Both AP and IB classes are part of a criterion known as "Most Demanding Program," which some colleges use to evaluate applications.
DHS counselors are often asked whether they recommend AP or IB courses. It really comes down to what the individual student needs and/or wants. Please review the A.P. and IB considerations in below as you plan your high school courses and think about college applications.
Program Designations
In terms of college admissions, it often doesn't matter which route students choose. Typically, college applications ask guidance counselors to indicate whether a student's academic program is "Most Demanding," "Very Demanding, "Somewhat Demanding," etc. when compared with what else is offered at the school. These are the standards for students to earn the "Most Demanding" designation at DHS:
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DHS students who've earned credit in six AP courses that DHS currently offers, in addition to four years of a world language, will earn the "Most Demanding" designation.
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Students who complete the full IB Diploma Programme, will also earn the distinction of "Most Demanding."
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Students who take a combination of 6 IB (HL) courses and AP courses, plus the fourth year of a world language, will also earn the "Most Demanding" designation.
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It is important to note that unless a student falls into a special category (recruited athlete, underrepresented minority, VIP, legacy, etc.), often times the students within the "Most Demanding" category are the ones that get serious consideration at the most competitive colleges such as the "Ivy League" schools.
If earning the "Most Demanding" designation is important to you, please check with your high school counselor to make sure that your course selection meets the criteria. In either case, before you commit to either route, be certain that you understand what the complete IB program entails in terms of course selection, time commitment, etc. Your high school counselor or AP/IB Coordinator Erin Palmer (palmere@dexterschools.org) can explain how IB works.
University Credit Transfer Policies
Another consideration is the fact that credit transfer policies differ from university to university.
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Some colleges award college credit for IB Higher Level (HL) courses and IB Standard Level (SL) courses. However, some colleges only give college credit for IB HL classes.
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Some colleges give credit only for IB exam scores of 7 (the top); some give credit for lower scores. Again it depends on the individual college.
DHS counselors have this credit transfer information for all Michigan colleges and Big Ten schools. For other out-of-state schools, counselors can assist students with retrieving that information from the college webpages. As more and more high schools are adding an IB program, some colleges (most out-of-state) are offering significant scholarship money to students who complete the full IB Diploma.