There are numerous advantages to taking the IB curriculum. First, the IB curriculum was originally designed to insure a cohesive, comprehensive education for students, no matter where they lived in the world. Today, that goal is still at the forefront of the IB mission. Students who complete this program are preparing, not only for success in college, but for success in life. Students gain a broader world view; follow in-depth approaches to the academic disciplines; and develop time management, problem-solving, research, and organizational skills that will remain with them long after the IB experience is over. CAS activities provide opportunities for student involvement in the larger community beyond classroom walls. An additional benefit is that student work is assessed over a two-year period using internationally accepted performance standards. Student achievement is assessed in a variety of ways: on examinations that are developed and scored by international examiners; on oral language demonstrations in both the student's native language and a modern second language; and on science laboratory notebooks, art portfolios, historical investigations, essays, and other projects. These activities all count for a percentage of the student's final score in each subject and allow the classroom teacher to have input to the student's scores. The IB Program also allows for student and school flexibility in choosing areas of academic interest for student research.
While I was in the International Baccalaureate program, I did not understand how so many papers, so much reading, so much stress, and so little sleep could ever help me in my future. But once I started classes at CU, I realized that other lasting things came of my involvement with the IB program besides just my caffeine addiction. When all the new freshmen that had not gone through the IB program were stressing over a five page paper due in a week, I was able to look at the amount of work I had to do and not worry too much about it because I'd done more in high school. The IB program taught me how to determine which parts of a lecture are most important and I should take notes about. I also learned how to write papers that amazed the teachers of my freshman level classes again and again. On top of all of these skills that I acquired through my involvement in the IB program, I also started my college career with 18 credit hours. My grades on the IB tests gave me college credit, and reduced the number of core classes I have to take by a full semester!! I guess the moral of this story is: If you can make it through the program for four years, you will find that all of the stress was really worth the effort. - Kristen Mott
After participating in the IB program I was much more ready for college than many of my classmates in the first year. I think that the four years we spent getting ready for the exams taught me how to study and manage my time in a way that most students struggle their first couple of years in college to learn. On top of the time management skills, I was also awarded several grants from CSU to help me pay for my tuition, as well as 39 credits coming in. I really think that IB was an excellent experience, no matter how hard it seemed at times. - Carrie Fitzgerald
When I am asked about the IB Programme, all I can say is that it was very well worth it. With it, I finally found a course that was more challenging and interesting than any other American course I had taken (including AP for 1 1/2 years at BCHS). IB gave me the opportunity to further explore my knowledge of the world and finally be with other students who were actually also interested in learning. Also, with my IB diploma, I was able to be accepted at one of the best universities in England, Durham University, where I now study Modern Languages. (Durham received the highest ratings two years ago, topping Cambridge and Oxford.) Without my IB diploma, I doubt that I would have had any chance of getting in. ...So, whatever doubts you may have, get rid of them... designing life around family and friends, school, music, hours of sports and volunteering might seem tricky but trust me, it will all be worth it in the end. - Sonja Kabirschke
I have had assignments on some of the authors that we read in IB and that has lightened my load somewhat. Let the juniors and seniors know that college is made a lot easier by the preparation they are receiving, but they will still have to work. I will probably never again have the connection to a school and the sense of community that I found at Lakewood. Christian Nakarado, '03