Academic schools and the International Baccalaureate

One of my sons got an IB degree, and he did track and x-country in HS.   It's definitely doable, but it also depends on the baseball program and the kid.  A coach who keeps players until after dark every day is going to make life miserable, especially for a senior.

Senior year is really the issue.  My younger boy is taking 3 AP classes during his Senior year, and even with those, it's a low-stress year for him so far, especially as he was admitted to college ED. And it's really nice for a senior to be able to enjoy senior year. My IB student, OTOH, was totally stressed throughout his senior year due to a difficult course load, his big IB project, and prepping for IB tests, not to mention the college application process.  Part of that stress was his own fault due to poor time management etc. but  it would have been tough for anybody.  If he had been playing baseball at the time for my younger son's coach, I shudder to think what would have happened.  I doubt all of us would have survived.

IB is a great program BTW!

Kidrock,

My two oldest sons were in a high school engineering program similar to the IB workload.  It is definitely doable, and a huge boost when applying to academic schools.  Unlike JCG, my son's had their challenges in junior year.  But those challenges were a great preparation for college as it forced them to prioritize their time.  Baseball was their release and very enjoyable their junior year.  

Good luck!

Just realized there was a second component to your question. I think it's a wash. Anecdotally, I have 2 sons who chose to go to different schools, one doing AP, the other IB.  I think both are legit choices, and you have to try to figure out which most matches your kid's learning style and goals.  IB is more of a multi-discipline style of learning and process oriented. AP is more goal oriented.  Teachers are often accused of "teaching to the test". Well duh, passing the AP tests are the stated goal of the courses.

Most IB schools do presentations about the program, so attending one of those would be good start. They also all have an IB admin who keeps watch over the progress of the students toward their diplomas. At least in a public school AP is going to be be more of a DIY process.   

If you think you may use a private college councillor down the road and it's in your budget, you could get a meeting to talk about how well the students at each school have done with college admissions.  Also see if the schools publish a list of where their grads are headed each year.

I've heard quite a few college admissions people address this general question and all I've ever heard them say is that they respect both equally.

So you probably can't go wrong.  In our case, overall the IB school places fewer kids at top schools than the AP school, but that's more a function of the overall demographics than anything else.  

Kidrock, like the handle.  I grew up in Romeo, MI home of KidRock.  Graduated 2 years before him...

Thx for the info - very helpful!

JCG has given you a very good description of IB.  We have a girl who is in her junior IB year.  She manages just fine and works some too.  But she is not an athlete.  For sure colleges care about IB.

Our boy is a freshman at an all boys school that is rigorous.  Workload outside of class was about 4 hours in 7th and 8th grades.  About 5 hours now as a Freshman and that will pick up modestly as he takes AP classes beginning next year.  I mention the hours outside of class just to make the point that a kid can do more than he thinks when he is challenged.  I recall my boy crying in frustration at the kitchen table a few months in to 7th grade because he was struggling with vectors.  "I don't want to go to MBA anymore!"  He went in the next morning at 7:00 to see the teacher and every boy save one was there for help.  My boy ended up having the highest grade in the class.  Not sure you would have the same experience, but I think it is good to push kids, especially if they have some slack.  My boy is always playing a sport so he has to use time wisely.  He has little downtime between sports, school and orchestra, plus a little work.

College coaches who take boys from this school know that they are getting a kid for whom college will likely be a reduction in course work so managing baseball will not be a problem.   I think that a college coach would view IB the same.

The more you can handle in HS and do it well the more advantages it is for college and admissions. Many school like well rounded students. Son played Baseball, was heavy on AP courses and also played in HS marching and jazz band. Oh yeah, SAT/ACT are also just as important.  Agree with Texas1836 kids can handle more if challenged and given the proper support.

An IB program is incredibly a great program. Also taking AP courses is incredibly good and helpful for admissions. NOW...remember that while we want our kids to get the best courses (AP, honors, IB, etc.) at the end of the day if our kid is in baseball, the help (hook) that baseball provides is also incredible, so coaches will be looking for "what can you do for me" now that you have the courses. My son can have all the A's in HS but if he does not perform on the field it will not matter to the coach (for that elite academic school, or any school).

I know of several cases (e.g. 1st in class IB, top 5% in elite private HS with APs) that were reasonably good players and yet did not get offers to play ball in college.  At the end, is about what the HC wants and needs. The HC wants the best stud he can get that has the best grades.

The moral of the story is to take the best courses/program offered, but do pay attention to your son's baseball because the "hook" (once you have the APs,etc.) is what gets your son in, and playing. Being a student athlete is not easy, not in HS and certainly not in college, and there will always be extra work required. In addition to all the coursework, don't forget all the extra BP practices, gym work and more...it is exhausting. But it is doable. 

joes87 posted:

Kidrock, like the handle.  I grew up in Romeo, MI home of KidRock.  Graduated 2 years before him...

Maybe it's not his handle?  Hey, ya never know?

#1 Assistant Coach posted:

joes87 posted:

Kidrock, like the handle.  I grew up in Romeo, MI home of KidRock.  Graduated 2 years before him...

Maybe it's not his handle?  Hey, ya never know?

Based on what I know about KR it would be a long shot that he is actually on here.  He has one son and is now a grandfather.  Used to hang out with him, a little, when I was in elementary school.  He would have no idea who I am now, but does know some of my family and friends.  

Texas1836 posted:

 

College coaches who take boys from this school know that they are getting a kid for whom college will likely be a reduction in course work so managing baseball will not be a problem.   I think that a college coach would view IB the same.

My son's school didn't offer IB so he went the AP route.  Last year as a junior he had 4 AP classes, 2 Honors classes, and a night college class for his schedule.

He already has the required credits for graduation, so this year as a senior he is taking 5 college classes at the local JC. One of those is an online course so he is actually only in school 2 days a week.  He says it's like a vacation in comparison to the AP workload.