Colleges are becoming increasingly more competitive. This is why it is important to plan ahead. Start thinking about your college goals as soon as your freshman year or your sophomore year of high school. Meet with your high school guidance counselor to discuss classes, extracurricular activities, your high school GPA, and more.
A key part of college planning involves picking the right high school classes for you. If you are wondering how many AP classes should I take? or what is the difference between IB and AP classes? or even what are AICE classes? read on!
In this article, we will provide a thorough explanation of the AP, IB, and AICE curriculums. We will also answer key questions, such as: Should I take IB Classes in high school? What is the difference between AP and IB Classes? and What are the AICE program requirements?
Are AP Classes worth it? The short answer is, yes! There are many factors to keep in mind, however, as you ask yourself how many AP classes should you be taking. Colleges want to admit passionate students who are capable of completing college-level work. Taking advanced classes is a great way to show college admission officers that you are a capable student. This is especially important to consider if you are interested in applying to competitive programs such as Ivy League colleges.
While it’s important to have a high GPA and a challenging course load, this can look different depending on where you go to school and what advanced classes are offered. Does your high school offer AP Classes, IB Classes, and/or AICE Classes? AP, IB, and AICE classes are advanced classes that provide high school students with the opportunity to earn college credit. In this article, we will discuss key differences between the AP, IB, and AICE curriculums.
Students who excel academically often take AP Classes in high school. But what do AP Classes mean?
AP stands for Advanced Placement and is an advanced high school curriculum designed by the College Board. The College Board administers the SAT exam. Ultimately, this is why the AP curriculum focuses on standardized testing. AP tests are administered in May and anyone can sign up for an AP exam. You can take an AP exam even if you haven’t taken the AP Class — although we do not necessarily recommend this.
AP tests are scored on a scale from 0 to 5. A score of a 3 or higher is considered a passing grade. Depending on the college you attend, you could receive college credit for receiving a passing AP test score. Some colleges, however, will only accept a score of a 4 or 5. This is why it’s important to ask
about the college’s AP policy. Another advantage of taking AP Classes is that, depending on your grade and test score, you may be eligible to skip entry-level classes. Again, this depends on the specific college you are attending.
What is IB in high school? How is IB different from AP?
IB stands for International Baccalaureate and is an advanced high school curriculum designed in Switzerland. This program was designed to be an internationally recognized diploma and is currently gaining popularity in the United States. Similar to the AP Curriculum, the IB Curriculum offers high schoolers the opportunity to stand out from their peers during the college admissions process and earn college credit.
This program is completed in two years and is typically only available to high school juniors and seniors. At some schools, however, students may be allowed to take only a few IB Classes, rather than commit to the entire program. In order to earn an IB Diploma, you must be enrolled in an authorized IB school and complete all of the requirements.
Students must take at least: 1 language and literature course, 2 foreign language courses, 3 individual and societies courses, 4 science courses, 5 mathematics courses, and 6 courses in the arts. Out of this IB Classes list, students must complete 3-4 classes at the Higher Level, whereas the remainder may be taken at the Standard Level. Students must also write an extended research paper, fulfill various extracurricular requirements, and complete a Theory of Knowledge course (as well as write a final paper and deliver an oral presentation for this course). Finally, students must score 24 or more points by passing each course’s final exam.
If you are considering key differences between IB classes vs AP Classes, it’s important to note that IB Classes emphasize writing and critical thinking skills more so than AP Classes. In fact, IB exams rarely include multiple-choice questions. The exam is largely essay-based. Because of this, at some high schools, Higher Level IB courses may be considered more difficult than AP courses.
IB Classes in high school help students develop exceptional writing and critical thinking skills. This is especially helpful for students who do not necessarily excel during standardized tests.
It is a thorough, balanced curriculum that helps students stand apart on their college applications and earn college credit.
It is also internationally recognized and is gaining more popularity in the United States.
There is less flexibility than in the AP Curriculum. This is because the IB Curriculum offers a specific two-year program. In some cases, however, schools will still let you pick and choose IB Classes.
IB Courses are not as popular in the U.S. as AP courses.
AICE stands for Advanced International Certificate of Education and is an advanced high school curriculum designed by the University of Cambridge in England. Similar to the IB Curriculum, the high school AICE program offers an internationally-recognized diploma. This program, however, is still gaining popularity in the United States.
AICE classes are offered at two levels: the Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level and the Advanced (A) Level. AS Level classes are a year-long, whereas A-Level classes are 2 years long and are more rigorous. In order to earn an AICE diploma, a student must be enrolled in an authorized AICE school and fulfill various requirements.
Students must complete a minimum of 14 AICE credits (AS Level exams
count as one credit and A-Level exams count for two credits). Two credits must be earned in Mathematics and Sciences; two credits must be earned in Languages; two credits must be earned in Arts and Humanities. Students may also elect to take up to four credits in Interdisciplinary Skills courses. Finally, students must receive passing scores on seven exams in four content areas within two years of passing their first exam.
If you are curious about AICE classes’ pass rate, AICE classes are often deemed less challenging than AP or IB Classes, and the majority of enrolled students earn their AICE diplomas by the end of their sophomore year.
Students can earn an internationally-recognized diploma and earn college credit.
Students can often complete their diplomas by the end of their sophomore year. Effectively, this motivates students to plan ahead and take their coursework seriously as soon as they begin high school.
Students have more flexibility to choose their courses than they do in the IB Curriculum.
AICE classes are often not considered as challenging as AP or IB courses.
These courses are not as popular in the U.S., although their popularity is rising.
What’s the difference between AP and IB Classes? Does one carry more weight than the other? What are AICE classes?
These are all important questions to ask yourself as you design your high school schedule, especially if you are interested in applying to highly-selective colleges and universities. Typically, high schools will grant students more credit for taking advanced classes by calculating “weighted GPAs.” So keep this in mind as you focus on picking the right high school classes for you.
If you are a high school senior or a high school junior planning on attending college, reach out to learn more about our services as you prepare for your college applications. There are lots of ways to stand out in colleges.
Taking challenging classes, such as AP, IB, and AICE classes is just one way to prepare for your college applications. Remember, there are lots of things to consider as you prepare for college. Plan ahead and consider various college application factors such as extracurricular activities and SAT scores.
Do you know the difference between AP and IB classes? Read on to know more about the significant distinctions between these college-level curricula.
Discover free resume templates, professional resume builders, and other valuable resources.
Find out more about the inner workings of an Applicant Tracking System. How common are they and why do companies use them?
An Applicant Tracking System, commonly referred to as an ATS, is a computer software program that helps recruiters and hiring managers digitally filter, organize, and sort resumes. Online job listings can receive hundreds if not thousands of applications. For most companies, it is not realistic to read through each application carefully. With the help of Applicant Tracking System software, a hiring manager can sort through applications according to different filters and various criteria.
An ATS often ranks job candidates according to their work experience, education, and skill set. Applicant Tracking Systems for recruiters can effectively give them a list of their top ten job candidates. This allows recruiters and hiring managers to streamline and expedite the hiring process.
An ATS is also helpful because it will likely send automated emails and offer recruiters and applicants alike an easy and efficient way to schedule interviews. Time is valuable and companies often do not have time to manually sort through job applications. An ATS can simplify the hiring process and is, therefore, an invaluable tool for many companies.
If you are applying for a position online, you are applying through an ATS. Popular job sites such as Indeed and LinkedIn have their own built-in ATS. According to research conducted by Kelly OCG, 66% of large companies and 35% of small businesses will use an ATS during the hiring process. Additionally, many Applicant Tracking Systems for small businesses are free. This is why it is so important to learn what an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is and how to beat Applicant Tracking Systems.
ATS often categorizes resumes by their use of keywords. If a resume does not include keywords or does not include enough keywords, the resume will likely be eliminated from the applicant pool. This is why it is crucial to tailor your resume for job listings and include lots of keywords. Consider using our resume maker as you move forward.
Without the use of keywords, your resume or cover letter may not make it into the hands of a physical employee, despite your qualifications. This is why it is important to use an Applicant Tracking System resume check as well as a resume template for Applicant Tracking Systems.
Although ATSs are helpful tools for job recruiters and hiring committees, they can seem intimidating to applicants. Rather than feel intimidated by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), however, use the parameters of this software to optimize your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems and ensure maximum compatibility.
Use an Applicant Tracking System checker. Find a resume template for Applicant Tracking Systems and improve your chances of securing an interview by following this Applicant Tracking Systems list.
Highlight keywords found in the job listing in your resume. This will help ensure that your resume will remain in the system and won’t slip through the cracks. Sadly, qualified candidates are sometimes overlooked, simply because their resume doesn’t include enough keywords.
Whenever you include keywords in your resume, be sure to list them as both acronyms and long-form terms (whenever applicable). This is because recruiters often search for applicants on an ATS by keyword as they conduct the hiring process.
For example, if you have experience in Informational Technology but only list your work experiences as IT services, or vice versa, a job recruiter may only search one of these terms. As such, your resume may inadvertently be overlooked. To avoid this, list both long-form and acronyms versions in your resume.
Typically, this is the most compatible file type with ATSs. If you use another file type, you risk having the formatting and organization of your resume disrupted. Use a .docx file to avoid technical difficulties as you apply for online job listings.
Even though columns and tables may improve readability, these formatting decisions are likely incompatible with ATS software. As such, your resume may become scrambled and disorganized. To prevent confusion, do not use columns or tables when organizing your resume.
Even if you choose a clear, readable font, if it is not standard, an ATS may alter the font. Effectively, this will alter the formatting of your resume. To avoid this, always use a standard font. This will ensure consistent formatting regardless of the file type.
Although this formatting choice may improve readability, it will likely be incompatible with an ATS. Again, this may cause an ATS to alter your resume. As a general rule, avoid any nonstandard formatting decisions.
An ATS will use your resume headers to help sort data and store it in a company’s database of applicants. If you use a nonstandard header in your resume, an ATS may misinterpret or skip over important data. Essentially this means that even if you include lots of keywords and are uniquely qualified for a position if your resume formatting is anything but straightforward, key details may be lost in translation.
Modeling your resume after a standard resume template will help ensure that your headers, formatting, and organization will be properly analyzed and sorted by an ATS. There are lots of resume templates for Applicant Tracking Systems online for you to choose from. Look at Applicant Tracking System examples to get a better idea of how to proceed.
Chronological resumes are considered standard. They are the most familiar, with recruiters and ATSs alike. A more innovative resume format, such as a functional resume, may not be compatible with an ATS. A chronological resume, however, will easily be interpreted and sorted by an ATS. Recruiters are also most familiar with this format.
For job candidates who prefer functional resumes, consider using a hybrid resume. This will allow you to maintain some elements of a functional resume while still relying on the standard organization of a chronological resume.
It is more than likely that your resume will be sorted, analyzed, and cataloged by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) during your job search, especially if you are applying for competitive positions or positions in large companies. Conduct more research and learn the importance of a well-written and professional resume today.
Popular job sites, such as Indeed and LinkedIn, use their own ATS. This is why it is important to understand how an ATS operates and how to tailor your resume accordingly. Use an Applicant Tracking System resume check and a resume template for Applicant Tracking Systems to ensure maximum success.
When adjusting your resume, make sure to use standard formatting, standard headers, and standard font. Otherwise, an ATS may convert your file and alter its formatting. Base your resume off of resume templates. This will help ensure that your formatting is standardized.
If you feel like you could benefit from working with a career coach, reach out to learn more about our services. At Prepory, we are passionate about helping professionals reach their career goals.
