<p>I definitely realize that IB is <em>supposed</em> to be ridiculous. However, I promise that it’s more than the “usual ridiculous” at my school. Why? They established the programme only three years ago, and I must say, they do not know how to run it. At all. We’ve had multiple advisor switches (e.g. the original EE, CAS, and ToK coordinators were all replaced by non-IB teachers between my junior and senior years). What’s resulted is a crazy backup of deadlines. </p>
<p>To give you an idea…</p>
<p>…<em>all</em> of the internal assessments, barring two of them, are being done senior year.
…the EE was barely even mentioned before senior year.
…the ToK presentation and the ToK essay were both assigned senior year. <em>This semester</em> of senior year, I might add. (I could honestly claim that I have not learned a single thing from ToK because neither of the two ToK “teachers” knew what they were doing.)
…we have official IB textbooks in only two classes. Both of which are riddled with errors.</p>
<p>I’m honestly a bit at my wit’s end.</p>
<p>What will colleges think if I ultimately do not receive my IB diploma? </p>
<p>I’ve been taking corresponding AP exams for all of my IB courses, not to mention self-studying extra AP exams. My GPA and class rank will not be affected. In truth, I’ll probably complete all components needed for the diploma except for action credit. Which is unfortunate. But I’m not even convinced that I still care, unless colleges would rescind admissions.</p>
<p>(Plus, the colleges I’ve applied to don’t even grant credit for IB.)</p>
<p>Hey this is a little irrelevant but i think you guys can help me out. I want to do a BA in econ and im currently studying IB. I want to drop from math SL to math studies because its just way to difficult. UBC said that they dont require math since its an arts program but im unsure about other unis. HELP?!</p>
<p>Basically IB gives you a really good insight into what UNI is going to be like. Your not going to get penalized for not doing IB but since you started it just give it a shot. you always have your AP exams to fall back on</p>
<p>You’re not going to be penalized for not getting your Diploma because you’ll already be in college when you get the results. But to put things in perspective:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The only edit: Every IA, period, is due this year. This semester. It’s not just your school. You’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Both things are for senior year.
We don’t even have official IB textbooks.
Our critical IAs are done senior year as well. Especially for Math, Spanish, and History.
Few colleges care for Diploma in the states.</p>
<p>^ I agree.
College’s will not go crazy that you did not get the diploma, but dropping out will make it seem as if you are lazy. I’m a first year I.B. student in a brand new I.B. school. They have no clue what they are doing as well. It is okay. Just take a deep breath.</p>
<p>Your skin will turn a ghastly blue, you will have periodic hot flashes, you will have strong cravings for mayonnaised pickles, and then you will die.</p>
<p>Z.exodus2008, I don’t know if you are still checking this thread, but if so, I would encourage you to stick it out and try to get the CAS & other requirements done. You are a senior, so you really have made it most of the way. I’ve been teaching HL Biology for 10years, and I know from experience that right now is an all time low for IB students, exactly because all the IAs, CAS, & the EE are due soon. Experienced schools spread out deadlines over the 2 years, but it takes a while to work out the kinks in a program. Colleges probably won’t mind if you don’t complete IB requirements as long as your class schedule doesn’t change. Usually you only have to explain if your final transcript looks significantly different than what you said you’d be taking your senior year. So I’m encouraging you to not quit not because I think it would adversely affect your admissions at this point, but I think you will look back & be glad that you took on a difficult challenge and saw it through. We have about 180 students who have earned the diploma over the past 9 years. They know they are a group that has done something difficult and special, and as they went on to college, they enjoyed meeting students from all over the US and the world who were in this elite group. The group that contains the students who quit before making the finish line is much larger, and they certainly don’t have the same feeling of accomplishment.</p>
<p>In addition to being an IB teacher, I am also an IB diploma parent X 2, so I look at this from several perspectives. I wish you the best of luck.</p>
<p>Wow, and here I had given up hope that anyone would respond.</p>
<p>I’m facing my IOC, history IA, and a math portfolio problem this upcoming week, as well as a major academic competition and multiple exams. But I suppose, seeing how close I am anyways, I might as well make an honest attempt to finish. The unfortunate side effect is that IB arguably contributes to my clinical depression. The fortunate side effect is that virtually everything high-stress and high-tension will be over soon anyways.</p>
<p>I definitely appreciate all the responses to this thread. It’s…oddly reassuring that my school is not the only one that runs IB this way, although I’m not sure how that makes the whole situation better. Misery loves company, I suppose. :P</p>
<p>@dheldreth - It’s good to know that teachers recognize that this is the most difficult period for us IB students. I–and all of my IB classmates–have been under the impression that all of my teachers are extremely disappointed in all of the senior IB students right now.</p>
<p>hey don’t fret too much.
I’d stick with it. while it sucks that your teachers don’t know what they are doing.
you’ve come this far. TWO YEARS! I think we are all bogged down with IA’s. My English teacher gave us a weeks notice before our world lit two’s were due, and this semester has seen me tackle both Chinese and English IOC’s, a portfolio extension (ITGS), and a TOK Essay. (thankfully the presentation was last semester) amongst other things. (MOCK EXAMS anyone?) I come from an IB only K-12 school and the teachers are all well trained and the curriculum is strong and even we are feeling the pressure. it’s everywhere. good luck and stick with it! Also I’d so go for the diploma. it really is the easiest part of the program, you need like a 24 to pass (i believe). which is the equivalent of a 4 in all your subjects. there’s only like two months until exams anyways. all your IA’s will count for like 20-30% of your final IB score.</p>
<p>EE and TOK only take a day or two anyway. All other IA’s can be done in a day each. I never even met with my supervisor to do the assignments (maybe that’s just my school tho). If you need the time you have the time. </p>
<p>You really have plenty of time to complete everything, since they’re only due this year. Don’t think negative and get started.</p>
<p>Don’t be too hard on yourself. Not only is this program insanely difficult, it appears most schools really don’t know what they are doing. As a parent of a son who just completed his first year of IB (junior) it was the worst academic year of his life. I can truthfully say that he is very bright, hardworking, and committed to the success of his own future yet still ended up with two C’s in subjects he normally excels in. That being said he too is seriously thinking of quitting the IB program, I decided to call the colleges/universities that he was most interested in attending. That is my suggestion to you, contact the top 3 universities that you would like to attend and speak to the admissions dept, I called several times explaining my son’s situation to multiple admission folks (never the same person twice) then take that information and then you can make an informed decision. I wish you the very best in your decision making process and a bright collegiate future</p>
<p>My D dropped out of IB after Junior year . She just finished freshman year at Harvard . As long as you take rigorous courses with good grades ,it shouldn’t matter .</p>
Which is unfortunate. But I’m not even convinced that I still care, unless colleges would rescind admissions.</p>
The unfortunate side effect is that IB arguably contributes to my clinical depression. The fortunate side effect is that virtually everything high-stress and high-tension will be over soon anyways.</p>
and stick with it! Also I’d so go for the diploma. it really is the easiest part of the program, you need like a 24 to pass (i believe). which is the equivalent of a 4 in all your subjects. there’s only like two months until exams anyways. all your IA’s will count for like 20-30% of your final IB score.</p>