Are you familiar with IB diploma?

9 years ago

i have mixed feelings about this for high school students. My middle daughter wanted to test into this program many years ago when she was in high school and I was against it. She had attended a magnet school from middle school and into high school and that was tough enough. Now my grand daughter who is a Jr is in the IB program. She is the daughter of my oldest daughter ( who would have been happy to leave school as a jr). I just worry about the effect on these students who are under such pressure, in my opinion. This grand daughter is also involved in a travel ice hockey team and is gone most weekends and I wonder when she has time to just relax. By the way,her Mom who wanted to leave school as a jr because she hated school went on for a masters and is now a resource teacher in a very rough middle school and loves it! What are your thoughts regarding the IBprogram?

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DaisyinGA

9 years ago

I have heard nothing but good things about the IB program. Our local high school doesn't have the program there but another high school in our county has one.

It sounds as though your concerns are about the rigor of the program and whether or not it is the best fit for your granddaughter. Although neither of my kids enrolled in the IB program, my daughter attended a high school with more rigorous coursework and faster pacing than our local IB program, so I get your concerns. At my daughter's high school some students thrived in that environment and it was miserable for other students. If your granddaughter is a junior in the IB program in the United States then she is probably well into the program. By now your granddaughter and her mother should have a good idea whether or not the program works for your granddaughter. Also your granddaughter's teachers should know whether or not she is going to be successful, borderline successful or whether or not the program just won't work for her at all.

I understand that you are concerned that your granddaughter never has time to relax. Some kids do better with not much time to just relax and hang out but other kids really need more down time. What does her mother think? If your granddaughter is grumbling then it could just be normal complaining. If she wants to transfer out, then maybe it's not the program for her.

Many of the kids from my daughter's high school went on to excellent colleges. Yale, I think one went to Harvard but am not sure, MIT, etc. One is now in medical school at Stanford. I think the rigor of the program they were in helped them get into more prestigious undergraduate programs. Having said that, I am a big believer in students learning material at a pacing that matches their abilities. If the IB program is so rigorous that your granddaughter is not understanding the material, if she is struggling to keep up, if she is getting burnt out, then she probably needs to transfer out.

If everything appears fine with your granddaughter but you are just concerned because she is busy, then I wouldn't worry if I were you. My son's junior year of high school he packed his bags every night, left at 6:30 a.m. the next morning for high school where he took the hardest classes they had to offer, left school an hour early to go to an internship, finished his internship and went to swim practice, came home, ate, did homework for about 30 minutes to an hour, went to bed. Lather, rinse, repeat. He did great. It taught him good organizational skills, good time management, he didn't get burnt out, he made good grades and he enjoyed it. If your granddaughter is suited to the IB program then she will be fine. If the program doesn't suit her, then there are many, many different paths to success and she should do fine, IB program or not.

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Comments (26)

littlebug zone 5 Missouri
9 years ago
What does IB stand for?
maire_cate
9 years ago
International Baccalaureate.

http://www.ibo.org/

There
are a few schools in our area that offer the IB. Our public school
system, which prides itself on maintaining high academic standards has
investigated the program several times and decided not to institute it.
My kids have been out of school for many years and I really don't
remember why the school district decided against it.

I do know
several students who have been through the program in a neighboring
town. They were bright, highly motivated and had parents who pushed for
their involvement.
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satine_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
The graduates of ib programs are highly successful in obtaining scholarships and many times advanced standings when entering college. Im not sure my daughter and her husband pushed for her to enter the program. Im sure they didn't oppose it but pretty sure my grand daughter really wanted to participate. Not sure where it comes from but she is very competative and motivates herself to do her best no matter what she is involved in. I am proud of her but just want her to enjoy her youth.
gyr_falcon
9 years ago
I think it depends upon the individual, and what they plan to do after graduating. It also matters if the student is self motivated to complete the program, as opposed to only the parent pushing for it. I've known students that only did average work in regular classes, that thrived in advanced programs. Just as with adults, some students can handle stress better than others. What does she say?
gyr_falcon
9 years ago
Satine, we posted at the same time. :) Some students like the sense of achievement that successfully completing challenges brings. They even enjoy it. To pull her out, when she wants to continue, could prove frustrating and rightfully cause a lot of resentment. For some, a slower pace does not enhance the experience of youth.
Elmer J Fudd
9 years ago
"Some students like the sense of achievement that successfully completing challenges brings. They even enjoy it."

This describes life, not just students in school.

For high school students who are college-bound, and not all of them need to be or should be, a rigorous HS program is important preparation. Whether it's an IB program or a school with a large number of AP classes doesn't matter. Busy schedules and active involvement in many activities are also important. Stress is AVOIDED in later life when a kid learns to manage time and balance priorities for things that are forgiving and less important. This too is important preparation.
Jmc101
9 years ago
What do you think your granddaughter SHOULD be doing, but is not doing, to "enjoy her youth"?

My thought is that you are judging based on YOUR standards....and they are not HER standards.
rob333 (zone 7b)
9 years ago
This grand daughter is also involved in a travel ice hockey team and
is gone most weekends and I wonder when she has time to just relax.

She doesn't sound interested in sitting still. Not her style. Sounds like she thrives on competition and it'd be good for her, not stressful. Not everyone is wound the same.
satine_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the responses. I believe she is very happy with herself and jmc Im sure you are right in that I am looking at the situation based on my standards. Im not trying to impose my opinions on her just curious what others may think especially if they are familiar with the program. As I said earlier Im proud of her and Im sure she will be successful in whatever she chooses to do.

interested in
chisue
9 years ago
Kids -- and parents! -- can get so focused preparing for 'tomorrow' that they aren't really present in the Now. A traveling ice hockey team seems very Now! Maybe she's doing just fine, balancing it all.

I'd only be concerned if there are inappropriate control issues. (Thinking of high-achieving neighbor's daughter who became anorexic in HS.)
satine_gw thanked chisue
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Anglophilia
9 years ago
The IB program is wonderful, especially for students who don't want a STEM program but prefer the humanities. It requires a great deal of writing.

Sounds like your granddaughter is much like my eldest grandson. His idea of "fun in his free time", is working on his Science Fair project on mathematics, or playing squash for hours at a very competitive level (yes, lots of travel to tournaments). I'm delighted that he is self-motivated and putting his time and effort into these things! He could be just sitting around, smoking pot with friends and watching video games!!!
workoutlady
9 years ago
I live in a very rural area. We are just trying to keep our school opened. This program would never be able to be offered here. Also, we do not have any private schools in the area. On the plus side, most of our students are able to compete and do very well in college so I guess we are doing something right in preparing our students for life after high school. I just can't imagine someone having so many great choices in high school.
satine_gw thanked workoutlady
satine_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
workoutlady, I think it is great that many of your local students go on to college. I truly believe that most schools can offer a good education to students who are motivated and want to learn. Of course some schools are "better" than others because they offer smaller classes and/or have a wealthy family base so can provide some extras that some rural schools can't afford. Im sure many students who have the best available to them don't necessarily succeed while students who have less can become very successful.
chisue
9 years ago
I have never heard of this (trademarked) program. The nationally highly ranked public HS for our (north shore of Chicago) suburbs didn't use it. Grads had no trouble being admitted to top universities. AP course were offered. I only read a bit of the link. How much do schools districts pay for this? Cost passed on to parents whose kids enroll, or to the taxpayers?
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Anglophilia
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I'm assuming you're talking about New Trier HS. It is one of the best public HS's in the country. Yes, their college placement record is the envy of many, many schools!

The IB program is very popular in some areas - actually, there are many schools in Chicago that offer it. In my city, there are only two - one a public HS that offers it as a magnet program (and very few enroll as this HS has a very diverse population), and at a Catholic private girl's school. Most at that school don't do the full IB program as it's just too labor intensive/difficult. A neighbor across the street did do this very successfully and is about to graduate from U of VA.

It's a program that is very time consuming for the student and only the most dedicated will do well in it.
chisue
9 years ago
Thanks for some background on this, Anglophilia. (Yes, New Trier Township HS.)

I'm probably extra suspicious since Chicago Public Schools recent purchase of a hugely expensive -- and worthless -- "enrichment program" for its principals. This knockoff of the emperor's new clothes profited only the program's originators. One school board member was slated to receive a big kickback from the them for persuading CPS to buy it. (All involved have now been indicted for fraud.)
debbie1000
9 years ago
My DS graduated HS with an IB diploma. He went to our flagship state university and majored in computer engineering. He then got a full ride for his masters to the same state university. He is now a software engineer in Silicon Valley with a major company. Many of his coworkers are Stanford, etc graduates. And he has no student loans, YAY!

But he worked his butt off in HS and college. Not much of a social life and was very dedicated to his studying. But he got his masters at 23.

His IB studies in HS prepared him for this. But you need to be very focused/motivated. I highly recommend it if your child wants it but DO NOT push him/her to do it if they are not on board.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
9 years ago
I read a bit of the link provided (thank you!) to see what IB was all about. I then saw that there are only TWELVE high schools in my whole state offering this option. TWELVE.

Missouri has not been known for its education programs. We'll see if our new Governor will change this, as he promised.
chisue
9 years ago
Unless a school is extremely deficient, any 'ordinary' student with can excel If He Wants To. Parents can help their kids establish positive attitude and efficient work habits, and provide support and encouragement.

It would be amazing if a HS in an affluent area -- or a magnet school -- did not have high ratings. Their students walk in with the most important ingredients for success, and expectations of students and teachers are high.
satine_gw thanked chisue
PKponder TX Z7B
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Intrigued by littlebug's comment about the number of schools in her area, I checked for DFW and counted 24 TIBS affiliated high schools (all public high schools) just in the metroplex.
caflowerluver
9 years ago
I can see where you are coming from. You are young only once. I hope she doesn't feel that she was pressured into it and this is what she really wants. I look back at all my hard work and fast tracking, college degree in 2.5 years, and that may have helped me in the beginning. But it still didn't change where I am now. Life has a way of just happening. You really can't prepare for some of the things it throws at you. I hope she is making some fun memories along with all the studying.

I hadn't heard about this program so had to look it up. I came across some quotes from IB students and some are rather funny and some are funny/sad.

IB quotes
Chi
9 years ago
I didn't do IB, but I did probably a dozen AP classes and I was admitted to a top 10 university in the Chicago area. I graduated in 3 years by working very hard and taking the maximum course load available. It didn't make an ounce of difference in where I am today, which is a completely different career path after a decade of work in my "degree" field. I was an analyst for 10 years, and felt burnt out. Now I'm working towards becoming a teacher for young children.

My husband went to MIT and feels the same as I do. We both think we would have had the same level of success/personal accomplishment at any decent school. There was really no need to work so hard. I had peers in college who committed suicide from the pressure they put on themselves. Such a waste, and such a shame that they couldn't see the different options available.

I distinctly remember those days, and the stress and pressure I put on myself. If I could do it again knowing what I know now, I would have chosen a different path. Others may be different. Some people thrive on pressure and challenges, and rise to the occasion, but that's not my personality. I am very prone to anxiety and it's not a good combination for me. I still have dreams where I forgot to do my homework, or I have a final that I forgot to study for, or I can't find the classroom to take it, and I wake up in a sweat, lol.

So, short answer: It just depends! There's no right or wrong answer. Just keep an eye on her for signs of burn out or depression.
satine_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
Chi, thanks for putting into words the thoughts I was having. I think she is perfectly happy and not feeling stressed but since I am the kind of person who tends to take the easiest path I guess I am just questioning the whole concept.
chisue
9 years ago
As it says in the song, "Growing Up Is Hard to Do".

Living as 'a grind' can be a refuge. School has clear rules and requirements: Absorb what you're told to absorb, and regurgitate what's expected. Do the work'; get the grade/reward. Who complains that you're a wonderful Student?

Some jobs are a continuation of 'perform to expectations'.

Learning to Live is wider, harder to navigate (especially between 14 and 18), and authentic.
joaniepoanie
9 years ago
I think the impetus to apply and attend has to come from the kid....not the parents.

I havent read the whole thread but my neighbor's 2 sons did the IB. At the time, only one school in our large county offered it and it was very competitive. These boys wanted to do it...one had been in magnet schools since 4th grade. Both went on to our state's flagship public university....I'm not sure about scholarships...majored in computer science and are both happily employed....one with Google and one for a non-profit.

Their daughter didn't want the pressure so stayed at our local not-very-good HS but took mostly AP classes. She went to an out of state public u for undergrad and med school, completed a residency at a well known U hospital and will start a three year advanced study fellowship in her specialty.

So agree with Chi.....I think kids will be more successful if they follow the path that feels right for them whether it's an IB program, community college first, etc.
satine_gw thanked joaniepoanie

Are you familiar with IB diploma?

DaisyinGA

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