International Baccalaureate

[Dan]

Who here is currently enrolled or has completed the IB diploma? I'm just wondering what people's opinion of it is in general. I graduated the program last year along with my regular Ontario diploma with a total of 39pts, later boosted to 40.

For those of you who don't know what it is. IB is kind of like AP. If you don't know what AP i, well it's basically like taking extra school for geeks. In theory IB gives you a highschool diploma that is based on an international curriculum and is good all around the world.

PS who can write International Baccalaureate 9 times out of 10 without having to look up the spelling?

 

[Dan]

It's also really nice for getting university credit before your 1st year

 

[RMachucaA]

i graduated with an IB, and before that i had to do the IGCSE so i could do the IB. Usefullness of IB in my life up to now: 0.

hehehe, granted im a 3d artist, but still.

 

[Narcolepsy]

I'm in it, and it is swallowing my entire life with work. But I'm told it will be worth it in the end.

I can spell it perfectly by now, by the way.

 

[Murray_H]

PS who can write International Baccalaureate 9 times out of 10 without having to look up the spelling?

I can't. Does this mean I'm not invited to the party?

 

[KiMcH33]

im taking some AP classes...i heard IB was way harder tho

 

[Dan]

Yeah, it was pretty hard. It did make first year university a lot easier though. I dunno if it was worth it. I guess I got character whatever that's worth. Of the 60 some people who started IB at my school, 6 finished the full diploma. About 6 others took individual credits. When you have classes of 10 people you really get to know those people very well.

 

[dfc05]

I'm in a lot of AP/IB classes (they combine it as one at my school) but I'm not taking IB exams. Actually, I'm in some straight IB classes (higher level math) but still not taking the exams, just like the majority of the people in that class. Basically we do the math portfolios and stuff for nothing... errr.. because... we're sick brainwashed schoolchildren who are driven by a vicious school to take classes that we don't need. My chemistry teacher from last year handles the IB stuff except she's almost 80 years old. It was pretty funny because she always thought I was taking the IB's, so when it came time to send in the lab notebooks so they could pick some from the class for evaluations, she sent mine in too. Surprisingly, they didn't choose mine!
But I take the AP's, even though I hate giving more money to College Board. Then I won't have to take those courses in college, which helps save some money, so by giving money to College Board, I don't have to give more money to my college, or something like that. I don't mind tests that much. I forget about the entire test about 10 minutes after I take it.

I guess the real reasons I don't want to do IB are that:
1) I'd rather take 5 or 6 tests instead of 8 or 9 at the end of the year.
2) I don't want to do extended essays that will be graded in some random country far far away...
3) I don't want to add on an extra class period for "Theory of Knowledge" no matter how fun they say it is.

In other words, I'm lazy.

 

[Dan]

We had TOK combined with philosophy so it counted for regular credit too. The extended essay can be interesting if you choose a topic that you enjoy. Otherwise yeah, it does suck.