IB Diploma Success Stories?

[Anonymous]

MCPS is heavily invested in IB, since there are several regional programs (Kennedy, Springbrook, Watkins Mill) along with the school-specific programs (Einstein, B-CC, Rockville, Seneca Valley) and of course the creme de la creme, the IB magnet program (Richard Montgomery).

I hear from some parents and students that they don't think IB is worth it cause it's hard. But I'd love to hear success stories from parents and students who did it and found it valuable and found success post-high school.

So can anyone whose kids graduated from the IB Diploma Program share their success stories?

I'm sure the magnet kids have many of these, but I'd love to hear the experience of non-magnet families primarily, but I'll take what I can get.

[Anonymous]

I mean I think it is worthwhile in part because it is hard? I guess you could argue that some of the difficulty is in annoying organizational stuff but generally one strength is that there is an outside group doing some grading (and having an IB coordinator to help the kids stay on track and maybe build some community is great too).

Mostly I recommend it because 1) I think it goes more in depth, using more primary materials and less of a US-centered focus in history for example and 2) the extended essay is a pretty unusual opportunity to work on a longer paper in a structured, supported way. Learning to write well is a super important skill imo and it’s hard to teach but it’s super hard for public school teachers to find time to teach it.


Anyway, we were not a magnet family but were very happy with it (and my kid ended up at their first choice school and seems well prepared for it)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean I think it is worthwhile in part because it is hard? I guess you could argue that some of the difficulty is in annoying organizational stuff but generally one strength is that there is an outside group doing some grading (and having an IB coordinator to help the kids stay on track and maybe build some community is great too).

Mostly I recommend it because 1) I think it goes more in depth, using more primary materials and less of a US-centered focus in history for example and 2) the extended essay is a pretty unusual opportunity to work on a longer paper in a structured, supported way. Learning to write well is a super important skill imo and it’s hard to teach but it’s super hard for public school teachers to find time to teach it.


Anyway, we were not a magnet family but were very happy with it (and my kid ended up at their first choice school and seems well prepared for it)

Thank you! I too thought it's difficulty and rigor was a feature and not a bug, but I've encountered numerous folks, (particularly even here on DCUM....) who say the difficulty level and stress wasn't worth it and that they regret doing IB....so I just wanted to hear the other side, because obviously if IB was universally detested and hated, kids wouldn't keep signing up for it.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My thoughts align similarly to yours, which is that IB really seems to teach kids how to think and write critically in a way that absolutely lines up with what colleges expect.

[Anonymous]

Kids do complain about it a lot, but the plus side of it weighs more. There a camaraderie that is built through the hard experience in addition to developing a lot of writing and research skills. Many IB students would say that college is easier than the program. Their tolerance for heavy work and demand will increase.

[Anonymous]

Anything that takes curriculum decisions away from Rockville Central Office is a good thing IMHO.

Geneva (where IB admin is located) is huge plus of program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids do complain about it a lot, but the plus side of it weighs more. There a camaraderie that is built through the hard experience in addition to developing a lot of writing and research skills. Many IB students would say that college is easier than the program. Their tolerance for heavy work and demand will increase.

AKA they've built up RESILIENCE! Which is probably the number one thing lacking in MCPS right now....

I also love the camaraderie I see from the kids who buckle down and get through it together.

[Anonymous]

IB is not for everyone, that's for sure.

PROS:
- Lots of in depth writing and research. Makes for a stronger writer. My STEM oriented DC became a much stronger writer because of this program.
- Very well prepared for college in terms of writing and time management
- Interdisciplinary and in depth subjects -- example: in IB history, they will pick a couple of global history topics and go in depth.

CONS:
- Lots of writing. If you really hate writing, this is not for you. And it is a time sucker.
- Only the HL exams provide college credit, EXCEPT for English for (at least for UMD). You can get elective credit for a 5+ score, but it doesn't get you out of the English class.

[Anonymous]

I echo the sentiment that IB is not for everyone. We are now especially pushing any student who wants to try it to do so, despite poor grades in prerequisite courses. For students who are willing to put in the work, it is worthwhile. I think students complain during the program because it is an incredible amount of work, and many of those students are also heavily involved in extracurriculars. Almost every student I’ve spoken to post-graduation, has said they are so well prepared for college because of being in IB. I have had students every year who have severe mental health struggles, and for some of these students, I do not think it is worth it to put themselves through the stress.

I can think of many success stories, including students who always have excelled and students who struggled at first but really put in the work. Some of those students who struggled the most at first have gone on to get full scholarships at multiple colleges. As someone said above, the program teaches resilience.

It probably also depends on the school, but we have a very strong support system for our IB kids at my school.

[Anonymous]

Every kid is different. If your kid your kid is a hard worker, smart, curious, willing to read and write a lot, and doesn't have an deep semi-pro commitment to single subject or talent, IB is a great well-rounded education that prepares well for success in college and intellectual / white collar careers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IB is not for everyone, that's for sure.

PROS:
- Lots of in depth writing and research. Makes for a stronger writer. My STEM oriented DC became a much stronger writer because of this program.
- Very well prepared for college in terms of writing and time management
- Interdisciplinary and in depth subjects -- example: in IB history, they will pick a couple of global history topics and go in depth.

CONS:
- Lots of writing. If you really hate writing, this is not for you. And it is a time sucker.
- Only the HL exams provide college credit, EXCEPT for English for (at least for UMD). You can get elective credit for a 5+ score, but it doesn't get you out of the English class.

This seems like a huge deal.

Many AP students take 5, 10, 15 AP exams.

IB student take, what, 4-5 HLs? Can they take more?
Can they take and pass AP exams (or scrape a 4 or 5 or on an HL exam) based on an SL class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I think it is worthwhile in part because it is hard? I guess you could argue that some of the difficulty is in annoying organizational stuff but generally one strength is that there is an outside group doing some grading (and having an IB coordinator to help the kids stay on track and maybe build some community is great too).

Mostly I recommend it because 1) I think it goes more in depth, using more primary materials and less of a US-centered focus in history for example and 2) the extended essay is a pretty unusual opportunity to work on a longer paper in a structured, supported way. Learning to write well is a super important skill imo and it’s hard to teach but it’s super hard for public school teachers to find time to teach it.


Anyway, we were not a magnet family but were very happy with it (and my kid ended up at their first choice school and seems well prepared for it)

Thank you! I too thought it's difficulty and rigor was a feature and not a bug, but I've encountered numerous folks, (particularly even here on DCUM....) who say the difficulty level and stress wasn't worth it and that they regret doing IB....so I just wanted to hear the other side, because obviously if IB was universally detested and hated, kids wouldn't keep signing up for it.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My thoughts align similarly to yours, which is that IB really seems to teach kids how to think and write critically in a way that absolutely lines up with what colleges expect.

Like AP, IB has expanded over the years, to be more inclusive of students who are less prepared or talented. It can still be a great educational experience for them, but it'll be harder, and they will have to be satisfied with lower grades and scores. (IMO this a good thing -- we should get back to the "old way" where a good effort to learn the basics earns an honorable C, and Bs and As are for students who learn and perform exceptionally well in their fields of focus.)

[Anonymous]

Two married RMIB grads with a kid at RMIB. This probably identifies me, but it's not like I've kept it a secret. I felt the IB program gave me a great education--well-rounded, comprehensive, engaging, with a great peer group. As IB and AP have diverged, I feel more drawn to the AP curriculum. IB seems to focus more on "developing knowledge" while AP focuses on "teaching knowledge." I'm on board with developing thought once a student is educated, but it's hard to do without content. I am not in love with how IB has changed since I was in the program.

That said, DH and I are successful people who look back very fondly on our RMIB HS years. We read, we wrote, we discussed, we did math and science. It was a great all-around education. Our child enjoys the program despite the frustrations. There is a lot of writing. There is less content than we'd like. On balance, no regrets compared to our other options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two married RMIB grads with a kid at RMIB. This probably identifies me, but it's not like I've kept it a secret. I felt the IB program gave me a great education--well-rounded, comprehensive, engaging, with a great peer group. As IB and AP have diverged, I feel more drawn to the AP curriculum. IB seems to focus more on "developing knowledge" while AP focuses on "teaching knowledge." I'm on board with developing thought once a student is educated, but it's hard to do without content. I am not in love with how IB has changed since I was in the program.

That said, DH and I are successful people who look back very fondly on our RMIB HS years. We read, we wrote, we discussed, we did math and science. It was a great all-around education. Our child enjoys the program despite the frustrations. There is a lot of writing. There is less content than we'd like. On balance, no regrets compared to our other options.

\

Where did you and your DH attend college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two married RMIB grads with a kid at RMIB. This probably identifies me, but it's not like I've kept it a secret. I felt the IB program gave me a great education--well-rounded, comprehensive, engaging, with a great peer group. As IB and AP have diverged, I feel more drawn to the AP curriculum. IB seems to focus more on "developing knowledge" while AP focuses on "teaching knowledge." I'm on board with developing thought once a student is educated, but it's hard to do without content. I am not in love with how IB has changed since I was in the program.

That said, DH and I are successful people who look back very fondly on our RMIB HS years. We read, we wrote, we discussed, we did math and science. It was a great all-around education. Our child enjoys the program despite the frustrations. There is a lot of writing. There is less content than we'd like. On balance, no regrets compared to our other options.

I'm trying to understand more about the program.. could you elaborate more on developing knowledge vs teaching knowledge? Also, what did you mean when you said 'without content' and 'less content than we'd like'? Given the amount of time students spend, I'm having a hard time imagining what are they wrestling with if there is not that much content.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IB is not for everyone, that's for sure.

PROS:
- Lots of in depth writing and research. Makes for a stronger writer. My STEM oriented DC became a much stronger writer because of this program.
- Very well prepared for college in terms of writing and time management
- Interdisciplinary and in depth subjects -- example: in IB history, they will pick a couple of global history topics and go in depth.

CONS:
- Lots of writing. If you really hate writing, this is not for you. And it is a time sucker.
- Only the HL exams provide college credit, EXCEPT for English for (at least for UMD). You can get elective credit for a 5+ score, but it doesn't get you out of the English class.

This seems like a huge deal.

Many AP students take 5, 10, 15 AP exams.

IB student take, what, 4-5 HLs? Can they take more?
Can they take and pass AP exams (or scrape a 4 or 5 or on an HL exam) based on an SL class?

I can only speak to the RMIB magnet students - most, if not all, take AP exams and self study. And most get 4+.

I don't think you can take an HL exam unless you take the HL class. But, I can only speak to the IB diploma program. Don't know how it is in other IB schools.