threeofthree

Why is it that IB students have to defend their choice of participating in this program? At least that seems to be the way it is at my son's school. He will be a rising senior, also took as many AP classes allowed as a freshman, sophomore, and junior year, is now an AP Scholar w/ Honors, expects to be an AP Scholar with Distinction next year and expect he will graduate with a full IB diploma yet all his AP only friends seem to think he's less than intelligent for going this route. Yes, it is hard and my son's GPA reflects that. He is well aware of what benefits IB does and does not have over AP as far as colleg recognition and how little impact it will have over AP in admittance. That's not why he's in the program. I think IB diploma kids who thrive just have a different personality. They like the challenge and the rigor of classes. The don't see the program as a means to an end, but a journey and they find fulfillment in successes and failures. AP and IB kids need to respect each others decisions. They are obviously old enough to have figured out what works best for them as individuals.

Philovitist

I thought IB would be more...rigorous. Challenging. A fuller learning experience.

It might just be the program at my school. I thought that taking a class over two years would mean I'd learn twice the information, but instead it meant I learned half as quickly.

I was expecting the nerd's paradise.

IceQube

Your use of "defend" is telling. The question you should be asking is "Why is it that AP students have to attack IB students in participating in IB?

threeofthree

Well, "attack" is a stronger verb than I'd use but I see your point. Some "all-AP" students (not all AP students) tell the IB diploma kids they are wasting their time in the program when they can get better grades with less work for the same amount of credit. I guess I'm a little confused on what the point of their statement is and why they even care? By the time the IB student is a junior in high school, he's already made that decision so why say something negative - why say anything at all?

Philovitist

Why not? It's something to talk about.

We can't change how the election goes down this year, but would talking about it in 2013 be pointless?