Anonymous wrote:
This is not new and has been going on for almost 10 years. What is new is there is huge jump of # of local kids joining DP in recent years and there is a coincidental drop in IB Diploma rate at RM. Not sure whether these two #s have relationship however anecdotes from current students are that the some local students are coming to the DP unprepared and as a result the class pace/rigor has dropped.

IB program at RM is still very rigorous, but no one can tell what will happen in 5 years from now.

That goes for everything. It's difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I second (or third or fifth) that there is no comparison in terms of workload. If your kid finishes RMIB there is absolutely no way they are not totally prepared for any college. So that is a big deal but the sacrifice is enormous and they are probably already going to be prepared since they were accepted in the first place. Only do RMIB if your child really loves spending time on academics. Poolesville is also a great program but more like choosing the top classes at any school but having smart kids in all your classes (and great teachers). The workload allows for plenty of other interests.

That's not true. DD is in Global but has a best friend in Humanities and she says that they have for example a 15 page paper due next week and they have 3-7 page papers due almost every week.

Kids in other schools in mostly AP classes have papers due too. Their peer group and grading requirements are not what is at Poolesville. However, what I have stated is true . The program is not that much more of a workload -- not compared to the jump from that program to RMIB. Do not misunderstand, I am not saying RM is better. Just explaining the difference to OP.

Anonymous wrote:I second (or third or fifth) that there is no comparison in terms of workload. If your kid finishes RMIB there is absolutely no way they are not totally prepared for any college. So that is a big deal but the sacrifice is enormous and they are probably already going to be prepared since they were accepted in the first place. Only do RMIB if your child really loves spending time on academics. Poolesville is also a great program but more like choosing the top classes at any school but having smart kids in all your classes (and great teachers). The workload allows for plenty of other interests.

That's not true. DD is in Global but has a best friend in Humanities and she says that they have for example a 15 page paper due next week and they have 3-7 page papers due almost every week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard RMIB is easier than before though. Maybe the gap between RMIB and PHS Humanities isn't as wide as before.

I think it's likely that the point you've heard is that local RM kids now can join in 11th and 12th to try and get an IB diploma (along with the ~125 kids who joined the program in 9th grade). The actual rigor of the program isn't different, nor are the standards enforced by IB as to whether or not you actually get awarded that diploma.

This is not new and has been going on for almost 10 years. What is new is there is huge jump of # of local kids joining DP in recent years and there is a coincidental drop in IB Diploma rate at RM. Not sure whether these two #s have relationship however anecdotes from current students are that the some local students are coming to the DP unprepared and as a result the class pace/rigor has dropped.

IB program at RM is still very rigorous, but no one can tell what will happen in 5 years from now.

+1. This, my friends, is the issue. Someone should compare RMIB's current stats with stats from a few years back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard RMIB is easier than before though. Maybe the gap between RMIB and PHS Humanities isn't as wide as before.

I think it's likely that the point you've heard is that local RM kids now can join in 11th and 12th to try and get an IB diploma (along with the ~125 kids who joined the program in 9th grade). The actual rigor of the program isn't different, nor are the standards enforced by IB as to whether or not you actually get awarded that diploma.

This is not new and has been going on for almost 10 years. What is new is there is huge jump of # of local kids joining DP in recent years and there is a coincidental drop in IB Diploma rate at RM. Not sure whether these two #s have relationship however anecdotes from current students are that the some local students are coming to the DP unprepared and as a result the class pace/rigor has dropped.

IB program at RM is still very rigorous, but no one can tell what will happen in 5 years from now.

Anonymous wrote:I've heard RMIB is easier than before though. Maybe the gap between RMIB and PHS Humanities isn't as wide as before.

I think it's likely that the point you've heard is that local RM kids now can join in 11th and 12th to try and get an IB diploma (along with the ~125 kids who joined the program in 9th grade). The actual rigor of the program isn't different, nor are the standards enforced by IB as to whether or not you actually get awarded that diploma.

Anonymous wrote:I've heard RMIB is easier than before though. Maybe the gap between RMIB and PHS Humanities isn't as wide as before.

you should choose phs humanities. seriously.

RMIB is not a humanities program. You can make it STEM or Humanities focused on the classes you pick. The expectations to graduate from RMIB with IB Diploma is much harder to meet than to graduate with Humanities degree from PHS.

I've heard RMIB is easier than before though. Maybe the gap between RMIB and PHS Humanities isn't as wide as before.

I second (or third or fifth) that there is no comparison in terms of workload. If your kid finishes RMIB there is absolutely no way they are not totally prepared for any college. So that is a big deal but the sacrifice is enormous and they are probably already going to be prepared since they were accepted in the first place. Only do RMIB if your child really loves spending time on academics. Poolesville is also a great program but more like choosing the top classes at any school but having smart kids in all your classes (and great teachers). The workload allows for plenty of other interests.

RM is brutal. consider yourself warned. Nothing is easy at RM - neither the humanities subjects nor the science.

Getting into RMIB is no indication of future success. Yes, the admissions standard is very high and that should make you proud if you are accepted. However, that in itself is no indication that you are prepared to be in RM.

Apples and oranges really. We had kids in both programs and the workload is not comparable. RM is really hard.

RMIB is as hard as you want to make it. If she wants to keep up her hobby, that is probably a good idea even in terms of college admissions, as long as you and she understand that means she will be getting Bs.

She will have enough rigor so that even if she gets Bs in her two hardest subjects every quarter she will get a 3.7 uw and something like a 4.4 weighted.

If her hobby is impressive enough, she still has a shot at an Ivy. In some ways, she is what they are looking for, someone who knows what they want and is willing to give up other things to get it.

Others will argue I am crazy and she has no chance but if you look at the naviance chart, it happens.

If the hobby is not really solitary, there should be a way to show leadership. If the hobby is popular, then they probably have a club for it and they are looking for people to eventually be club president.

It may not be as big of a hook as recruited athlete, but they are looking to build a community and they have lots of positions to fill. If they admit only athletes, then they might not have a president of their outdoor or cooking club.

The IB program at Richard Montgomery is brutal.

DD just received acceptances from both RMIB and Poolesville. DD has a serious hobby that she does not want to give up. Anyone want to comment on the workload differences between the two programs? Thanks in advance!