<p>Hi, I'm a sophomore new to CC. Next year as a junior I plan on going for the IB Diploma. My schedule is as follows:</p>
<p>IB HOTA HL
IB English HL
Italian 4IB
IB Biology
Pre-IB Algebra II Trig
IB Visual Arts HL
Health/Theory of Knowledge
News Literacy</p>
<p>My dream college is Columbia; I want to major in Creative Writing if I'm lucky enough to get accepted. I know Ivies are looking for the most rigorous course load possible, but I'm nervous that pursuing the IB Diploma will leave little time to develop my other activities (I have leadership roles in a few clubs, I do extensive community service, I'm attempting to publish a novella, etc). Can anyone currently in the IB program give some advice as to whether or not the Diploma is actually life-sucking? I don't want to buckle under the pressure.</p>
<p>I’m a junior in the IB diploma program. It is definitely difficult, but certainly doable. IB students are the most active in clubs at my school, most of the officers are IB students as well. It is without a doubt the most rigorous curriculum available, and if you can succeed and continue to do other activities then you are just proving your abilities to colleges. I think IB is not as bad as some people make it sound, you just need time management skills. If you are really serious about school/your future, I’d say to do it. I haven’t regretted it so far.</p>
<p>Does your school also offer AP classes? If so, I’d skip the IB diploma and go the AP route. I believe colleges view AP and IB courses as pretty much the same as far as rigor goes. My SS is a senior who went the IB route and it’s really causing his senior year to be sort of a bummer - just too much to do.</p>
<p>Thank you for replying. My school does offer AP courses, although IB actually seems to be more suited to me as a person. I am very serious about school and my future - I think I’m gonna stick with the Diploma. I appreciate your help :)</p>
<p>Honestly? IB Diploma is quite meaningless in the states. And as a graduate of a magnet IB program (school sends dozens of kids to top 25 schools each year), none of the courses above are particularly challenging except perhaps IB English HL. </p>
<p>IB History courses tend to be exhausting, with emphasis on writing essays and taking much notes. Unless you’re particularly interested in history, IB History classes will prove to be a chore, but not hard to get an A on if you do what you’re told. </p>
<p>At SL level, even if you receive 6s and 7s , top colleges don’t give credit. SL science classes are subpar compared to their AP counterparts, while HL versions take two years for what is capable of being accomplished in one. </p>
<p>Theory of Knowledge isn’t challenging, but a very fun course. It’s not commmon to take a course of epistemology during high school, and many people find them entertaining. </p>
<p>Lastly, IB HL Math, is actually a wonderful course that covers common topics such as Calculus along with things that are not-so-common such as discrete math, graph theory, etc. However, you seem to be very far from taking such a course. Likewise, foreign language courses don’t really shine until level 6 or 7 (you’re qualified as dual speaking). </p>
<p>Take this in to consideration. Your IB diploma won’t come out until the summer/fall AFTER your acceptance. While your friends may be enjoying the leisure of a second semester senior, you will be bogged down with internal assessments, IB exams, extended essay, etc (And none of these will help you with admission). Colleges will know the IB course is demanding, but it isn’t any more intellectually broadening than AP courses, just more time consuming.</p>
<p>First, just because you are very serious about school and your future doesn’t mean that you have to take IB. </p>
<p>I say, take AP. You can choose all the classes you want, including IB classes (if the AP class you want isn’t offered at your school). That is the best choice. You don’t want to be forced into taking classes you don’t like (especially when you have to take a certain course for two years). </p>
<p>Don’t waste time on meaningless, worthless IB classes such as Theory of Knowledge. AP students go through without taking the dumb class fine. By the way, AP students generally have higher GPAs because they don’t get lowered by classes such as TOK. If you want to go to Columbia, take AP. GPA is crucial. </p>
<p>Last thing. Both AP and IB are stressful. But why have that same level of stress because of a stupid worthless class? </p>
<p>I’m in 6 weighted AP classes right now and I get through fine, all the while managing my plentiful extracurriculars.</p>
<p>It’s very important to find out details about the IB program at YOUR school. Some of the comments made by CriesandWhispers and jesskidding will be true in some IB programs, and not in others. IB can be presented very well, and not so well. How long has your school had IB, and what percentage of IB students earn the diploma? Talk to kids who are in that program.
It’s certainly true that IB can be time-consuming, and that time management skills are important. My kids were both in IB, and both were very involved in ECs–but they did have to keep a lot of balls in the air. At their school, at least, the EE is finished before second semester, so second semester isn’t too bad.
I like the IB curriculum, especially TOK and the social studies courses. I don’t think it’s as good for a science-and-math kid. I like the EE requirement; CAS, not so much. I think it fits some kids better than others, so find out about the program at your school before you sign up.</p>
<p>From you list it only looks like you are taking 5 courses. You need 6 plus TOK. I guess the Italian is an IB course? Are you taking IB SL for math as a senior?</p>
<p>I would second finding out how well your school is doing in preparing kids. Check out the diploma award rate. My dd hs had a pretty open enrollment in the program and many of the kids should not have been in the programme. They have about a 33% pass rate. Not good at all.</p>
<p>D is in IB diploma and while it is intense at her school, she has really benefitted from the skills. EE, TOK, CAS extended group service project, history and lit papers that are revisited in 2nd year and, yes, oral exams, have all been great learning tools. She was saying that again the other day as she was revising her world lit paper that she wrote last year and had to pick up again this year and spend over a week “with”. IB is not the best way to get credits for college, but as it is organized at D’s school is a great way to be mentored through real, long term academic skills. D chose to do SL language last year and is using the open language slot to double up on science this year. One science issue is that most schools do not offer all sciences HL, so you need to plan your schedule in end up in the right science for HL Junior year for the 2 year sequence.</p>
<p>I think it depends on the school…At my school a third of the kids take AP, a third take IB Diploma, and a third mixes them. There’s an ongoing joke about how if you take the IB, you only get to have two of the following three: a life, good grades, sleep. Of course, though it is rigorous, it does prepare students much better for college what with the huge amounts of writing (versus the AP’s mc). On the IB External Exams there are no multiple choice, and in the end really makes you a more well rounded person. I go to an international school overseas with a 100% pass rate and an average of 35 points. </p>
<p>@citylightsagleam i think you should definitely go for the diploma if you can handle it. don’t worry about having no extraccuriculars because with the CAS requirement, you are required to obtain 150 hours before you graduate. It may be very rigorous, but as long as you have the right time management skills, there’s no reason you won’t be able to do it.</p>