Reply to What are my child's chances of getting into the IB program?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My daughter is in 8th grade. She wants to go to the IB program at RM. She enjoys english and history class but doesn't like math. She also really enjoys her foreign language and she skipped level 2 of the language. Her spring map r was a 262 and her fall was 253 (don't know what happened there). Her extracurriculars are okay (should have pushed her more lol). However, I have heard that this program is very stressful and has a lot of work. It is also very hard to get in. Do you think it is a good fit for her and what are her chances of gettting in? (I'm hoping for at least 70%). [/quote]

The chances are slim. These decisions are random. Even if your child is a great fit, I wouldn't count on it.[/quote]

Not random for HS criteria-based magnets: application/review/selection.

There have been modifications over the past few years to the application process that make the information available to reviewers more constrcted than before, in an attempt to limit bias.  From that perspective, it may appear more random.

The litmus/lottery approach currently applies to elementary and middle school criteria-based programs (CES, Humanities, Math/Science/CS).[/quote]

The criteria makes it random. 400 applicants appear comparable on paper so only way to distinguish is random.[/quote]

This feels like sour grapes. If you count the regional IB magnets, there are plenty of spaces for kids who are qualified and interested. Most kids accepted to RMIB are also accepted to their "regional" IB program, which means a ton of spots often open up in the regional program. Now, you may or may not think that choice is valid or worth the commute, but it is a bona fide magnet program offering four years of cohorted classes and a full IB diploma option. [/quote]

That's great as long as they offer equivalent access to every flavor of IB class that is available at RMIB to any student at the regional/local IB programs.  Is that the case, no matter how few request that at a particular school in a given semester/year?[/quote]

You're the pedantic parent who keeps yammering on about this based on schools your kid didn't attend, and IB programs you've never seen.

To the best of their ability, the regional programs offer a wide variety of IB programs, and no, they don't offer AP calc and call it IB. HL IB math is its own thing. Actually there's more than one version of it at my kids' regional IB, and no, I don't know the specifics because my IB kid is a math dum-dum who takes the two-year SL class. There's not that many who do.

I would really like if we could talk about regional IBs without having people chime in to tell us:

1.) They're inferior 
2.) All IB programs are inferior.

This isn't true. And I'm very tired of explaining.

You're just coming across as someone who may be a bit ND and can't let go of the fact that they have to show us how their child is superior. Repeatedly. When I say you come across ND I don't mean that to be cruel, it's just the kindest reason I can come up with as to why you feel like you need to repeatedly contribute to this thread about schools your kids don't attend, and won't attend.

I wish you and your family all the best. And I'm very happy our children don't go to the same school. [/quote]

I think IB may have some benefits, but we’re restricting this discussion to the math pathway, consisting of algebra, geometry, (statistics), precalculus, calculus, multivariable, linear algebra, differential equations that form the foundation of high schools/undergraduate general education in mathematics for many majors and career paths.

IB along with AP and DE are some of the ways to access these courses, there’s nothing magic about the IB program that makes it notably better than the other options. If anything the IB HL math is an awkward combination of precalculus, calculus and statistics that is not the most complete or flexible arrangement. Ok, maybe it’s passable because you also have to write a ten page essay on theory of knowledge. Not sure why this is so amazing, but you can argue it’s different from the problem sets you typically do in other classes.

The question in the previous post was why chose the IB path if other options like AP and DE are available. If you’ve done AP calculus BC there’s zero reason to take two years of HL math and I maintain it’s a waste of time compared to following the sequence with multivariable, linear algebra and differential equations. If anyone has a good argument I would really like to consider it.

Often the defense of the program is something along the lines “my niece was at RMIB and she’s now at UVA and is totally not afraid to tackle on essay assignments that are 5 pages single spaced.” While I agree that knowing how to write well is important, I don’t think it’s a substitute for rigorous math education and it’s much easier to learn how to write than to build up a solid foundation in math.
[/quote]

I see what you did, there.  Sure, you're pedantic, but you're not the pedantic-termed poster who talked about reasonable equivalence among IBs to whom the PP was replying.

With blithe discussion of MVC/DE/LA on the one hand and reference to dual enrollment on the other, a reader might think that MCPS provides that equivalence, when, in reality, there is a different burden on students taking those courses via dual enrollment versus those provided them in house.   Of course, that's talking about particularly advanced math students, however they might have found themselves there.

Sure, those students may have the breadth of interest to pursue an IB experience.  Indeed, APs and other college-level courses, when accessible, can provide more than the academics needed for IB.  However, there are plenty with that breadth, but perhaps not quite that depth in math, for whom access to HL IB Analysis (or it's equivalent, providing a solid calc foundation along with, gasp!, stats -- quite useful to the vast majority, but often pooh-pooh'd by hard-science/engineering/math-or-nothing folks) should not be in question.

But it is, isn't it?

The discussion [i]isn't[/i] just about math, and it didn't start off that way, either.  It moved that direction because of an observation about course availability differences among the MCPS IBs.

If they were all the same, few would be so interested in RMIB (some applying with the intention to go only if they don't get into SMCS, though a few schools may offer higher local options for math) when there are closer options.  OP's interest for their DC is a case in point, highlighted by insights provided by a number of posters, including those with good information about the changes that are part of standing up the regional IBs.

Those will take time, and dedication by MCPS, to achieve that equivalence (if that is, indeed, the aim; it would be easy to cast a jaundiced eye and see it as better enabling pearl clutchers by providing bread & circuses to others if they aren't immediate and strong with that dedication to meeting all students where they are).  In the meantime, families should have a clear idea of the choices and the differences among them.[/quote]

As an editor, I find it hard to imagine your own high school English teacher being okay with your Byzantine sentences. I'm not trying to insult you, I'm sure you write an excellent RFP, or white paper, or brief, or whatever professional document is within your profession, but the opacity of your argument obscures it.

You are obsessed with an "equity" you have yet to prove doesn't exist, or ever can exist, and advanced math, which you like to remind us (again), is a topic that interests you, although, (again), it did not interest the original poster's DD.

IB isn't the right program for every student. Obviously, it is not a program you like. I don't know if you're the teacher forced to teach it (I remember someone like that from one thread), or a parent whose kid didn't get into RMIB, or a parent who just thinks SMAC is better... and I don't care because it's not relevant. But I wish, whatever point you're trying to make, it was more clear. Are you saying that it will take time for MCPS to sort out its IB programs? Sure. Are you saying that more people are interested in RMIB than the regionals? Again, sure. People are sheep. They want the proven entity, the sure thing, the scarce, competitive thing. Look at you and your affection for Blair's STEM program.

But there are lids for every pot, and having more lids and more pots doesn't have to take anything away from *your* stove... so why are you so critical about academics you haven't experienced? [/quote]

Please look at the just-past post.  Whether due to complexity of writing or inattentive reading, you've conflated:

"Not all MCPS IB programs are equal.  MCPS should do a better job of providing enough seats with reasonable equivalence to meet all students where they are instead of under-seating and enabling better options for some than others.  Lots of students, regardless of location, can benefit from advanced programming, and good IB programs would be a part of that.  Equity (broadly defined) is important.  (Not that narrowly defined equity isn't important.)  Families should be aware as they make choices."

with:

"IB isn't all that.  Better, higher-level math is available."

[/quote]

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