Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Theres a lot less flexibility since you sign up for the two year package, the courses in math and science are are less rigurous, presumably there is more writing to make up for these shrtcomings. Not sure a 10 page writeup at the end redeems all these shortcomings, and the extended essay format is somewhat artificial and awkward. Other aspects of the program like the theory of knowledge feel gimmicky, nowhere will you find anything similar. The writing preparation seems to be focusing on the quantity instead of quality, but of course it depends on school, teacher and the student.

maybe, but the TOK and EE essays are graded by the IB org.

I didn't read all of DC's papers in IBDP, but I do know that they had to do a ton of research and experiment for their EE. DC chose the EE for their IB HL math class.

IMO, this is one of the best parts of IBDP - the research and analytical writing. I don't think the AP English classes do this much writing.

I’m wondering what kind of experiment you’d do for a high level math extended essay, perhaps you’re confused about what he actually did. Undergrad math and science classes are still mostly problem sets, lab reports and exams, do these well and you’re not going to be unprepared.

The theory of knowledge essay exemplifies how inflexible the program is, the topic doesn’t strike me as so important that every student has to write a paper on it. Also not a big fan of minimum word length requirements, makes some students adopt a convoluted writing style.

The AP diploma, research and capstone, is very similar but definitely not as successful as the IB program. Either students interested in writing gravitate towards IB or when given the choice prefer a class more focused on building the knowledge base that might help them more with college admissions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Theres a lot less flexibility since you sign up for the two year package, the courses in math and science are are less rigurous, presumably there is more writing to make up for these shrtcomings. Not sure a 10 page writeup at the end redeems all these shortcomings, and the extended essay format is somewhat artificial and awkward. Other aspects of the program like the theory of knowledge feel gimmicky, nowhere will you find anything similar. The writing preparation seems to be focusing on the quantity instead of quality, but of course it depends on school, teacher and the student.

maybe, but the TOK and EE essays are graded by the IB org.

I didn't read all of DC's papers in IBDP, but I do know that they had to do a ton of research and experiment for their EE. DC chose the EE for their IB HL math class.

IMO, this is one of the best parts of IBDP - the research and analytical writing. I don't think the AP English classes do this much writing.

I’m wondering what kind of experiment you’d do for a high level math extended essay, perhaps you’re confused about what he actually did. Undergrad math and science classes are still mostly problem sets, lab reports and exams, do these well and you’re not going to be unprepared.

The theory of knowledge essay exemplifies how inflexible the program is, the topic doesn’t strike me as so important that every student has to write a paper on it. Also not a big fan of minimum word length requirements, makes some students adopt a convoluted writing style.

The AP diploma, research and capstone, is very similar but definitely not as successful as the IB program. Either students interested in writing gravitate towards IB or when given the choice prefer a class more focused on building the knowledge base that might help them more with college admissions.

Anonymous wrote:Mine was a 4 year varsity athlete who also played club off season —it’s possible but the sleep suffered. There is a lot of work.

Someone asked about enviro — it’s is very similar to AP. Mine took both tests and got the top mark in each — she did do a day or so studying for the AP exam to make sure she had the right terminology.

Much of the IB stuff is graded in Europe so if you have worries that McPS is an easy grader, that eliminates that!

I find the course selection system sort of bureaucratic and confusing. I just rely on my kid to figure it out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Theres a lot less flexibility since you sign up for the two year package, the courses in math and science are are less rigurous, presumably there is more writing to make up for these shrtcomings. Not sure a 10 page writeup at the end redeems all these shortcomings, and the extended essay format is somewhat artificial and awkward. Other aspects of the program like the theory of knowledge feel gimmicky, nowhere will you find anything similar. The writing preparation seems to be focusing on the quantity instead of quality, but of course it depends on school, teacher and the student.

maybe, but the TOK and EE essays are graded by the IB org.

I didn't read all of DC's papers in IBDP, but I do know that they had to do a ton of research and experiment for their EE. DC chose the EE for their IB HL math class.

IMO, this is one of the best parts of IBDP - the research and analytical writing. I don't think the AP English classes do this much writing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in college right now (call me a troll all you want, but I’m not) and I took and AP curriculum and my roommate took an IB curriculum. I’d say she’s much better prepared for college than I am (I’m from MCPS, she is not).

NP here - thank you for posting this!

My kid is in the IB and I wonder if it will be worth it. She is really just doing it to get herself prepared for college. Appreciate your perspective.

Anonymous wrote:Theres a lot less flexibility since you sign up for the two year package, the courses in math and science are are less rigurous, presumably there is more writing to make up for these shrtcomings. Not sure a 10 page writeup at the end redeems all these shortcomings, and the extended essay format is somewhat artificial and awkward. Other aspects of the program like the theory of knowledge feel gimmicky, nowhere will you find anything similar. The writing preparation seems to be focusing on the quantity instead of quality, but of course it depends on school, teacher and the student.

Anonymous wrote:I’m in college right now (call me a troll all you want, but I’m not) and I took and AP curriculum and my roommate took an IB curriculum. I’d say she’s much better prepared for college than I am (I’m from MCPS, she is not).

Anonymous wrote:Theres a lot less flexibility since you sign up for the two year package, the courses in math and science are are less rigurous, presumably there is more writing to make up for these shrtcomings. Not sure a 10 page writeup at the end redeems all these shortcomings, and the extended essay format is somewhat artificial and awkward. Other aspects of the program like the theory of knowledge feel gimmicky, nowhere will you find anything similar. The writing preparation seems to be focusing on the quantity instead of quality, but of course it depends on school, teacher and the student.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IB is lots of writing and projects. It also has a lot of requirements so kids who like band, arts or other things cannot fit them in the schedule. It doesn't seem worth it to me.

No, a lot of IB students have extra curricular activities: art, band, sports.

Our band director said if you do full IB diploma you cannot fit band in.

That’s not true at our school - though most people who do have tech, PE, and health done before junior year (which generally means they take some through summer school).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IB is lots of writing and projects. It also has a lot of requirements so kids who like band, arts or other things cannot fit them in the schedule. It doesn't seem worth it to me.

No, a lot of IB students have extra curricular activities: art, band, sports.

Our band director said if you do full IB diploma you cannot fit band in.

My kid, and a good number of their fellow IB diploma candidates, are taking instrumental music at Einstein. It definitely requires taking both health semesters over the summer.

My kid decided to take AP Computer Science Principles for the tech credit, which isn’t offered over the summer, so they did that sophomore year instead of music. If they’d done tech over the summer, they could have taken music all four years.