IB - Real world opinions/feedback

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Genuinely curious, is the IB program a farce at BCC? Earlier post said some can take just one IB class, is that true? What’s typical of a true IB?

IB program is very structured program. That's been one of the criticisms of IB (vs AP) - that its structure is too rigid and doesn't offer flexibility like APs. I personally disagree but some still believe that.

[Anonymous]

In order to get the full diploma, there is a specific mix of courses and exams you must take and scores you need to earn. If you do not complete all the requirements, you do not get the IB diploma. If you are not a diploma candidate, you can still take IB courses and earn a certificate. I'm not sure how many classes are required for the certificate. My older child did the full IB diploma and while it was a lot of work, it really prepared them for the rigor of college. My younger is going the certificate route because they would like to be able to do more electives in their area of interest, and the IB diploma does not allow for that. Colleges will still see they took rigorous IB courses.

[Anonymous]

Why is bc getting beat up on here with regards to their ib program? I don’t know anything about it except that I know a well adjusted boy who attends the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is bc getting beat up on here with regards to their ib program? I don’t know anything about it except that I know a well adjusted boy who attends the program.

bcc*

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Per my RMIB kid, it's a ton of work, but not particularly hard. DC is thinking it may not be worth it for a lot of kids, and is telling their younger sibling to not do it.

I have a kid starting the RMIB next year. Why does your DC not recommend it for his/her younger sibling? We debated about it a ton, and are not sure how much it will be worth it.

For our kids it was worth it - after undergrad at umd, one got PhD in engineering from MIT and second one is in t-20 medical school. Yes it’s not easy but if your child is capable, I’d strongly recommend it

It sounds like the PhD from MIT and T-20 med student are highly driven individuals at their core. I don't think RMIB did anything "extra". I think they had that "extra" to begin with, which is why they were accepted to and successful with RMIB.

Also worth pointing out that these students likely graduated from MCPS 6-8+ years ago and that MCPS has changed a lot since then.

MIT PhD responding...I was comparing my experience to friends at MIT. The depth of my knowledge in the humanities was much greater than peers regardless of background (magnet, private, public, elite private). Again, I think that idea that students that excel in science and math may be encouraged to not pursue other areas of their education.

I do believe I had some amazing teachers, but they did follow the curriculum and standards of the IB education. IB also had some interesting components like the Theory of Knowledge and doing a dissertation that are not included in AP coursework (if that is what we are comparing it to).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP is asking about a school where anyone can opt into the IB curriculum for 11th and 12th grade. I'm not sure the examples from RMIB, which is a test-in rigorous magnet, are comparable.

This is not fully accurate. Technically, the IB program is only 11th and 12th grades. The middle years program for 9-10th is test-in. But there are kids from RM home school who do not test in in 9th who can apply to join in 11th.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It depends where they do it. BCC - total waste of time, RMIB used to be prestigious but has gone down the tubes.

Lycee Rochambeau - probably your best bet

Oh, hey! More private school recruiting!

Well my own kids go to Whitman, that's just my opinion on the IB opportunities locally.

So you really have no basis for the statement.

Yes actually I do. I did the IB in England and know what is missing from the programs here that I mentioned and the one that I believe is good. I investigated them thoroughly for our kids only a couple of years ago.

Is my interview over now, sir?

Not the original interrogator, but I’m still not sure what you think the differences are? Aren’t all IB students following the same curriculum and passing the same exams based on the same criteria? If they pass the exams, wouldn’t that demonstrate they’d learned the material to the same high standards? I get that the instructors may vary, but if they’re prepared for the exams, what does it matter where or how they learned the material? I mean, that’s kind of the point of standardized exams.

Sure. Now compare the results and when I say results I mean for the kids who actually achieve an IB diploma, not those at BCC who took just one IB class mixed in with regular classes in their 11th grade.

Well, the result is you got an IB diploma. I mean, the test-in programs might have a higher pass rate vs. self-selected kids in a given schools, sure. But if you do the work and get a diploma, it means you met the same standards as students who got an IB diploma anywhere else in the world, right?

So a motivated kid at BCC or Einstein who gets an IB diploma earns the same diploma as the kids at whatever fancy private school you're talking about, or a school in England or Sweden or Italy. That's the entire point. Maybe the odds are stacked against them, and they have to work a little harder on their own to get there; but if they get the diploma, it means they met the International Baccalaureate standards. Period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Writing and humanities focus for more math/science oriented child.

My kid is a rising senior at RMIB. I'd say there is definitely a strong writing/humanities focus, but it's within the context of a math and science program that's as rigorous as your kid wants to make it. It's an all-around program, not a program that emphasizes only humanities or only STEM. Kids take AP science and/or corresponding AP exams in IB science classes (e.g., AP Bio, Chem, or Physics C, following two years of the IB classes). In math, kids can get through multivariable calculus by 12th if they're so inclined, and can take calculus classes corresponding to AP Calc AB and/or BC. They can take three years of CS. It all depends on what they want to focus on.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/schools/high-schools/r-w/rmhs/ib/2022-2023-ib-course-handbook.pdf

[Anonymous]

I think it's a great program and I know my niece had a great time but I know my own DC would not like the stress. DC is an excellent student but does not have the discipline or interest in doing homework for 3-4 hours every night.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends where they do it. BCC - total waste of time, RMIB used to be prestigious but has gone down the tubes.

Lycee Rochambeau - probably your best bet

Oh, hey! More private school recruiting!

Well my own kids go to Whitman, that's just my opinion on the IB opportunities locally.

So you really have no basis for the statement.

Yes actually I do. I did the IB in England and know what is missing from the programs here that I mentioned and the one that I believe is good. I investigated them thoroughly for our kids only a couple of years ago.

Is my interview over now, sir?

Not the original interrogator, but I’m still not sure what you think the differences are? Aren’t all IB students following the same curriculum and passing the same exams based on the same criteria? If they pass the exams, wouldn’t that demonstrate they’d learned the material to the same high standards? I get that the instructors may vary, but if they’re prepared for the exams, what does it matter where or how they learned the material? I mean, that’s kind of the point of standardized exams.

Sure. Now compare the results and when I say results I mean for the kids who actually achieve an IB diploma, not those at BCC who took just one IB class mixed in with regular classes in their 11th grade.

Well, the result is you got an IB diploma. I mean, the test-in programs might have a higher pass rate vs. self-selected kids in a given schools, sure. But if you do the work and get a diploma, it means you met the same standards as students who got an IB diploma anywhere else in the world, right?

So a motivated kid at BCC or Einstein who gets an IB diploma earns the same diploma as the kids at whatever fancy private school you're talking about, or a school in England or Sweden or Italy. That's the entire point. Maybe the odds are stacked against them, and they have to work a little harder on their own to get there; but if they get the diploma, it means they met the International Baccalaureate standards. Period.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. The BCC option is to take an occasional IB class, without getting the full diploma. Also diplomas are graded. RMIB had a 92% pass rate then they changed administrators (about 5 yrs ago?) and it dropped to 72% or thereabouts.

There are many threads on this forum, if you care to search for them which are detailed and sometimes very heated, but very informative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends where they do it. BCC - total waste of time, RMIB used to be prestigious but has gone down the tubes.

Lycee Rochambeau - probably your best bet

Oh, hey! More private school recruiting!

Well my own kids go to Whitman, that's just my opinion on the IB opportunities locally.

So you really have no basis for the statement.

Yes actually I do. I did the IB in England and know what is missing from the programs here that I mentioned and the one that I believe is good. I investigated them thoroughly for our kids only a couple of years ago.

Is my interview over now, sir?

Not the original interrogator, but I’m still not sure what you think the differences are? Aren’t all IB students following the same curriculum and passing the same exams based on the same criteria? If they pass the exams, wouldn’t that demonstrate they’d learned the material to the same high standards? I get that the instructors may vary, but if they’re prepared for the exams, what does it matter where or how they learned the material? I mean, that’s kind of the point of standardized exams.

Sure. Now compare the results and when I say results I mean for the kids who actually achieve an IB diploma, not those at BCC who took just one IB class mixed in with regular classes in their 11th grade.

Well, the result is you got an IB diploma. I mean, the test-in programs might have a higher pass rate vs. self-selected kids in a given schools, sure. But if you do the work and get a diploma, it means you met the same standards as students who got an IB diploma anywhere else in the world, right?

So a motivated kid at BCC or Einstein who gets an IB diploma earns the same diploma as the kids at whatever fancy private school you're talking about, or a school in England or Sweden or Italy. That's the entire point. Maybe the odds are stacked against them, and they have to work a little harder on their own to get there; but if they get the diploma, it means they met the International Baccalaureate standards. Period.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. The BCC option is to take an occasional IB class, without getting the full diploma. Also diplomas are graded. RMIB had a 92% pass rate then they changed administrators (about 5 yrs ago?) and it dropped to 72% or thereabouts.

There are many threads on this forum, if you care to search for them which are detailed and sometimes very heated, but very informative.

But you can also get the full IB diploma at BCC, Einstein, Rockville, Seneca Valley, Kennedy, Springbrook, and Watkins Mill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends where they do it. BCC - total waste of time, RMIB used to be prestigious but has gone down the tubes.

Lycee Rochambeau - probably your best bet

Oh, hey! More private school recruiting!

Well my own kids go to Whitman, that's just my opinion on the IB opportunities locally.

So you really have no basis for the statement.

Yes actually I do. I did the IB in England and know what is missing from the programs here that I mentioned and the one that I believe is good. I investigated them thoroughly for our kids only a couple of years ago.

Is my interview over now, sir?

Not the original interrogator, but I’m still not sure what you think the differences are? Aren’t all IB students following the same curriculum and passing the same exams based on the same criteria? If they pass the exams, wouldn’t that demonstrate they’d learned the material to the same high standards? I get that the instructors may vary, but if they’re prepared for the exams, what does it matter where or how they learned the material? I mean, that’s kind of the point of standardized exams.

Sure. Now compare the results and when I say results I mean for the kids who actually achieve an IB diploma, not those at BCC who took just one IB class mixed in with regular classes in their 11th grade.

Well, the result is you got an IB diploma. I mean, the test-in programs might have a higher pass rate vs. self-selected kids in a given schools, sure. But if you do the work and get a diploma, it means you met the same standards as students who got an IB diploma anywhere else in the world, right?

So a motivated kid at BCC or Einstein who gets an IB diploma earns the same diploma as the kids at whatever fancy private school you're talking about, or a school in England or Sweden or Italy. That's the entire point. Maybe the odds are stacked against them, and they have to work a little harder on their own to get there; but if they get the diploma, it means they met the International Baccalaureate standards. Period.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. The BCC option is to take an occasional IB class, without getting the full diploma. Also diplomas are graded. RMIB had a 92% pass rate then they changed administrators (about 5 yrs ago?) and it dropped to 72% or thereabouts.

There are many threads on this forum, if you care to search for them which are detailed and sometimes very heated, but very informative.

But you can also get the full IB diploma at BCC, Einstein, Rockville, Seneca Valley, Kennedy, Springbrook, and Watkins Mill.

But you are much less likely to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends where they do it. BCC - total waste of time, RMIB used to be prestigious but has gone down the tubes.

Lycee Rochambeau - probably your best bet

Oh, hey! More private school recruiting!

Well my own kids go to Whitman, that's just my opinion on the IB opportunities locally.

So you really have no basis for the statement.

Yes actually I do. I did the IB in England and know what is missing from the programs here that I mentioned and the one that I believe is good. I investigated them thoroughly for our kids only a couple of years ago.

Is my interview over now, sir?

Not the original interrogator, but I’m still not sure what you think the differences are? Aren’t all IB students following the same curriculum and passing the same exams based on the same criteria? If they pass the exams, wouldn’t that demonstrate they’d learned the material to the same high standards? I get that the instructors may vary, but if they’re prepared for the exams, what does it matter where or how they learned the material? I mean, that’s kind of the point of standardized exams.

Sure. Now compare the results and when I say results I mean for the kids who actually achieve an IB diploma, not those at BCC who took just one IB class mixed in with regular classes in their 11th grade.

Well, the result is you got an IB diploma. I mean, the test-in programs might have a higher pass rate vs. self-selected kids in a given schools, sure. But if you do the work and get a diploma, it means you met the same standards as students who got an IB diploma anywhere else in the world, right?

So a motivated kid at BCC or Einstein who gets an IB diploma earns the same diploma as the kids at whatever fancy private school you're talking about, or a school in England or Sweden or Italy. That's the entire point. Maybe the odds are stacked against them, and they have to work a little harder on their own to get there; but if they get the diploma, it means they met the International Baccalaureate standards. Period.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. The BCC option is to take an occasional IB class, without getting the full diploma. Also diplomas are graded. RMIB had a 92% pass rate then they changed administrators (about 5 yrs ago?) and it dropped to 72% or thereabouts.

There are many threads on this forum, if you care to search for them which are detailed and sometimes very heated, but very informative.

But you can also get the full IB diploma at BCC, Einstein, Rockville, Seneca Valley, Kennedy, Springbrook, and Watkins Mill.

Yes, a student can get an IB diploma but if the pass rate is low and their grades barely scrape by, they're screwed. Just like a C average student in a regular MCPS high school program.

[Anonymous]

IB teacher here. I’ve taught IB in the county for almost a decade, and have mixed feelings about the program. For some, it is great. MCPS has watered down the curriculum and standards for years now, so taking IB classes is a great way for students to be exposed to real rigor and academic standards. That being said, due to the lowering of standards in grades 9-10, many students come in to the IB program junior year completely unprepared, and it can be highly stressful. It’s highly stressful for even those students who are prepared. My students joke about how late they go to bed, having mental breakdowns, and the hell of IB. It actually concerns me how they just see it as the norm. I have seen previous comments saying how the writing in IB is good preparation for college, and I agree. Especially if in the DP program, between all the IAs and the extended essay, your child will have a lot of opportunities to learn research and writing skills. They’ll also learn time management, and many students who reach out to me after they’ve graduated have said that college feels way more manageable after doing the IB program. (They’re comparing their experience to that of their peers who didn’t do IB). As with anything, it will depend on the school your child attends, the teachers they have, and their personality. For some, IB is the best thing that happened to them in HS and set them up for extreme success beyond. For others, it ends up not being a good choice, their mental health is affected, and they either push through to their own detriment, or drop out. You know your child best!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends where they do it. BCC - total waste of time, RMIB used to be prestigious but has gone down the tubes.

Lycee Rochambeau - probably your best bet

Oh, hey! More private school recruiting!

Well my own kids go to Whitman, that's just my opinion on the IB opportunities locally.

So you really have no basis for the statement.

Yes actually I do. I did the IB in England and know what is missing from the programs here that I mentioned and the one that I believe is good. I investigated them thoroughly for our kids only a couple of years ago.

Is my interview over now, sir?

Not the original interrogator, but I’m still not sure what you think the differences are? Aren’t all IB students following the same curriculum and passing the same exams based on the same criteria? If they pass the exams, wouldn’t that demonstrate they’d learned the material to the same high standards? I get that the instructors may vary, but if they’re prepared for the exams, what does it matter where or how they learned the material? I mean, that’s kind of the point of standardized exams.

Sure. Now compare the results and when I say results I mean for the kids who actually achieve an IB diploma, not those at BCC who took just one IB class mixed in with regular classes in their 11th grade.

Well, the result is you got an IB diploma. I mean, the test-in programs might have a higher pass rate vs. self-selected kids in a given schools, sure. But if you do the work and get a diploma, it means you met the same standards as students who got an IB diploma anywhere else in the world, right?

So a motivated kid at BCC or Einstein who gets an IB diploma earns the same diploma as the kids at whatever fancy private school you're talking about, or a school in England or Sweden or Italy. That's the entire point. Maybe the odds are stacked against them, and they have to work a little harder on their own to get there; but if they get the diploma, it means they met the International Baccalaureate standards. Period.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. The BCC option is to take an occasional IB class, without getting the full diploma. Also diplomas are graded. RMIB had a 92% pass rate then they changed administrators (about 5 yrs ago?) and it dropped to 72% or thereabouts.

There are many threads on this forum, if you care to search for them which are detailed and sometimes very heated, but very informative.

Wow, is that true? That’s quite a difference. Is it the teaching that’s deteriorated or the ability of the students?

I have a kid in the RMIB and didn’t realize the pass rate was so low!