Workload at Richard Montgomery IB magnet program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sort of a spin-off (and frankly, given the comments above, I question whether this would be a good fit for my DC):

RM is our home HS and my understanding is that even if DC doesn't test into the IB magnet in 9th & 10th, it is possible to be in IB in 11th and 12th without a test. Is that the same 11th & 12th IB that the magnet kids are in from 9th grade or is it a different track? And how difficult is it to get into IB on the non-magnet route? TIA.

You are correct. If RM is your home school, your kid does not have to "test" into the magnet. They are at a slight disadvantage if they didn't take "magnet" classes in grades 9 & 10, but given that ALL RM students are part of the Middle Years Programme in grades 9 & 10, many students who did not test into the magnet (either because they took the test and didn't get in or because the never took the test at all) go into the Diploma Programme and do quite well. Some of them are my former and even current students.

PP here -- thanks for the response. Does it matter if DC doesn't go to JW for the MYP program? My assumption is that the relevant prerequisite for the IB diploma is the 9th & 10th MYP years, but is there something I'm missing about the importance of the middle school MYP? (Fwiw, DC will have foreign language credits before HS so those the IB requirements should be met.)

[Anonymous]

A trite observation in view of all the very good advice above. But from experience with DCs friends, a good fit for RM seems to be someone who enjoys talking about how overworked they are. Not to detract from the actual abilities and work ethic of DC's friends who are at RM but they are exactly the people who were talking this way when they were in MS and completely underworked.

[Anonymous]

If you are not sure if your DC is right "fit" for the program, I'd strongly suggest you attend information meeting and learn as much as possible. It is true not all kids thrive but most do. It is also true that the program is not easy and it will push your DC's intellectual limits. Excellent, dedicated teachers and like-minded peer group of students. The worst thing for us was lack of sleep for our DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sort of a spin-off (and frankly, given the comments above, I question whether this would be a good fit for my DC):

RM is our home HS and my understanding is that even if DC doesn't test into the IB magnet in 9th & 10th, it is possible to be in IB in 11th and 12th without a test. Is that the same 11th & 12th IB that the magnet kids are in from 9th grade or is it a different track? And how difficult is it to get into IB on the non-magnet route? TIA.

You are correct. If RM is your home school, your kid does not have to "test" into the magnet. They are at a slight disadvantage if they didn't take "magnet" classes in grades 9 & 10, but given that ALL RM students are part of the Middle Years Programme in grades 9 & 10, many students who did not test into the magnet (either because they took the test and didn't get in or because the never took the test at all) go into the Diploma Programme and do quite well. Some of them are my former and even current students.

PP here -- thanks for the response. Does it matter if DC doesn't go to JW for the MYP program? My assumption is that the relevant prerequisite for the IB diploma is the 9th & 10th MYP years, but is there something I'm missing about the importance of the middle school MYP? (Fwiw, DC will have foreign language credits before HS so those the IB requirements should be met.)

No you did not have to go to JW for ms.

[Anonymous]

9:44 PP here. I had such a great time at RM that it's hard to be objective. And a big part of that was the social dynamic. Other PP was correct: there really weren't any cliques or identifiable mean girls or popular vs. reject status. Yes, people had their group of closer friends, as did I, but I never felt rejected or excluded by anyone. There was very much a "we're all in this together" mentality and anybody would help anybody else. I felt very comfortable and accepted there all 4 years.

But I was (and am) not a huge social butterfly. I found similar people who were also not hugely extroverted and made me feel ok for being more interested in reading or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9:44 PP here. I had such a great time at RM that it's hard to be objective. And a big part of that was the social dynamic. Other PP was correct: there really weren't any cliques or identifiable mean girls or popular vs. reject status. Yes, people had their group of closer friends, as did I, but I never felt rejected or excluded by anyone. There was very much a "we're all in this together" mentality and anybody would help anybody else. I felt very comfortable and accepted there all 4 years.

But I was (and am) not a huge social butterfly. I found similar people who were also not hugely extroverted and made me feel ok for being more interested in reading or whatever.

+1. This is SO true.

[Anonymous]

Why are people okay with overworking and under sleeping their kids and still thinking it is okay? I guess I just don't get that at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are people okay with overworking and under sleeping their kids and still thinking it is okay? I guess I just don't get that at all.

It's hard to explain... The best answer I can give you is certain kids need and thrive under such environment. The program is definitely not for everyone. It doesn't mean those kids who decide against the program are any less capable or not as smart as kids in the program. But every child is different and you need to know your DC. Also, the selection committee does an excellent job identifying kids who fit the program well. For certain kids, including ours, HS doesn't get any better than this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people okay with overworking and under sleeping their kids and still thinking it is okay? I guess I just don't get that at all.

It's hard to explain... The best answer I can give you is certain kids need and thrive under such environment. The program is definitely not for everyone. It doesn't mean those kids who decide against the program are any less capable or not as smart as kids in the program. But every child is different and you need to know your DC. Also, the selection committee does an excellent job identifying kids who fit the program well. For certain kids, including ours, HS doesn't get any better than this.

My child is not at RMIB, but at the Blair magnet, and he thrives in that environment. He does math problems for fun. He asks for math and logic books for birthdays and Christmas, and loves Sudoku and other puzzles. He is extremely self-motivated. Blair is exactly the right place for him despite the challenges it presents.

For my other child, it would be living hell.

People are different.

[Anonymous]

I think that the rigor in pre-IB (9th and 10th) was necessary for these kids to be able to actually do the IB curriculum in 11th and 12th, to a world-class level. There is rigor in all magnet programs. Except, the RMIB is being graded by people in foreign countries. They do not care if someone was victim of curriculum 2.0, they will grade on the student's grasp, understanding and command of the subject.

RMIB is not for all students. They have to be very bright, but also have excellent organization and time management skills. If you are in the habit of procrastinating and not really working on short, medium and long term goals - you will find it tough.

For the person who commented on students getting C's and Ds in RMIB. Yes, that happens a lot. But these people do not graduate with low GPAs. They will work to bring their grades up. I like the fact that there is no grade inflation in RMIB. An essay that gets graded A is usually a work of art. The standards of grading is very tough, but surprisingly, these children actually end up rising to the expectation.

Yes, sleep deprivation is a big deal. Mostly for those kids who were really laid back in HGC and MS Magnet. This program is great for a child who is very bright, and very strategic in managing time. I cannot emphasize it enough.

It is doable. Everyone graduated with flying colors, with great opportunities in front of them in college, with skills that is useful in life. It has the highest retention rate, and highest rate of IB Diploma awarded in the WORLD.

Interestingly, my RMIB graduate thinks that it was the best experience in her life, and is loving college now because she is head and shoulders above others.

The child when she went into the program was very bright, very well read but a real procrastinator. It resulted in some major adjustments for her in the very first quarter. You have to really hit the ground running. At the end of this whole experience - she can write and churn out essays in her sleep, she knows how to study effectively, she can maximize her time by seeking out new opportunities.

So, check out the program. Trust the wisdom of the selection committee. If they think your kid will be a great RMIB candidate, then he/she will be. Know your child and lastly let this be their choice.

[Anonymous]

Just to counter.."everybody graduated with flying colors" I know 2 kids that dropped out before 11th grade and another that stayed in but did not get the diploma. All are successful college students at good schools now.

[Anonymous]

So for people who have been through the program or had kids go through it, is it accurate to say that the IB emphasizes quantity of work over quality?

Seems like the work can be challenging without being overwhelming but judging from these comments, it does not appear that the program is designed that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9:44 PP here. I had such a great time at RM that it's hard to be objective. And a big part of that was the social dynamic. Other PP was correct: there really weren't any cliques or identifiable mean girls or popular vs. reject status. Yes, people had their group of closer friends, as did I, but I never felt rejected or excluded by anyone. There was very much a "we're all in this together" mentality and anybody would help anybody else. I felt very comfortable and accepted there all 4 years.

But I was (and am) not a huge social butterfly. I found similar people who were also not hugely extroverted and made me feel ok for being more interested in reading or whatever.

+1. This is SO true.

+1. This was my DD's experience as well. I also loved the way everyone was so very inclusive. It was a very grown-up and mature behaviour on everyone's part. However, they are also teens and thus ended up finding humor in their IB trials. There were many memes and inside jokes created about the whole IB experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to counter.."everybody graduated with flying colors" I know 2 kids that dropped out before 11th grade and another that stayed in but did not get the diploma. All are successful college students at good schools now.

Every batch will see 1-2 students drop out. These are extremely bright students if they got into RMIB at the first place, so I am not surprised that they are very successful students in very good schools. They are still cream of the crop.

The world over the IB dropout rate is significantly higher than RMIB. You have not countered anything. Those who graduated, graduated with high grades in their IB courses (akin to 4s and 5s in AP exams) - so everybody did graduate with flying colors.

I find it strange that you have to find negatives in a program when your own child has not gone through it, and you have no first hand experience. There is not a dearth of applicants who will be lining up to get into RMIB. They will not hurt for the best and brightest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So for people who have been through the program or had kids go through it, is it accurate to say that the IB emphasizes quantity of work over quality?

Seems like the work can be challenging without being overwhelming but judging from these comments, it does not appear that the program is designed that way.

Disagree - yes, there is a large workload, but what they're doing is of great quality and not simply "busy work."

As a PP suggested, if you're interested, attend the information session and look into the program, because there's this too:

http://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/