Reply to Is the IB diploma worth it?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]UVA values 4 HS years of a foreign language. At our IB-only school, kids who took the IB classes and better-than-IB stem generally stopped with foreign language in 10th grade. Almost everyone taking IB foreign language was a diploma candidate. [/quote]

At UVA preference is given to applicants with 2 year of foreign language, 4 years is encouraged, but it’s going to depend on major, stems doesn’t “value” foreign language much. MIT recommends two, Caltech has no requirements. The value of knowing a foreign language besides English is greatly diminished in the age of translation with a click, and I’m saying it as someone who is fluent in three languages.

As another poster mentioned, many kids don’t do the diploma because they’d rather load up on steam instead of foreign language. It doesn’t hurt their admissions chances.

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Foreign language requirement is the biggest reason kids opt out of getting the IBDP. [/quote]
I don't know if that's true, but, I actually wished American schools taught a FL earlier on.

My IBDP DC did Spanish, passed the biliteracy test, and I think it's awesome. They now want to learn my parents' language ( I don't speak it well myself) and have studied some on their own.

My other DC didn't do IBDP and dropped the FL as soon as they could. I understand why they dropped it, but I told them that they would regret not knowing another language later on as an adult. They want to learn my parents' language but they never make any effort to learn it even when I offer.

Learning a FL uses a different part of your brain.  I think more kids should learn a FL earlier on.[/quote]

Put this discussion in the context of IBDP being worth the effort. If you’re not into languages or lack talent, then having to take foreign language for IBDP means a lot of effort for something you don’t care about, potentially tanking your gpa, and the missed opportunity of taking classes that are a better foundation for intended major and career.

Not everyone needs to do a foreign language, who cares what part of the brain is used the end goal is to be a productive member of society, however it gets done. For these students IBDP is not worth it.[/quote]
Depends on the end goal.   It's true that IBDP is not for everyone, but no one can say that it isn't challenging.  [b] It's great for critical thinking, analysis and writing.[/b]

I have one IBDP kid and one not.  The one not would not be able to hack it.  My IBDP DC  is a dual STEM major.[/quote]

Nope. That is not true. There is no time for actual critical thinking, analysis and writing. "Get it done get it done." time management.[/quote]

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