<p>Hi. I already posted this on college admissions, but it was suggested I post here too. I am only an 8th grader now, but I tend to be a worrywort so I am already starting to stress over colleges (now too much, don't worry!). I am an all A student at a gifted middle school, I recieve many awards, have tons of ECs, and volunteer four hours every other week. I have the chance to go to a high school academy next year, but I am not sure which one would be best. It is between an International Baccalaureate (IB)program and a Math and Science Academy. Both offer rigerous courseloads and many challenges. I am not sure I want to go into a carreer in math or science, so I am hesistant to go there. However, I am afraid that if I go to to the IB program it will be too much work and my grades will fall. Any suggestions or tips that I can use now to help get into a good college in the future? Oh, I have also already taken the ACTs (the real thing, but as a practice) through a talent search. I haven't gotten my scores back though.</p>
<p>To clarify a little, "tons of ECs" is not shallowly involved in many--I am VP of the SCA and VERY deeply involved in it for the past three years, captain of an academic challenge team, NJHS member, etc. ECs at my school also rotate, so when something I am involved with is over I go on to another, thereby allowing me to be involved in many. Also, I am (and not trying to sound ecotistical here) at the top of my class in my school. I was one of less than nine students who recieved straight A's last quarter, and am a very good student. The worry I have about the IB program is that many people I have talked to say it is A LOT of work, and since I am a perfectionist and already spend several hours a day on my schoolwork and have a social life only on weekends basically, I want to be able to have a social life in high school. The math and science program seems to put a lot more emphasis on the student life and ECs aspect of high school, which is appealing.</p>
<p>My daughter, who was faced with a similar decision, chose IB because she was not at all sure that she wanted to focus on math and science. Now, as a 12th grader in IB, she is sure that science is not for her and glad she did not consider the math/science program. </p>
<p>However, since high school social life is an issue for you, you might want to try to find out what the sex ratio is at the two programs you're considering. In our school system, the math/science program attracts more guys than girls, and IB attracts more girls than guys. A lot of the girls in the IB program never really have a chance to date because the few guys are already "taken." That's a factor that my daughter didn't consider before she made her choice.</p>
<p>I have one kid at a math/sci program and one at an IB program. My math/sci kid never even considered IB -- he knew where he wanted to be. DS2 is a history/bio kid, so he applied to both and had to choose which program to attend. In retrospect, while there are aspects of the math/sci program that would have been better for DS2 (block scheduling, lots more math help, support in doing research, excellent soc sci electives due to the aize of the school), he is happy at the IB (MUCH closer to home so he can do ECs, 7-period instead of 8-period day, he knows lots more kids, shorter bus ride).</p>
<p>IB IS a ton of work. DS is involved in a sport and a couple of other extracurriculars, but if your IB program is truly interested in seeing lots of kids earn the full diploma, they will start freshman year with pre-IB. DS2's school teaches its curriculum in IB fashion starting in 9th grade so that by junior year, one is not blown off the map by the level of expectations. </p>
<p>DS2 has definitely noticed the ratio at his school, but doesn't have a girlfriend (just an unrequited crush). ;)</p>
<p>My daughter attended a program that started out as a math and science program, but had such strong teachers in english/literature and history that it evolved into an advanced college prep program. </p>
<p>Contrary to the experience on this board, we had two IB program in our system that could not begin to compare academically. (One program was terminated this year.) </p>
<p>You need to check the results of the IB students. The "best" IB program in our system had abysmal SAT scores, no full IB graduates in no one remembers when and the scores on the writing (as scored by outside scorerers) was barely average. Do your homework and make sure your parents check out the relevant scores and diploma results.</p>
<p>Shortie: I hope that you are not getting overly concerned about college already, as an eighth-grader. Be careful you don't fall into the trap of the "college frenzy" thats engulfing students and parents. </p>
<p>Because of pressure to excel academically and get into "top" colleges, many teenagers are falling victim to anxiety, eating disorders, depression and low self-esteem. Be sure to keep things in proper perspective so this doesn't happen to you. Make sure the goals you set are yours, and no one else's. Don't do things simply to please or impress others. Most importantly, remember that adolescence is a time for growth, exploration and enjoyment.
Don't miss out because you are overly concerned about doing all the "right things" to get into a top school. There are many great colleges out there.</p>
<p>korektphool, in the United States, IB is done in grades 11 and 12 (not 12 and 13 because we don't have a 13). However, many successful IB schools have special pre-IB courses for students in grades 9 and 10 (because the standard 9th and 10th grade courses, which are designed to lead into the standard 11th and 12th grade U.S. curriculum, rather than the IB curriculum, may not be good preparation for IB), and students who want to do IB may be required to make a commitment to the program before the end of grade 8.</p>
<p>If the OP is in the U.S., she has to make a commitment to IB -- or not -- now, probably within the next few weeks.</p>
<p>shortiegirl, ThatMom makes a very good point. There are successful IB programs and less successful IB programs. Finding out how many of the IB students complete the IB diploma would be very useful. CountingDown and I have kids in an extremely successful IB program -- one where at least 95% of the students who actually start IB in grade 11 get the diploma. But in other places, the success rate is much lower.</p>
<p>DS2 has a friend who is intending to take IB certificates at another area high school. (Note: This is NOT the full IB program.) The teachers BEG kids to take the IB courses so they aren't canceled. If I were a student, I would find this a tough way to go. One of the benefits of a full IB diploma and other competitive programs is that there's a critical mass of kids who are committed to succeeding, and some days, all you can do is hang on to each other!</p>
<p>See what you can find out about preparation in 9th and 10th grade for the IB method of work, and what % graduate with the full diploma.</p>
<p>hey shortiegirl, as a junior in the IB Program, I'm telling you firsthand that the IB Program is not hard, and as gifted as you say you are, I'm sure you'll find IB a nice little challenge. Its only IB in the 11-12th grade, and Pre-IB 9th-10th. You can take a route geared towards math and science in IB also, and if your not positive about a career in math and science, why specialize in such an academy so early on? you have a lot of time to specialize in college, and high school is a time for you to experience new subjects and take up interesting perspectives that are indeed offered by what you do in IB, like Theory of Knowledge and the Requirements for CAS (Creative Active Service hours) I highly recommend IB for your future, since learning at IB will go beyond the scope of the booksmarts found in math and science.</p>