Madison HS or the IB program at Marshall HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Robinson offers both IB and AAP.
For the rest of the schools, your have to choose to leave all of your friends and lose the bus to choose the alternate program. It's FCPS way of pigeonholing the kids.

As if it is normal to go through ES, MS and HS with the same cohort of friends. I attended two different ESs growing up and went on to a private HS while all my MS friends went on to the local public. Guess what? I was still friends with them and I made new friends. My DD is the same. She is at Marshall, most of her friends from MS go to FCHS. She has new friends at Marshall and still hangs out with her old friends.

That's probably what happens to all the kids placing out of Marshall to Madison and McLean for AP as well.

And the kids placing into Marshall for IB from McLean and Madison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Robinson offers both IB and AAP.
For the rest of the schools, your have to choose to leave all of your friends and lose the bus to choose the alternate program. It's FCPS way of pigeonholing the kids.

As if it is normal to go through ES, MS and HS with the same cohort of friends. I attended two different ESs growing up and went on to a private HS while all my MS friends went on to the local public. Guess what? I was still friends with them and I made new friends. My DD is the same. She is at Marshall, most of her friends from MS go to FCHS. She has new friends at Marshall and still hangs out with her old friends.

That's probably what happens to all the kids placing out of Marshall to Madison and McLean for AP as well.

And the kids placing into Marshall for IB from McLean and Madison.

We live in the Shrevewood district and pupil placed both of our kids out of Marshall to McLean for AP and the stronger music program. Both had plenty of friends, though they already knew many kids from Haycock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ned December 19, 2012 at 05:17 PM
I am a 2004 graduate of South Lakes and an IB certificate holder. As I am the only one in this discussion so far to have gone all the way through the program and experienced life afterward, I would like to offer my experiences. I have no problems admitting I was a midland student in the IB world. I graduated with a 3.3 and certs in HL physics/history and SL english/math/art, I was not a full diploma candidate so TOK was not in my course load. I went on to graduate from Longwood University with honors. What the IB program did for me was put me LEAPS and BOUNDS ahead of my peers in college. It's true that I did not receive any credit for my IB classes but I did receive plenty of knowledge. My first year at Longwood was a breeze since it was essentially a repeat of my senior year at South Lakes. Some might say thats a bad thing but as a student who went through it I say those people are idiots. It allowed me to transition into college life with far greater ease than friends from other parts of the state/country. I didn't have the smack in the face of "college level classes" since I was already expected to achieve at that level (at least) the year before. The advantage I had over my classmates due to the IB program was absurd. Simply put, I was ready for college, others weren't. period. This is only my case and there are a lot of variables but all of my friends experienced the same thing. It was rough in HS but beyond worth it in the long run. Buck up Mr. Stein...

So IB will give a local student a leg up at Longwood? Mr. Stein may have had a different college experience in mind.

Well, Mr. Stein might also do well like me... I obtained my IB diploma at an overseas school. I did attend Longwood. I started up and spun off one small business in my undegraduate career and another before going to grad school at Wharton. I now run my own company and employ 1 - 2 Ivy undergrads but have fired another 3 -4 for non-performance. I am happy with my life, I make a good income, I employ people, thus contributing to my state and community. Wonder what the person who sneered at Longwood does? Probably "just" a lawyer, not someone who has ever created anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ned December 19, 2012 at 05:17 PM
I am a 2004 graduate of South Lakes and an IB certificate holder. As I am the only one in this discussion so far to have gone all the way through the program and experienced life afterward, I would like to offer my experiences. I have no problems admitting I was a midland student in the IB world. I graduated with a 3.3 and certs in HL physics/history and SL english/math/art, I was not a full diploma candidate so TOK was not in my course load. I went on to graduate from Longwood University with honors. What the IB program did for me was put me LEAPS and BOUNDS ahead of my peers in college. It's true that I did not receive any credit for my IB classes but I did receive plenty of knowledge. My first year at Longwood was a breeze since it was essentially a repeat of my senior year at South Lakes. Some might say thats a bad thing but as a student who went through it I say those people are idiots. It allowed me to transition into college life with far greater ease than friends from other parts of the state/country. I didn't have the smack in the face of "college level classes" since I was already expected to achieve at that level (at least) the year before. The advantage I had over my classmates due to the IB program was absurd. Simply put, I was ready for college, others weren't. period. This is only my case and there are a lot of variables but all of my friends experienced the same thing. It was rough in HS but beyond worth it in the long run. Buck up Mr. Stein...

So IB will give a local student a leg up at Longwood? Mr. Stein may have had a different college experience in mind.

Well, Mr. Stein might also do well like me... I obtained my IB diploma at an overseas school. I did attend Longwood. I started up and spun off one small business in my undegraduate career and another before going to grad school at Wharton. I now run my own company and employ 1 - 2 Ivy undergrads but have fired another 3 -4 for non-performance. I am happy with my life, I make a good income, I employ people, thus contributing to my state and community. Wonder what the person who sneered at Longwood does? Probably "just" a lawyer, not someone who has ever created anything.

Cool story, dude, but probably not a reason to place out of a top AP school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I have been in several classes where I have learned very little about the topic. This is no fault of the teacher, but rather the fault of the curriculum. The curriculum for IB History of the Americas places a heavy weight upon the teaching of things like the OPVL, which is a method of evaluating historical sources. This leads to less time being spent on historical analysis and historical fact, and more time being spent on assorted IB requirements.

Finally, there's the most unpleasant fact of them all. IB is designed for international students. (hence the name International Baccalaureate) However, the vast majority of students do not apply outside of the country. This makes the much-touted IB Diploma worthless. Moreover, universities truly do not care about whether or not the student obtains the IB Diploma.

Only seven high schools offer IB in Fairfax County. If it was as wonderful as some would have you believe, wouldn't all of FCPS offer it?"

- Paul Stein, SLHS IB student

Mr Stein, Please do not use your real name on this forum. Not the nicest people here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ned December 19, 2012 at 05:17 PM
I am a 2004 graduate of South Lakes and an IB certificate holder. As I am the only one in this discussion so far to have gone all the way through the program and experienced life afterward, I would like to offer my experiences. I have no problems admitting I was a midland student in the IB world. I graduated with a 3.3 and certs in HL physics/history and SL english/math/art, I was not a full diploma candidate so TOK was not in my course load. I went on to graduate from Longwood University with honors. What the IB program did for me was put me LEAPS and BOUNDS ahead of my peers in college. It's true that I did not receive any credit for my IB classes but I did receive plenty of knowledge. My first year at Longwood was a breeze since it was essentially a repeat of my senior year at South Lakes. Some might say thats a bad thing but as a student who went through it I say those people are idiots. It allowed me to transition into college life with far greater ease than friends from other parts of the state/country. I didn't have the smack in the face of "college level classes" since I was already expected to achieve at that level (at least) the year before. The advantage I had over my classmates due to the IB program was absurd. Simply put, I was ready for college, others weren't. period. This is only my case and there are a lot of variables but all of my friends experienced the same thing. It was rough in HS but beyond worth it in the long run. Buck up Mr. Stein...

So IB will give a local student a leg up at Longwood? Mr. Stein may have had a different college experience in mind.

Well, Mr. Stein might also do well like me... I obtained my IB diploma at an overseas school. I did attend Longwood. I started up and spun off one small business in my undegraduate career and another before going to grad school at Wharton. I now run my own company and employ 1 - 2 Ivy undergrads but have fired another 3 -4 for non-performance. I am happy with my life, I make a good income, I employ people, thus contributing to my state and community. Wonder what the person who sneered at Longwood does? Probably "just" a lawyer, not someone who has ever created anything.

Cool story, dude, but probably not a reason to place out of a top AP school.

Different strokes for different folks. Maybe some people prefer IB over AP. It's as simple as that. It doesn't make them wrong. It amazes me how much vitriol gets spilled out in the Madison and McLean vs. Marshall thing and the AP vs. IB. Doesn't it matter that your kids are happy and successful wherever they are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Robinson offers both IB and AAP.
For the rest of the schools, your have to choose to leave all of your friends and lose the bus to choose the alternate program. It's FCPS way of pigeonholing the kids.

As if it is normal to go through ES, MS and HS with the same cohort of friends. I attended two different ESs growing up and went on to a private HS while all my MS friends went on to the local public. Guess what? I was still friends with them and I made new friends. My DD is the same. She is at Marshall, most of her friends from MS go to FCHS. She has new friends at Marshall and still hangs out with her old friends.

That's probably what happens to all the kids placing out of Marshall to Madison and McLean for AP as well.

And the kids placing into Marshall for IB from McLean and Madison.

We live in the Shrevewood district and pupil placed both of our kids out of Marshall to McLean for AP and the stronger music program. Both had plenty of friends, though they already knew many kids from Haycock.

We live in the Shrevewood district also, but we're a little bit closer to Falls Church than McLean, so we're feeling stuck with Marshall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Robinson offers both IB and AAP.
For the rest of the schools, your have to choose to leave all of your friends and lose the bus to choose the alternate program. It's FCPS way of pigeonholing the kids.

As if it is normal to go through ES, MS and HS with the same cohort of friends. I attended two different ESs growing up and went on to a private HS while all my MS friends went on to the local public. Guess what? I was still friends with them and I made new friends. My DD is the same. She is at Marshall, most of her friends from MS go to FCHS. She has new friends at Marshall and still hangs out with her old friends.

That's probably what happens to all the kids placing out of Marshall to Madison and McLean for AP as well.

And the kids placing into Marshall for IB from McLean and Madison.

We live in the Shrevewood district and pupil placed both of our kids out of Marshall to McLean for AP and the stronger music program. Both had plenty of friends, though they already knew many kids from Haycock.

We live in the Shrevewood district also, but we're a little bit closer to Falls Church than McLean, so we're feeling stuck with Marshall.

Pp again here...I should have been more specific. We're closer to Falls Church HS than McLean HS.

[Anonymous]

So, you are "stuck" with Marshall? Oh, how terrible! If you want AP, there is FCHS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, you are "stuck" with Marshall? Oh, how terrible! If you want AP, there is FCHS.

The horrors! How do you sleep at night?

[Anonymous]

Given FCHS or Marshall, Marshall is a no-brainer.

[Anonymous]

Why? Oh, yeaah brown and poor kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why? Oh, yeaah brown and poor kids.

Or maybe the low SAT scores...yup...even the white kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why? Oh, yeaah brown and poor kids.

Why the hell do people on this forum think its okay to call kids "brown?"
Are you the same ones promoting keeping the Redskins name?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ned December 19, 2012 at 05:17 PM
I am a 2004 graduate of South Lakes and an IB certificate holder. As I am the only one in this discussion so far to have gone all the way through the program and experienced life afterward, I would like to offer my experiences. I have no problems admitting I was a midland student in the IB world. I graduated with a 3.3 and certs in HL physics/history and SL english/math/art, I was not a full diploma candidate so TOK was not in my course load. I went on to graduate from Longwood University with honors. What the IB program did for me was put me LEAPS and BOUNDS ahead of my peers in college. It's true that I did not receive any credit for my IB classes but I did receive plenty of knowledge. My first year at Longwood was a breeze since it was essentially a repeat of my senior year at South Lakes. Some might say thats a bad thing but as a student who went through it I say those people are idiots. It allowed me to transition into college life with far greater ease than friends from other parts of the state/country. I didn't have the smack in the face of "college level classes" since I was already expected to achieve at that level (at least) the year before. The advantage I had over my classmates due to the IB program was absurd. Simply put, I was ready for college, others weren't. period. This is only my case and there are a lot of variables but all of my friends experienced the same thing. It was rough in HS but beyond worth it in the long run. Buck up Mr. Stein...

So IB will give a local student a leg up at Longwood? Mr. Stein may have had a different college experience in mind.

Well, Mr. Stein might also do well like me... I obtained my IB diploma at an overseas school. I did attend Longwood. I started up and spun off one small business in my undegraduate career and another before going to grad school at Wharton. I now run my own company and employ 1 - 2 Ivy undergrads but have fired another 3 -4 for non-performance. I am happy with my life, I make a good income, I employ people, thus contributing to my state and community. Wonder what the person who sneered at Longwood does? Probably "just" a lawyer, not someone who has ever created anything.

Cool story, dude, but probably not a reason to place out of a top AP school.

Different strokes for different folks. Maybe some people prefer IB over AP. It's as simple as that. It doesn't make them wrong. It amazes me how much vitriol gets spilled out in the Madison and McLean vs. Marshall thing and the AP vs. IB. Doesn't it matter that your kids are happy and successful wherever they are?

+1 I was thinking the same thing, PP. Though it does seem that most of the vitriol is directed at Marshall and the IB program. I wonder why that is, especially given so many Madison and other AP parents are certain of the superiority of the AP program? Hmmm.....