<p>IB tends to suck. Rigorous hw levels as i’m sure AP classes have, but in addition you have CAS, TOK, extended essay, IAs, external oral assessments, constantly breathing down your neck. So, you’re in 6 IB classes (probably equivalent to 6 APs, but maybe more busy work / writing) and numerous major out-of-class tasks.</p>
<p>Its really not as bad as I make it sound, but the workload can be tedious.</p>
<p>IB will, however, teach you to write, to manage time, and to learn (I sound like an IB brochure). But, it really does teach you especially to write well… </p>
<p>At my school at least, IB is a close-knit group of people (about 100 out of the class’s 800 students)… Though there are definitely nights when the entire IB community is up til 4 in the morning, there are always ways to vent the mutual frustrations. One night, my friends and I held an “Official ^$%^(*$^ IB Conference Call” at some ridiculously early morning hour. A bunch of kids going through this rigorous, though sometimes unnecessary, experience can be a fun time… and definitely makes for good partying on the weekends (those random occasions when classes are a bit more lax). </p>
<p>** this is all coming from a junior in florida public school… IB program ranked in the top 1% internationally.</p>
<p>Should you switch?
No, if: you value the 8-hour sleep routine, you don’t like philosophical/intellectual discussions (Theory of Knowledge), if you think you can get into your dream college without it (you probably can), you are already feeling challenged with several APs.</p>
<p>Yes, if: you want to be a part of a close-knit group of slightly-more-intelligent-than-average people, feel like your APs just aren’t cutting it, want to theorize knowledge, or enjoy entirely unnecessary things like the extended essay that don’t contribute to class grades in any way.</p>