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Anonymous wrote:I seriously doubt Holton kids can survive RMIB program. It is incredibly hard.

+1 and I'm a Hotlon parent.

+2 ex Holton parent. IB program is super rigourous.

I am an IB diploma graduate. I don't understand why kids with an average 1400 SAT couldn't handle an IB program easily. Is there something extra hard about IB at RM?

Lol yes. Can you imagine taking all of your IB diploma tests and taking relevant classes for/self studying on the side for 12+ APs and a normal, intensive extracurricular schedule? Because that was the norm in the IB program. I slept way more in college than I did during IB. I didn’t appreciate enough until I went to HYP how brilliant my RMIB classmates were.

+1 I don't know about other IB programs, but most of the RMIB students self study for some of the AP exams. And of course, they all have lots of outside activities. These are super high achieving kids, and the program is not for the faint of heart. I know a few RMIB students who dropped out because of the time demand in order for them to get an A in the class.

This seems like self-inflicted overkill. I am not sure it reflects "brilliance" but it sure reflects hyper-competitiveness. I can see why this cohort would create a pressure-cooker environment.

These are over achieving kids. If you don't want your kid to feel this kind of pressure, then yea, don't do RMIB.

These kids don't have the same resources that the wealthier private schools have. But, they manage to achieve high test scores and get the IB diploma.

At first I was thinking if I were OP I would prefer to save the money given the similar academic profiles and college outcomes. But after reading this thread I definitely see why someone would pay for Holton. I would definitely want an intellectually vivacious environment for my nerdy kid, but not a “cutthroat” atmosphere where kids feel like they have to take a zillion AP tests on top of their IB tests. To what end? This exam-culture makes no sense. I see no point to pushing kids to overachieve just so they can be the top dog, rather than encouraging kids to learn for the sake of learning.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I seriously doubt Holton kids can survive RMIB program. It is incredibly hard.

+1 and I'm a Hotlon parent.

+2 ex Holton parent. IB program is super rigourous.

I am an IB diploma graduate. I don't understand why kids with an average 1400 SAT couldn't handle an IB program easily. Is there something extra hard about IB at RM?

Lol yes. Can you imagine taking all of your IB diploma tests and taking relevant classes for/self studying on the side for 12+ APs and a normal, intensive extracurricular schedule? Because that was the norm in the IB program. I slept way more in college than I did during IB. I didn’t appreciate enough until I went to HYP how brilliant my RMIB classmates were.

+1 I don't know about other IB programs, but most of the RMIB students self study for some of the AP exams. And of course, they all have lots of outside activities. These are super high achieving kids, and the program is not for the faint of heart. I know a few RMIB students who dropped out because of the time demand in order for them to get an A in the class.

This seems like self-inflicted overkill. I am not sure it reflects "brilliance" but it sure reflects hyper-competitiveness. I can see why this cohort would create a pressure-cooker environment.

These are over achieving kids. If you don't want your kid to feel this kind of pressure, then yea, don't do RMIB.

These kids don't have the same resources that the wealthier private schools have. But, they manage to achieve high test scores and get the IB diploma.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I seriously doubt Holton kids can survive RMIB program. It is incredibly hard.

+1 and I'm a Hotlon parent.

+2 ex Holton parent. IB program is super rigourous.

I am an IB diploma graduate. I don't understand why kids with an average 1400 SAT couldn't handle an IB program easily. Is there something extra hard about IB at RM?

Lol yes. Can you imagine taking all of your IB diploma tests and taking relevant classes for/self studying on the side for 12+ APs and a normal, intensive extracurricular schedule? Because that was the norm in the IB program. I slept way more in college than I did during IB. I didn’t appreciate enough until I went to HYP how brilliant my RMIB classmates were.

+1 I don't know about other IB programs, but most of the RMIB students self study for some of the AP exams. And of course, they all have lots of outside activities. These are super high achieving kids, and the program is not for the faint of heart. I know a few RMIB students who dropped out because of the time demand in order for them to get an A in the class.

This seems like self-inflicted overkill. I am not sure it reflects "brilliance" but it sure reflects hyper-competitiveness. I can see why this cohort would create a pressure-cooker environment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I seriously doubt Holton kids can survive RMIB program. It is incredibly hard.

+1 and I'm a Hotlon parent.

+2 ex Holton parent. IB program is super rigourous.

I am an IB diploma graduate. I don't understand why kids with an average 1400 SAT couldn't handle an IB program easily. Is there something extra hard about IB at RM?

Lol yes. Can you imagine taking all of your IB diploma tests and taking relevant classes for/self studying on the side for 12+ APs and a normal, intensive extracurricular schedule? Because that was the norm in the IB program. I slept way more in college than I did during IB. I didn’t appreciate enough until I went to HYP how brilliant my RMIB classmates were.

+1 I don't know about other IB programs, but most of the RMIB students self study for some of the AP exams. And of course, they all have lots of outside activities. These are super high achieving kids, and the program is not for the faint of heart. I know a few RMIB students who dropped out because of the time demand in order for them to get an A in the class.

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Anonymous wrote:Actually no, Blair Magnet is not a pressure cooker environment. It's rigorous, challenging
Wootton and Whitman are pressure cookers by a long shot.

I spent four years in the Blair Magnet averaging under 5 hours of sleep per night cramming and developing a senior project that could be competitive for Regeneron against my much smarter classmates, at the cost of my mental health, and you're telling me that it wasn't a pressure cooker?!?

Not really. Pressure cooker has to do mostly with the environment.
Blair environment is mostly rigorous and challenging.

Only in your mind.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I seriously doubt Holton kids can survive RMIB program. It is incredibly hard.

+1 and I'm a Hotlon parent.

+2 ex Holton parent. IB program is super rigourous.

I am an IB diploma graduate. I don't understand why kids with an average 1400 SAT couldn't handle an IB program easily. Is there something extra hard about IB at RM?

Lol yes. Can you imagine taking all of your IB diploma tests and taking relevant classes for/self studying on the side for 12+ APs and a normal, intensive extracurricular schedule? Because that was the norm in the IB program. I slept way more in college than I did during IB. I didn’t appreciate enough until I went to HYP how brilliant my RMIB classmates were.

+1 I don't know about other IB programs, but most of the RMIB students self study for some of the AP exams. And of course, they all have lots of outside activities. These are super high achieving kids, and the program is not for the faint of heart. I know a few RMIB students who dropped out because of the time demand in order for them to get an A in the class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I seriously doubt Holton kids can survive RMIB program. It is incredibly hard.

+1 and I'm a Hotlon parent.

+2 ex Holton parent. IB program is super rigourous.

I am an IB diploma graduate. I don't understand why kids with an average 1400 SAT couldn't handle an IB program easily. Is there something extra hard about IB at RM?

Lol yes. Can you imagine taking all of your IB diploma tests and taking relevant classes for/self studying on the side for 12+ APs and a normal, intensive extracurricular schedule? Because that was the norm in the IB program. I slept way more in college than I did during IB. I didn’t appreciate enough until I went to HYP how brilliant my RMIB classmates were.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually no, Blair Magnet is not a pressure cooker environment. It's rigorous, challenging
Wootton and Whitman are pressure cookers by a long shot.

I spent four years in the Blair Magnet averaging under 5 hours of sleep per night cramming and developing a senior project that could be competitive for Regeneron against my much smarter classmates, at the cost of my mental health, and you're telling me that it wasn't a pressure cooker?!?

Not really. Pressure cooker has to do mostly with the environment.
Blair environment is mostly rigorous and challenging.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually no, Blair Magnet is not a pressure cooker environment. It's rigorous, challenging
Wootton and Whitman are pressure cookers by a long shot.

I spent four years in the Blair Magnet averaging under 5 hours of sleep per night cramming and developing a senior project that could be competitive for Regeneron against my much smarter classmates, at the cost of my mental health, and you're telling me that it wasn't a pressure cooker?!?

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Anonymous wrote:You're seriously claiming that Holton doesn't have the results? Between 2018 and 2021, they had 55 matriculations at Amherst, Barnard, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Swarthmore, UChicago, UPenn, and Yale.

Not going to start a pissing match over this. I am sure OP can make her own decision.

You already started a pissing match by making unsubstantiated claims about Holton, even though its testing/college admissions track record is easy for anyone to Google in under a minute.

you really want to go there? 55 matriculations over 4 years? that's like only 13/14 per year?

I have no horse in this race, but this anti-Holton poster sounds like a fool. This list is impressive. I'm sure RMIB has an impressive list as well. They both sound like great options, OP. The price tag sure seems significantly different, though!

oh man. that's harsh. i am not anti-holton at all. i mean seriously, who gives F right?

I only give an F in that someone seems to be bashing a good school and its students on no serious grounds. They both seem great. Private school small environment is just going to be very different experience. Personally if I were the OP I would think most seriously about the difference in cost and whether any differences are worth it to them.

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Anonymous wrote:I can only speak about RMIB.

It's a rigorous program. Tons of writing. 9th grade RMS English is the magnet English class, and 99% of kids get Cs in their first writing assignment because it's just really rigorous, including kids from Eastern MS magnet who are also used to rigorous writing. At the end of the year, I think a lot of the kids start getting more As, though.

Every class, including STEM classes, require a research paper, and STEM projects. Then there is the Extended Essay that is required. It's something like 10 pages or something with a ridiculous amount of word count. It's just a ton of writing. My DC did not like writing, but I encouraged them to go to RMIB because I felt it would strengthen their weakest area. DC is great at STEM (800 on math SAT) but not as strong in ELA. They are now a great writer; doesn't mind the writing now because it comes so easy to DC. That's what RMIB did for DC.

The peer group is top notch. Obviously, it draws the highest performers in a very large public school district. RMHS also has a great theater program called the "Black Maskers" -- one of the oldest HS theater group in the district. County debate team is also very good, with many RMIB kids in it; lots of sports teams - some really good, some just ok; tons of clubs. You won't get all the different types of clubs in a smaller school (we moved from a smaller but wealthy school district, and they just didn't have enough people for all the different clubs.)

My DC is now a senior at RMIB, and I think it was one of the best academic thing that has happened to them. They are more than well prepared for college.

That said, RMHS is super large. They have open lunch because of the space issue. They now have portables in the parking lots because they are bursting at the seams. Crown HS will be built and open in 2027, possibly, so the overcrowding will be gone when that happens. If your DC goes into RMIB as a freshman next fall, they will still be there in 2027 when Crown HS opens. After 2027, who knows what will happen to RMIB. It may become a regional program rather than a county wide program, and IMO, when/if that happens, RMIB won't be the same.

I think some kids need a smaller school and class size, so if this is your kid, RM might be too overwhelming.

How big are class sizes at RMIB? I’m a little skeptical that an teacher has time to READ all these papers they generate if class size is 30+ like many publics.

It’s a little suspicious that “99%” get Cs, and then most get As by end of year — it could be teachers just blanket scaring students who up to know easily got As as motivation.

I’d like to hear about how the concrete feedback is for that writing; is there time for students to meet with teachers and talk about editing and content recommendations?

I just know most public school teachers are fairly over worked in just planning and grading normal classes — unless RMIB is capping class size? Provides editorial grading aides like grad students?

That’s why we are leaning to private, we just don’t think teachers are being given the tools and resources to support their students and course load in public.

You should go with a private. RMIB is a great program but, nevertheless, it is a public school with limited resources and overworked teachers. My kids used to seek teachers help during early morning, lunch, or after school hours. Teachers are very helpful but kids need to be assertive looking for help.

At our public, post-pandemic teachers are GONE after school. Maybe RMIB attracts more dedicated Teach 4 America types?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I seriously doubt Holton kids can survive RMIB program. It is incredibly hard.

+1 and I'm a Hotlon parent.

+2 ex Holton parent. IB program is super rigourous.

I am an IB diploma graduate. I don't understand why kids with an average 1400 SAT couldn't handle an IB program easily. Is there something extra hard about IB at RM?