#How to convince my parents about IB

52 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

cinder wren
#

I’ve just finished my IGCSE and gotten my results. Now I have chosen IB as my preferred Pre-U course. Here’s the problem - my parents want me to do A-Levels so what should I say to convince them about IB ?

vital fjord
#

if you're malaysian, which im assuming you are (due to malay subject role), ||forget about it unless you can cough up at least 200k ringgit for tuition fees|| - only sunway intl school is cheaper in terms of fees i think so imo isn't worth it

#

A levels is easier and is equally recognised for foreign unis such as those in the uk/us/australia

tranquil terrace
#

but thats one of the good things about it

cinder wren
tranquil terrace
#

you dont neccesarrily need to have IB to do that though

#

but IB kinda forces you into it

tranquil terrace
#

that is true

#

prob what ill do too

queen gale
#

IB has no real benefit over A-levels except for some of the following reasons:

  • don’t know what you want to study. you can take a variety of courses and subjects, and it gives you more of a broad education that way
  • want to pursue university abroad, including but not limited to US/UK/canada/australia (A-levels would be equally acceptable for these, i feel. maybe even better for the US, because you’ll have more time to focus on extracurriculars. outside of these, though, IB may be more recognized)
  • want a more university-like experience (the IAs and EE are torture, but they are honestly a great experience)
  • move around very often, and want a curriculum that allows you to easily switch schools. the A-levels probably lets you do this too, though

i’m not too sure about how A-levels is with prerequisite knowledge, but i know most IB subjects don’t need any (with exception to languages and maths)

#

i.e. please don’t do the ib 💀

rose yew
tawny sand
#

a Harvard dean has explicitly said, most unis care about the rigour of your curriculum. That’s why IB is beneficial, it’s as hard as they come.

tawny sand
#

i did not say anything about it being less rigorous than the norm, but the number of people who claim IB to be harder than A levels far outnumber the number of people who claim otherwise.

ivory rapids
# tawny sand a Harvard dean has explicitly said, most unis care about the rigour of your curr...

I do agree that A levels are less rigorous than IB however I doubt universities strongly prefer IB. Most searches online say unis have no specific preference and plus CIE is way more common and affordable than IB. Plus since there are so many applicants for top universities like harvard, they would use rigorousness to filter some people but I doubt that's the case of an average university. Someone I know did IB and their friend did CBSE (quarter as rigorously as IB) but they got into the same university.

rose yew
#

I dont think someone wanting to choose IB is aiming for average universities though

rose yew
#

Yeah US uni first year is more like college

#

Basically A level

ivory rapids
#

Yep exactly, plus you'll get more time to study each subject than studying 7 subjects (meaning better grades) and more time for extra-curriculars which can strengthen your application.

tawny sand
#

brother I’m just comparing, if you’re aiming for top 10 unis, then an IB on the application can indeed make quite a lot of difference

#

But like someone pointed out, benefits of IB won’t be seen if applying for average unis

tawny sand
#

they do.

#

why do you think people take IB over CBSE, people take AP classes, people take harder subjects, people take harder curriculums just to stand out, many people get all A* or perfect scores, what sets you apart is what curriculum u scored in

rose yew
#

Cambridge also states they dont prefer econ A level to be one of the choices

#

Yet something like 80%+ of admission has econ and fm

#

Sometimes we have to go bit further than the face value

#

That being said, I do not think Ib is preferred

tawny sand
#

quote me on it, a Harvard dean said it.

tranquil terrace
#

you dont have a point here really

#

of course people will take the best curriclum possible

#

some curriclums may prepare people for college more than others but colleges dont prefer specific ones

tawny sand
#

rest is up to the student, I will still stay that rigour is valued most and IB is considered to be more rigorous, none the less like it has already been said, it’s not like A levels aren’t rigorous too, just a little bit less comparatively, it all boils down to you, you can outshine other applicants by doing tremendously well and building your application portfolio, be it in IB or A levels

rose yew
#

Bruh

#

U can just choose more A levels

#

And make jt basically IB

tranquil terrace
tawny sand
#

again, i did not say they are not rigorous enough, IB is simply more rigorous, a 42 or 43 in IB says a lot about the student. A top score with more than 3 a levels will probably reap the same results, if you want to argue that "course rigour" is not a factor considered during IB, idk what to say. IB is "more" rigorous and that is understood by admission officers

#

admission officers just want students taking the most rigorous classes and doing well in them, whether you do that by doing more than 3 a levels or IB, totally up to u

#

bottom line, course rigour matters, u can always just take AP and make up for not taking IB, its not that deep

tawny sand
#

important to consider the ee and tok too if talking abt rigour

#

this is true, but it is still an advantage, thats all i was tryna say

granite flare
#

if you're dead determined on your goal

#

and it is a sort of arts sybject(eco, bst, music, art, idk) you can take a foundation course which is a specialised one lasting 1 ear

vital fjord
#

actually this is true for US unis

#

but for UK unis its best you do A levels or IB

vital fjord
#

3 A levels will do for most non-competitive unis

#

ofc for US unis they ask for more details of your extracurriculars, as well as recommendation letters and personal essays, etc.