<p>Yes, I'm looking into switching to Tonka from Chaska.</p>
<p>I can answer any questions you have about IB at Tonka.</p>
<p>IB tends to suck. Rigorous hw levels as i'm sure AP classes have, but in addition you have CAS, TOK, extended essay, IAs, external oral assessments, constantly breathing down your neck. So, you're in 6 IB classes (probably equivalent to 6 APs, but maybe more busy work / writing) and numerous major out-of-class tasks.</p>
<p>Its really not as bad as I make it sound, but the workload can be tedious.</p>
<p>IB will, however, teach you to write, to manage time, and to learn (I sound like an IB brochure). But, it really does teach you especially to write well.. </p>
<p>At my school at least, IB is a close-knit group of people (about 100 out of the class's 800 students)... Though there are definitely nights when the entire IB community is up til 4 in the morning, there are always ways to vent the mutual frustrations. One night, my friends and I held an "Official ^$%^(*$^ IB Conference Call" at some ridiculously early morning hour. A bunch of kids going through this rigorous, though sometimes unnecessary, experience can be a fun time.. and definitely makes for good partying on the weekends (those random occasions when classes are a bit more lax). </p>
<p>** this is all coming from a junior in florida public school.. IB program ranked in the top 1% internationally.</p>
<p>Should you switch?
No, if: you value the 8-hour sleep routine, you don't like philosophical/intellectual discussions (Theory of Knowledge), if you think you can get into your dream college without it (you probably can), you are already feeling challenged with several APs.</p>
<p>Yes, if: you want to be a part of a close-knit group of slightly-more-intelligent-than-average people, feel like your APs just aren't cutting it, want to theorize knowledge, or enjoy entirely unnecessary things like the extended essay that don't contribute to class grades in any way.</p>
<p>my 2 cents:
don't switch because you won't have as good as teacher recommendations as you could have. I seen people switch and regret it many times.</p>
<p>Switch if you want a rigorous high school experience. IB has a lot of extra things like the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, Internal Assessments and other things people have previously listed. If you utilize those extra things then you'll be pretty prepared for future academic challenges.</p>
<p>Some of the classes you can take in IB cover different things than if you took a AP class in the same subject. I'm currently taking HL Physics and that's pretty much the equivalent of Physics B... but the HL class is 2 years long... and there is no calculus involved in it. So I'm kinda wasting my time taking this course.</p>
<p>Colleges see AP and IB credit pretty much the same way. Actually, getting college credit using the IB test scores is a lot harder because a lot of the good colleges only accept HL classes and equate a IB 7 to an AP 5 (IB 7's are a lot harder..). But! You might as well take the AP exam too if you take the IB course so it's a toss up.</p>
<p>And if you want to take college level math during your senior year at IB just dual enroll at a nearby college.</p>
<p>"** this is all coming from a junior in florida public school.. IB program ranked in the top 1% internationally."</p>
<p>Is there a ranking system for IB programs? If so, can you provide link! :)</p>
<p>It turns out I can take that IB prep class (Advanced Math Topics) during the summer, so I can take IB Math straight up next year. I also hear news if it being easy to 'cheat the system' and get your own parking space...</p>
<p>Things are looking up. </p>
<p>And I don't care too much on getting college credit, what I care more about is getting accepted. My current dream school is Northwestern... but with my current GPA that is looking a little iffy.</p>
<p>That's why if you take IB you take the corresponding AP tests as well. Silly.</p>
<p>Actually, you have to do EE and TOK if you're a diploma IB student. I'm not, so I'm fine just taking any IB classes I please. :P</p>
<p>As graduation is approaching, I look back upon my choice and think… No, it really wasn’t worth it. </p>
<p>Actually, Minnetonka + IB was one of the most “ultra-fail” decisions of my life.
It was also a confounding factor in a diagnosis of depression and other psychological issues, and thus has made me reliant on drugs of the serotonin-norepinephrine-reuptake-inhibitor kind. And other more fun drugs too, unofficially. </p>
<p>But, nevertheless, it has gotten me admitted to a decent somewhat-top-tier-university. But could I have done it without IB, and was it worth it? No.</p>
<p>I do want to point out, IB is not pointless without the diploma. Colleges don’t even know you’re getting the damn thing until around the end of 1st semester. So you can take as many IB courses as you want technically. (I’m taking 5 HLs, then 6 senior year).</p>
<p>Edit: Wow. Drug use… wow. IB is not stressful, at least to me.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You sound so surprised by drug use. </p>
<p>I think around 40% of the “IB group” (people who took majority IB classes) partook in rampant drug use/partying. Also, Adderall and other stimulants were widely used as study-aids. </p>
<p>There were several well-publicized drug-related overdoses and arrests (felonies!). Many people are also prescribed anti-depressants/anxiolitics like SSRIs, SNRIs (like me), and benzodiazepines. </p>
<p>I don’t think it’s the fault of IB itself, but the school and the school environment. And for me, I definitely don’t blame IB for my depression and subsequent drug use–the school wasn’t the right environment for me, and I am a generally maladjusted person.</p>
<p>MIThopeful16…what the?!..it is not possible to take all classes at the higher level. :/</p>
<p>DO NOT TAKE COLLEGE ALGEBRA!! IT IS A WASTE OF TIME!!
if it’s the one that I’m thinking of that usually comes before or with Trig and Precalc.</p>
<p>^^
For what? Pre-IB?</p>
<p>I have 2 SL. I am exception at my IB School.</p>
<p>n0stalgia- No. college algebra was on the senior schedule for if the thread starter stayed at his current school.</p>
<p>^^
Ohh right. I completely forgot, it was a few years ago. And I am the thread starter :P</p>
<p>^^ Oh. That’s good to know. :P</p>