since IB is a diploma program and AP is not, if you're going for the most selective schools, it's smart to pursue the IB diploma if it's offered at your school.

If you don't, you technically haven't taken the most challenging courses available to you. However, if you have a demanding extracurricular schedule or are intensely committed to a few academic areas, you won't necessarily be penalized for not doing the diploma.

The bottom line is that you should consider your high school's offerings and how challenging your schedule including extracurriculars looks in comparison. One thing to keep in mind is that the IB diploma shows you are challenging yourself in all subject areas, whereas with the AP program you could just pick subjects you are strong in.

Colleges will notice this. If you can, try to take AP classes in a broad range of subjects while digging deeper into subjects you're passionate about. But you should also consider trying AP Statistics or AP Calculus to prove that you have strong quantitative skills, too. One of the single most important parts of your college application is what classes you choose to take in high school in conjunction with how well you do in those classes.

Our team of PrepScholar admissions experts have compiled their knowledge into this single guide to planning out your high school course schedule. Another difference between the AP and IB courses is how much course credit you can earn from them at schools. If a college you're interested in seems to favor one program over the other, this could help you decide which program to pursue. In most cases, if you earn a high passing score—for example, a 7 on IB or a 5 on AP—you will get course credit.

But one thing to keep in mind is that while IB higher-level courses are usually accepted by colleges, standard-level IB courses aren't always taken. In contrast, AP is offered at one level. So if you take three higher-level IB courses and three standard-level IB courses as part of the diploma, you might end up with less credit than you would for the same six AP courses.

Furthermore, many colleges have slight variances in credit hours between AP and IB , which could affect your decision between the two programs. For example, at Stanford, the IB and AP credit lists are mostly the same, with language and math getting the same credit.

Some colleges tend to give AP more credit. Meanwhile, other colleges give more credit for IB. The University of Michigan, for instance, generally gives more credit hours for IB classes. The point here is that although AP and IB credit are both widely accepted, there are lots of slight differences in credit policies.

We suggest looking up policies at your target schools since the credit policies can differ. How do you get this info? The university's web page with credit information will often be the first or second result. If a school you're really interested in seems to vastly favor one program over the other, you should take that into consideration when weighing the IB and AP programs.

But odds are that if you look up more than two or three schools, it will end up being a wash, with some schools slightly favoring IB and others favoring AP. Also, keep in mind you only get credit in most cases if you have a 5 or higher on IB exams or a 4 or higher on AP exams. So regardless of whether you opt for AP or IB, remember to focus on doing well and passing your exams!

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Would doing the IB diploma prevent you from a certain extracurricular, such as yearbook, debate, or band? Are APs and IBs offered as the same class at your school? Are you ready to commit to an IB diploma, or would you prefer the flexibility of AP classes?

These are questions you should consider before signing up for either AP or IB classes. Ask your high school if they have suggested four-year plans for advanced students. This will give you an idea of what your schedule might look like and how it could conflict with any extracurriculars you want to participate in.

Does your school have the same or different teachers for AP and IB courses? What are their reputations? The quality of a teacher can make or break your experience in a class. You can ask upperclassmen about their experience in certain classes, or see if there is a way you can look at syllabi from current and past years for AP and IB classes. Taking AP can help you:. Studying a subject in depth could give you new insights and even put you on the path to a career.

Use our tool to see which AP courses can help you on the path to specific careers or college majors. Learn how the AP experience helped these students once they got to college. Taking an AP course in high school helped Gaby find her major. By earning college credits through AP, Kevin freed up time for extracurriculars. First join your class in our online system. Then work hard in the course. You can practice for the exam with our free online resources.

Register for your exam by the fall deadline. Exams are given in May. There are AP courses in arts, English, history and social science, math and computer science, sciences, and world languages and cultures. AP Students. What Is AP? The AP Program offers college-level courses and exams that you can take in high school.

See How To Get Started. An Edge in College. Earning credit or placement can open up time on your schedule or even let you graduate early.