Reply to Workload at Richard Montgomery IB magnet program

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]But even if you are still managing your time well, it is 4-5hrs a homework like previous people stated?  Is that weekends too.  [/quote]

You have to study on weekends too. I can't tell you how many hours but it's an intense program. When you attend the info session, make sure to ask the coordinator/current students. [b]Technically speaking, HW might be only 2-3 hours per night but kids have to spend a lot of time "studying." [/b][/quote]

That is the main thing. You are not only doing homework for the toughest courses that the school can offer, but you are taking AP classes too (starting from 9th), you are also doing EC activities, volunteer work, studying for SATs (subject SATs). All these take time. You are working towards long term, medium term and short term goals.

You are also working towards an[b] IB Diploma, MCPS graduation requirements, college admissions (and requirements), EC activities and maintaining a high GPA in school. [/b][u]  Thankfully, the IB office does an excellent job of breaking it all down and tracking these students to make sure no one is dropping the ball.  I do think they do an exceptional job.

IB requirements for IB diploma is the following - and it has to be done in the 11th and 12th grades.

1)150 hours of CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) - These are like SSL hours, but to be done in at least eleven discrete activities, over two years (11th and 12th grade).  So 150 hours of theatre will not count towards 150 CAS hours .

2) 6 IB exams taken in  - Math, Science, English, Foreign Language, History

3) Extended Essay (Sort of a dissertation on an assigned subject area, with an advisor assigned).

So, it is a lot of work. Most of these kids also take AP exams, SAT subject exams, work as interns, some have part-time jobs...

[/quote]

This is very helpful.  I have to wonder though whether this would be any different at another school where children pursue the IB diploma and also have extra curricular activities and also have the option to take AP exams - BCC comes to mind.  Are the IB diploma students there in the same situation as the ones at RBIM in terms of workload and stress?  Why does RMIB have such a reputation for being a brutal, mind-numbing slog for four years?[/quote]

Many schools offer IB within MCPS.    Even in RM, there is always an option for non RMIB magnet students to take an IB course, take the exam and get credits for that.  Sort of doing IB à la carte.

For the diploma, you have to do the extras listed above, as well as in the exams you have to score at a certain level. IB exams have a score of 1 to 7.  (http://www.ibo.org/globalassets/publications/become-an-ib-school/dp-general-regulatioin-2014.pdf )

RM IB is more difficult than any other IB because -
 - Everyone strives for the diploma. Everyone also strives for the IB recognition of scoring very high in the IB exams.
-  Not only their curriculum is harder, they are being graded on a curve in a class of exceptionally bright peers. So earning a 4.0 in the GPA is very hard. Only a handful of IB kids had a 4.0 GPA from MCPS. 
- To differentiate from a cohort of high achievers, you have to be exceptionally good in a lot of EC activities.
- The effort to fulfill the diploma requirements coincides with the time when students are applying for colleges.
- The resumes of everyone is stacked to the brim. Even a student who is not very involved in EC (as compared to an average RMIB student) will be in all kinds of Honor Societies, they will be part of a few prestigious clubs, winner of some national competition, active in SGA, activism, interning, working... Each one is capable of (and would have) been a valedictorian in an ordinary HS for the amount of work they put in. 
- Taking AP courses (even by self study) is a normal path for most students. A lot of them double up on AP exams as well as IB exams (because AP exams are deemed easier than IB, since AP is multiple choice and easier).

I have seen that while the IB office does a great job of letting the kids and parents know what to expect, the children who do well are also those who are clued in as to what to do when.  These are kids who have a good idea of the timeline of IB as well as the timeline of college applications and pace themselves well. I know of a number of students who were done with SAT/ACT in their sophomore and junior years. Preparation is the key. If you are not well prepared and hit the ground running, you will be the one who will feel overwhelmed. So, make use of the IB office and chart out the long, medium and short term goals and make a timeline.

Most of these kids had already done the MCPS graduation of 75 hours of SSL in middle school itself. They are that prepared. They are usually graduating with hundred of hours of SSL.

[/quote]
Wow - this is eye opening.
I did not realize they grade on a curve - no wonder these kids are under so much stress if they are competing with each other.  It also sounds like a lot of the pressure is self generating - they are trying to distinguish themselves from their classmates on their college apps.  I wonder if it is like this at Blair SMAC.[/quote]

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