<p>So, I recently joined IB as a sophomore after having spent the first year of high school in a traditional honors/AP route for freshman year. As a freshman in the traditional program, I made straight A's, and would probably have continued to do so if I had not joined IB. However, I did join IB, and I am now making more of an A-B average. Both of my last two report cards had 3 A's, 3 B's, and 1 C. And to make those grades, I am working much harder, not sleeping, and really not enjoying life at all because I'm not doing what I want to, which is write. I want to be a writer. I may want to do something else, too, but I'm not sure what that is yet, which is why I joined IB in the first place- to leave my options open. I think I want to go to NYU, but I'm not sure I'll have much of a chance with the grades I've been getting. They've been improving as I pick up how to do things in the more IB-ish way, but I don't think it's happening fast enough, and as I said, I'm quite unhappy. I kind of hate all of my classes, which is quite problematic when you have a lot of work to do. So should I go back into the traditional program to make things easier and improve my grades, or stay in IB and get the diploma?</p>
<p>Many schools will wonder why you did not do IB if it is offered at your school. That being said, if you challenge yourself enough and take hard courses with a smattering of IB courses that will not be a huge step down. IB courses are hell while taking them but prepare you a lot for college, ask people that have gone through the program at your school to gauge their reaction. I stayed in my IB program because of the feedback. I don’t like the IB classes but love my teachers so I stayed.</p>