IB Diploma Success Stories?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DP here and this thread just reinforces my belief that I think IB is a great choice for my daughter, who is also interested in it. I think the U.S. system often falls short nurturing effective writing skills in students and the fact that writing is a huge component of this program is a great benefit that will give my kid a competitive edge. Most of the people I've encountered in the workforce, with the exception of people in leadership roles, are not good writers.

DP. Most of the people I've encountered in leadership roles in the workforce are not good writers.

My kid is in the IB program, and I don't know whether their writing is good or not because I don't read what they write, but there certainly is a lot of writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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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)

One year of American history is what most kids get in high school anyway, and that year is spent telling the kids how terrible the U.S. is even without IB. I don't think we need any more "global citizens."

Sounds like you might be better off homeschooling your kids on PragerU videos, though your kids won’t be.

Actually, I teach APUSH and AP GoPo, so I'm pretty familiar with the content. It's great to understand the world, but not at the expense of having even a basic knowledge of your own country. And 7th and 8th grade US history really doesn't cut it. But thanks for the tip...

Well, that's worrisome.

I think there are plenty of posters who just make up credentials

No... want to test me?

[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.

That doesn't sound right to me. UMD definitely awards credit for SL courses, and also for 5s. See this chart: https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/IBGenEd.pdf

[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.

That doesn't sound right to me. UMD definitely awards credit for SL courses, and also for 5s. See this chart: https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/IBGenEd.pdf

Examples: Chemistry, Econ, French all award credit for SLs and for 5s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You also have to realize that IB will slow down the most advanced kids. You are limited in the number of HL classes and IB is limited to the last two years of high school. My most advanced kid chose AP instead of IB at one of MCPS’ school IB programs. The key was that she has AP classes in all areas - English, Calculus, History, Govt, Sci, Foreign Language.

They really limit the number of HLs you can take? Or are you saying there just isn't a way to fit in as many as a kid would want becuase each takes 2 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You also have to realize that IB will slow down the most advanced kids. You are limited in the number of HL classes and IB is limited to the last two years of high school. My most advanced kid chose AP instead of IB at one of MCPS’ school IB programs. The key was that she has AP classes in all areas - English, Calculus, History, Govt, Sci, Foreign Language.

They really limit the number of HLs you can take? Or are you saying there just isn't a way to fit in as many as a kid would want becuase each takes 2 years?

"Each student takes at least three (but not more than four) subjects at higher level, and the remaining at standard level."

https://www.ibo.org/university-admission/support-students-transition-to-higher-education/course-selection-guidance/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That doesn't sound right to me. UMD definitely awards credit for SL courses, and also for 5s. See this chart: https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/IBGenEd.pdf

Examples: Chemistry, Econ, French all award credit for SLs and for 5s.

I stand corrected, however, you can see that *most* of the exams are not given credit for SL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I have an IB It's worth it because it's hard. The first year of college was much easier for me than for my colleagues. I literally recall fellow freshmen complaining about how much work they had to do compared to their easy senior years. Not so for an IBer. Senior year was about buckling down for the tests and finishing the extended essay. Those first set of college papers were a lot easier to write after the extended essay.

And then much later in life I have a job that entails international work. IB just makes me love it more, which I suppose is part of making me good at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That doesn't sound right to me. UMD definitely awards credit for SL courses, and also for 5s. See this chart: https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/IBGenEd.pdf

Examples: Chemistry, Econ, French all award credit for SLs and for 5s.

Took SL Econ and then just signed up for and took the Econ AP exam.
I stand corrected, however, you can see that *most* of the exams are not given credit for SL.

[Anonymous]

Great info on this thread - thanks! Can anyone share their decision to take multiple targeted IB classes vs the whole diploma? I hear some kids opt not to do the diploma. Is thus common and still useful? Also is this still looked upon favorably by colleges?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great info on this thread - thanks! Can anyone share their decision to take multiple targeted IB classes vs the whole diploma? I hear some kids opt not to do the diploma. Is thus common and still useful? Also is this still looked upon favorably by colleges?

Yes, many kids take a select number of IB courses and yes, colleges do look at that as favorable because the student is taking a more rigorous course option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You also have to realize that IB will slow down the most advanced kids. You are limited in the number of HL classes and IB is limited to the last two years of high school. My most advanced kid chose AP instead of IB at one of MCPS’ school IB programs. The key was that she has AP classes in all areas - English, Calculus, History, Govt, Sci, Foreign Language.

They really limit the number of HLs you can take? Or are you saying there just isn't a way to fit in as many as a kid would want becuase each takes 2 years?

"Each student takes at least three (but not more than four) subjects at higher level, and the remaining at standard level."

https://www.ibo.org/university-admission/support-students-transition-to-higher-education/course-selection-guidance/

This is the issue with IB. Top students will take about 15 AP’s, while IB students take at most 4 high level (HL). For the extended essay, AP also has the diploma program with AP Research and AP Seminar. Few high schools offer it, but there’s also the option for online. IB is less flexible and in my view not the best choice for the top student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You also have to realize that IB will slow down the most advanced kids. You are limited in the number of HL classes and IB is limited to the last two years of high school. My most advanced kid chose AP instead of IB at one of MCPS’ school IB programs. The key was that she has AP classes in all areas - English, Calculus, History, Govt, Sci, Foreign Language.

They really limit the number of HLs you can take? Or are you saying there just isn't a way to fit in as many as a kid would want becuase each takes 2 years?

"Each student takes at least three (but not more than four) subjects at higher level, and the remaining at standard level."

https://www.ibo.org/university-admission/support-students-transition-to-higher-education/course-selection-guidance/

This is the issue with IB. Top students will take about 15 AP’s, while IB students take at most 4 high level (HL). For the extended essay, AP also has the diploma program with AP Research and AP Seminar. Few high schools offer it, but there’s also the option for online. IB is less flexible and in my view not the best choice for the top student.

IB is 11th grade and 12th grade only. During 9th grade and 10th grade, "top students" take APs. In addition, universities give credit for IB SL classes as well as IB HL classes. For example, University of Maryland College Park: https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/IBGenEd.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You also have to realize that IB will slow down the most advanced kids. You are limited in the number of HL classes and IB is limited to the last two years of high school. My most advanced kid chose AP instead of IB at one of MCPS’ school IB programs. The key was that she has AP classes in all areas - English, Calculus, History, Govt, Sci, Foreign Language.

They really limit the number of HLs you can take? Or are you saying there just isn't a way to fit in as many as a kid would want becuase each takes 2 years?

"Each student takes at least three (but not more than four) subjects at higher level, and the remaining at standard level."

https://www.ibo.org/university-admission/support-students-transition-to-higher-education/course-selection-guidance/

This is the issue with IB. Top students will take about 15 AP’s, while IB students take at most 4 high level (HL). For the extended essay, AP also has the diploma program with AP Research and AP Seminar. Few high schools offer it, but there’s also the option for online. IB is less flexible and in my view not the best choice for the top student.

IB is 11th grade and 12th grade only. During 9th grade and 10th grade, "top students" take APs. In addition, universities give credit for IB SL classes as well as IB HL classes. For example, University of Maryland College Park: https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/IBGenEd.pdf

Not sure you actually read the link you posted. Take math for example, it only gives credit for HL for Calculus I and Statistics 100, no credit for SL. The distribution of APs is not the same over all high school years. Often strong students take 10 APs in 11th and 12th, compared to 4 HL for IB. It is still in favor of AP. You can do a combination of IB and AP but it just highlights that IB is not that great of a program on its own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You also have to realize that IB will slow down the most advanced kids. You are limited in the number of HL classes and IB is limited to the last two years of high school. My most advanced kid chose AP instead of IB at one of MCPS’ school IB programs. The key was that she has AP classes in all areas - English, Calculus, History, Govt, Sci, Foreign Language.

They really limit the number of HLs you can take? Or are you saying there just isn't a way to fit in as many as a kid would want becuase each takes 2 years?

"Each student takes at least three (but not more than four) subjects at higher level, and the remaining at standard level."

https://www.ibo.org/university-admission/support-students-transition-to-higher-education/course-selection-guidance/

This is the issue with IB. Top students will take about 15 AP’s, while IB students take at most 4 high level (HL). For the extended essay, AP also has the diploma program with AP Research and AP Seminar. Few high schools offer it, but there’s also the option for online. IB is less flexible and in my view not the best choice for the top student.

IB is 11th grade and 12th grade only. During 9th grade and 10th grade, "top students" take APs. In addition, universities give credit for IB SL classes as well as IB HL classes. For example, University of Maryland College Park: https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/IBGenEd.pdf

Not sure you actually read the link you posted. Take math for example, it only gives credit for HL for Calculus I and Statistics 100, no credit for SL. The distribution of APs is not the same over all high school years. Often strong students take 10 APs in 11th and 12th, compared to 4 HL for IB. It is still in favor of AP. You can do a combination of IB and AP but it just highlights that IB is not that great of a program on its own.

There are a lot of other SL classes that UMD does give credit for. Math is not everything. Plus if you're a math person, you're taking HL, not SL.

Are AP and IB the same? No, but then nobody said they are. HL classes are two-year classes, so yes, if your goal is to have the largest number of tests, then you should do AP, not IB.