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IB-international baccalaureate

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asapCferg
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 358
just curious..has anyone gone through this program at their school or heard of it? I'm doing it right now and it insane...not in a good way
Jan 20 2010 8:36PM
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
I've heard of it. I'm glad I'm not in that. I don't understand why you would do it. People have gotten into good schools without it.
Jan 20 2010 9:06PM
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corona
Posts: 12794 - Karma: 32,720
i got accepted but never went, best decision of my life
Jan 20 2010 9:10PM
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Fro-Masta
Posts: 38 - Karma: 11
I would say the IB program is great... if you have no friends, enjoy spending hours each night on homework, and don't do any extra-curricular activities. But for some people it is worth it seeing as IB students applications go to the top of the stack at schools such as Harvard.
Jan 20 2010 9:11PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
bunch of people i know did it, and there aren't many industries that even care if you did. if you want the challenge, but aside from that, meh.
Jan 20 2010 9:12PM
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LIL_WAT
Posts: 1900 - Karma: 475

I know quite a few people who have done it. IMO it is a shitload more work for little benefit over normal school (FYI, im from NZ.). It all depends on YOU though... how badly do you want to do it? is it really necessary? how much benefit will you get from it in the future?

Jan 20 2010 10:38PM
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superpoluha
Posts: 1986 - Karma: 10
:( good luck with those finals!
Jan 20 2010 10:42PM
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brandon_
Posts: 807 - Karma: 15
One of my best friends is currently in this (gr.11) it's deffinitly a hectic program, he's always busy with homework.  But IB students have better chances to get into more elite schools (i.e ivy league schools) over then someone who just took normal schooling.
Jan 20 2010 10:48PM
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TheButterHashira
Posts: 9691 - Karma: 1,702
I fucking hate IB kids. They have an ib magnet inside of my school(they take a lot of the same nonIB classes as I and anyone else might). They fuck up the class rank of everyone who isn't them. They get the same amount of quality points for IB gym as I get for AP chemistry.
IB kids=fucking wack

Jan 20 2010 10:57PM
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philcote4
Posts: 225 - Karma: 10
my school started that shit last year when i was in grade 12. some of the kids in grade 11 that i know were having a brutal time, these guys were studying all the fuckin time. they were studying the same shit as us 12th graders and they ended school like 1-2 months before everyone else because they went through everything so quick. that shit is fuckin serious.
Jan 20 2010 10:58PM
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brody
Posts: 1452 - Karma: 12
haha its a fucking joke, really not a big deal, c'mon... it's high school. The final personal project was too easy, i made it about crocheting hats!


Jan 20 2010 11:05PM
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swan3609
Posts: 99 - Karma: 11

ok so the IB program is getting ass raped from NS right now..

I am a full IB kid and a lazy bastard as well, and I am in no way gifted.. And I seam to be doing ok.. it doesnt seem like that much of a load. I guess I dont know what standard level is like but I only do about a hour of HW a night, plus about once a week I have a 3 hour HW sesh... I dont reallvy think Its that bad.. but then again looking back I dont know if I would have done it again.. I probably would have dual enrolled and got some of my stupid general knowledge stuff done at the local JC.

all in all the IB program can be a bitch if you are the insain kind of person that has to get a 100% in every class.. I am happy with a 85% in my IB classes (fuck spanish though 71%) but the 85% set me up with damn near a 4.0 GPA.. so I guess its ok for me because I am not trying to get into a ivory league school.. I just do it for the elevated classes. and I figure that If I am going to try and get a scholorship for a cycling college that a Full IB kid is probably going to look good at a cycling school.   

Jan 20 2010 11:44PM
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YukonGraham
Posts: 279 - Karma: 55
^ haha IVORY league
Jan 20 2010 11:49PM
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swan3609
Posts: 99 - Karma: 11

haha yea see I am definatly not that smart :P and I still manage IB

in my defense I am normally not such a dumbass.. normally..

Jan 20 2010 11:52PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7816 - Karma: 21,834
Everyone I know who went through it hated it.
Jan 20 2010 11:56PM
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nipples-the-cat
Posts: 643 - Karma: 28
STFU nick... some people dont like to do homework... or study for hours on the test... i say fuck IB it sucks bigfloppy donkey dick... got like 1/4 through Ib physics, then realized it was a waste of time just like most of high school
Jan 21 2010 12:07AM
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asapCferg
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 358
ha that sounds like me. but i don't wanna go to harvard..but i am looking at dartmouth
its brutal for me i do so much work i've been so stressed out this past year. All im gonna say it better be worth it
Jan 21 2010 12:22AM
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
IMO, a truly gifted student is well rounded. IB is just studying all the fuckin time. A smart ass student athlete should be valued much higher than some IB bookworm.
Jan 21 2010 12:28AM
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swan3609
Posts: 99 - Karma: 11
thats why I said I am a lazy bastard.. I hardly do a hour of HW a night.. about 50% of the nights I dont do shit... and I am sorry that I dont have 6 shop classes like you.. haha
Jan 21 2010 12:28AM
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S.Anderson
Posts: 369 - Karma: 18

IB= waste of time

dropping it already

Jan 21 2010 12:28AM
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jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
My school offers it. Everyone in it is your stereotypical highschool nerd though, like no social lives and what not. It seems like a waste of time to learn a bunch of useless stuff.
Jan 21 2010 12:34AM
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chacho
Posts: 183 - Karma: 33
i just started it this last year and in my opinion it hasnt been that bad at all, i usually spend about an hour or so on homework a night. the classes are somewhat hard but if you focus and review notes everyone in a while you'll be fine. i still get smoke lots of weed and party every weekend. the bad thing though is that i live in asia and all the asian kids want to be austronauts and shit haha so i look like a dumbass compared to them but none of them have outside-of-school-skills or any kind of social skills, all theyre good for is math haha
Jan 21 2010 12:39AM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 370
can i get a pronunciation guide on "baccalaureate" please?

it looks like "bachelor-ette" am i right? or no?
Jan 21 2010 12:39AM
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
back-uh-lore-ee-ut
Jan 21 2010 12:41AM
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swan3609
Posts: 99 - Karma: 11
yea man like I really dont think its that bad.. maybe 6 hours of hw a week for me.. nothing to bad IMO, I have skiied 15+ days already this year and take of for bike races all the time.. I really dont see why people rag on it so bad..  just work hard like every once in a while and its not that bad..   
Jan 21 2010 12:48AM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 370
i see it now, thanks.
Jan 21 2010 12:50AM
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yojimbo
Posts: 3631 - Karma: 27
what is it? how does it relate to classes and shit like these kids are talking about? when i was in highschool there was baccalaureate and that was a gay ass event that you could attend at a local church that was basically like a mini-graduation for those who were graduating at the time and it was just all the catholic families or something. I didnt go it seemed lame..
Jan 21 2010 12:58AM
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garettnorthey
Posts: 3049 - Karma: 173
Actually i'm pretty sure most if not all IB classes dont have final exams. I tried it for a semester.... Dropped out into the regular classes after 2 weeks. Because I had already failed to complete 8 assignments haha
Jan 21 2010 2:51AM
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libtec
Posts: 131 - Karma: 10
you guys are forgetting that it's high school, and that it's going to be easy regardless. do ib, take the tests and get college credit. Or do running start at the cc, get college credit.

both are good options, and both better than taking regular ass classes that get you nothing
Jan 21 2010 3:02AM
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exile_ch
Posts: 715 - Karma: 609
Ahah lol at people thinking IB is hard.. But anyway the US highschool program is 10 time easier than the french one wich is the easiest of western europe.

Try Switzerland, Germany or Sweden...
Jan 21 2010 5:33AM
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TheButterHashira
Posts: 9691 - Karma: 1,702
I thought the IB service or whatever has its central offices in switzerland?
Jan 21 2010 6:28AM
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flexpattern
Posts: 1090 - Karma: 45
yeah i did it last year - and it was awful, just work after work - everybody else was off partying while everyone who was on the IB program was stuck working!

The exams were so unpredictable, they will ask absolutely everything thats on the course not matter how small it might be, and there is no way that you can memorise all that crap.

i got 32 points in the end which wasn't what i wanted but i still got into one of the best uni's in the uk so im pretty stoked!
work hard is the key i guess.

I recommend that you don't do the ib because it is a waste of effort, do whatever normal course your country offers, like my country has a levels, which require very little work in comparison but still get you into university.

so in conclusion if you are doing the IB don't be put off.... but you're fucked
Jan 21 2010 7:43AM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13082 - Karma: 18,719
My sister did an IB and she is really smart and she found it hard. If you want a better chance to get into a great university, go for it.
Jan 21 2010 8:01AM
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2814
Posts: 292 - Karma: 10
I finished by IB diploma 5 years ago. In retrospect, it was a pretty valuable experience - though not because it prepares you for university. It only opens doors for you. Just think about this: 10 years down the road, would you rather have worked hard for 2 years to get into an elite school or not?

Also, to everyone who thinks IB is a lot of work, just try university. IB is nothing compared to the workload you will get in 2nd year and beyond. Don't even get me started on masters programs.

In my view, IB is a relatively short-time investment for long-term gain. To be fair, your social life will suffer compared to the rest of your non-IB friends, and you will likely spend more than all-nighters getting ready for finals. But, If you are willing to work hard now in order to reap gains later then go for it.


On a side note: the Theory of Knowledge class is invaluable - you will be using that shit forever. I still benefit from that class.
Jan 21 2010 9:29AM
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asapCferg
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 358
I agree with this. its the first year our school offered IB (were the second school in Maine to offer it) and all i heard was how much it will prepare you in college and how useful it will be. I do a shilt load of work I won't lie, but a bunch of my friends do IB so we suffer together..and we have a social life, i mean we study together on saturday nights...jk jk. But i get to have some fun on the weekends and i still get to ski every weekend and a lot during the week too. SO to sum it up i'm hoping this hard work will be worth it, and im not just wasting my time
Jan 21 2010 10:52AM
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brandon_
Posts: 807 - Karma: 15
the head office is in geneva, switzerland. So this is to the kid who said u.s IB is bitch compared to european IB: IB is practiclly the same wherever you live, or w.e language you speak.  It's an international program.
Jan 21 2010 11:14AM
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PG_EDA
Posts: 472 - Karma: 786
im planning on doing the Ib program for next year as the school im going to only has the Ib as an english course and in no way could i do school in swedish after 8 years of schooling in english, but i have a load of friends who do IB and they say its not as bad as most people make it out to be, sure u have to put some effort into it but it will give a better experience then doing something like A levels i believe. But im still gona make time for friends and stuff and im not heading for straight A's or anything so i will do my best and that will be enough! although im doing the more creative classes in IB and stuff so that will keep me motivated to do well i think. and besides both my older siblings did the IB so i have a bit of pressure to do the same but i dont mind it plus it looks good to have the diploma when trying to get into university/college as well as CVs and job applications. The only thing i feel that is a big stupid is that not all schools offer the same IB subjects, and the fact that you have to choose a subject from each catagory and cant mix in a way that would suit you, but as far as i know nothing like that excists so ill be fine doing the IB. 
Jan 21 2010 12:15PM
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HenniferLopez
Posts: 1319 - Karma: 136
my little sis is a full IB, straight-A student and she does soo much homework. I personally would have never done it, but I think she has soph standings when she goes to college so that saves her a shit ton of money in the long run.
Jan 21 2010 12:26PM
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asapCferg
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 358
http://www.mylifeisib.co.cc/


This is pretty describes my every day life haha
Jan 21 2010 1:51PM
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exile_ch
Posts: 715 - Karma: 609
You didn't get what I meant. You're right saying IB is based in Geneva and that it's almost the same program in every country, since it's an international program.

But almost no one in Switzerland is doing it since it's a "private" program. The public one, wich is more difficult is called "Maturité". Then if you're failing the "Maturité" but you still want to go to college, you could go private and do the IB.

sparks note: US normal program < IB < French Baccaloreat < Swiss Maturité
Jan 21 2010 4:03PM
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zachimo
Posts: 159 - Karma: 10
I guess i'm going against most of the general population that has posted in this thread and i'll say that I wish i did an IB or AP program during highschool. Not for the purpose of getting into a good post - secondary institution, but more for the fact that you can receive credits and then take fewer classes to graduate University or college.
In the long run I feel that it will benefit you at the University level rather than the high school level. So if you're smart and can handle the work, I would say keep at it.
Jan 21 2010 4:23PM
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brandon_
Posts: 807 - Karma: 15
ok, gotcha! Normal IB is hard enough, I couldn't imagine this harder course.
Jan 21 2010 4:40PM
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exile_ch
Posts: 715 - Karma: 609
The imaging this,

you're tested in..

1st part:
- History: written exam (4h)
- Geography: written exam (4h)
- Economy and law: oral + written exam (30min + 4h)
- Biology: written exam (4h)
- Physics: oral + written exam (30min + 4h)
- Chemistry: written exam (4h)

2nd part:
- French (main language): 1 dissertation (4h) + 1 oral text analysis (30min)
- German (2nd language): oral + written exam (4h)
- English (3rd language): oral + written exam (4h)
- Mathematics: 1 oral exam (theorem demonstration) + 1 written exam (problems and exercices)
- Specific Option. You choose  your favorite course or a new one and you specialize yourself in it with an even more difficult exam. (ex: economy or mathematics or latin or anciant greek and so on. )

You can get a 4th language if you want to wich will be an other specific option.

The grades goes from 0 to 6. You need to have an average of 4 (60%). But if you get some 3 for exemple, you need two 5 to compensate it. It's called "double compensation". And you can't have more than 3 courses under 4.

It's about 40/45h per week + at least 1 to 2h of homework daily.

So yeah .. there you go.
Jan 21 2010 6:43PM
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Owen.
Posts: 1134 - Karma: 13
I only ever hear people complain about this buuutt at my school we have the IB and you don't have a choice when it comes to doing it or not doing it (although one of my friends opted out and is taking half the classes and no TOK) and honestly there are so many guys who do fine in it and hardly do any work at all.... I have done 0 hours of homework this week and have somewhat above average grades (36/45, it's not very great but considering the amount of work I do its aight).

Also it's not like the marks are too inflated at my school because there are a couple projects and then our spring exams that get marked externally and our predicted marks are basically always correct.

Anyways.... the IB is sick shit, it's really not as much work as people make it out to be and there are 4 guys in my math class who have already been accepted into Ivy league schools (UPenn, Brown, Cornell, and Dartmouth)

Jan 21 2010 6:56PM
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brandon_
Posts: 807 - Karma: 15
those kids must be mini-einsteins!!  I couldn't imagine writing 4+ hour exams for highschool, hell i couldn't even do over 2 h off exams, i wrote my world religions exam today, took me an hour and i was bored out of my mind, and didn't want to write anymore.
Jan 21 2010 6:58PM
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CaptainKirk
Posts: 344 - Karma: 10
Doing IB right now. Theory of knowledge is probably the best class that I have ever taken so far in high school.
Jan 21 2010 7:18PM
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Mr.Feeny
Posts: 990 - Karma: 11
Every kid i know in IB i never see at school, they're totally unseen, either way to busy or they're just nerds. To be honest i rather get A's in AP and regular courses then C's in IB courses. You can still get into good schools without doing IB.
Jan 21 2010 7:21PM
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ElbridgeGerry
Posts: 5902 - Karma: -27
kay, I do about 10 minutes of homework a week, and have an 85 average in Academic classes(ap)
Jan 21 2010 7:28PM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
Here's the thing about high school - it's ridiculously easy. Even for teenagers. It's absurd how easy it is. Here's the thing about university - it's not as easy. IB is a good preparation (even though it's still relatively easy) for the people who plan to go into electrical engineering or something and have their lives dominated.
Jan 21 2010 7:45PM
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asapCferg
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 358
hahah TOK...some of my friends show up high and actually have good input its great
Jan 21 2010 8:21PM
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CaptainKirk
Posts: 344 - Karma: 10
That is exactly what I do. I am probably one of the dumber kids in my school's IB program if not the dumbest hahaha.
Jan 21 2010 8:26PM
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