Many students at DePaul Prep are preparing for course registration next year, and enrolling in their courses. This decision can be exciting and also difficult, and there are some changes in courses this year. DePaul College Prep offers two higher level courses, AP (Advanced Placement), which are individual year long classes, and IB (International Baccalaureate) courses, where you can take full IB or select individual two-year courses.
For IB, the process of enrolling in courses is much easier this year since there is no application process. This is very different from previous years, when students were required to fill out a form that included essay questions asking why they wanted to be in IB and why they are a good fit for the courses they selected.
Heidi Bojoures, who is in charge of IB courses at DePaul Prep and teaches IB English, said, “We wanted to make IB more accessible to all students, so all they have to do is meet with their counselors and tell their counselors that they are interested.” This way, IB courses are available and accepting to all students
For IB, if students are concerned about being overwhelmed by the amount of work, Bojoures says, “just go for it.” In the long run, she agrees that it’s worth it, and she also says, “you can handle it, if it is something you want…. so don’t pass up the opportunity.” Bojoures said, “All the IB alumni come back and talk about how ready they are for college.” Along with this she said, “You grow more as a thinker, and develop a strong community.”
Students also have to consider that enrolling in IB, specifically full IB, might mean you have to sacrifice taking some electives or individual classes, but Ms B says, “You can fill those passions that you have for wanting to take your other courses with your co-curriculars.”
So how do you decide if taking an AP or IB course is worth it?
Katie Hogan, a current AP English teacher, said to, “Ask yourself if you have a genuine interest in the subject, where if there wasn’t a grade, you would still do it.” If you do have genuine interest, take the course, and if not, and you are wanting to take it for a college credit, then Hogan said, “That’s not necessarily bad…however then I would say that’s the class where you want to consider how many you have.” Since AP and IB are both rigorous courses, they are definitely decisions that need to be thought through, but neither has an unmanageable amount of work.
Some students might be wondering, what’s the difference between AP and IB? Hogan, who has taught both said, “It’s not about the course, it’s about the student…both offer two very different, but equally excellent opportunities.”
The biggest noted differences Hogan said, “There are less course elective options in IB, but also more community and relationship with teachers.” A.P., on the other hand, Hogan said, “You have more opportunities to take an elective … .so that might be a better fit for someone into performing arts or music.” She also said, “The relationships might not be as connected or strong” since AP classes will have many different students, and are only a year long.
The choice between the two classes is focused on how a student learns best. Jane Otwell, a junior at DePaul College Prep, takes both AP and IB courses.
Truly, when looking into course registration for following years, students need to focus on what they are looking for, and what fits them. IB and AP are both great courses that offer beneficial experiences for students that are the right fit for them.
