To IB or not to IB

All Northfield Sophomores are being presented with a huge question soon: to IB or not to IB. The answer, of course, is different for everyone, but all students should spend some time considering the pros and cons of the IB diploma program before making such an important decision.

IB can be a lot of work, however it is doable with good time management and pacing. Much of the work you’ll be given can be accomplished in class, and as long as you utilize that time well. All IB classes require you to complete an IA (internal assessment) which is a self paced paper each student must write based on their own wonderings within the course's information. After speaking with several of our seniors, they recommend not procrastinating on the IA and getting it done well ahead of the official due date. Since college applications and essays need to be done at around the same time, having good time management skills will help get your IAs done in a timely manner.

In order to get the full IB diploma, you need to have taken 3 HL (higher lever) courses and 3 SL (standard level) courses, as well as TOK (theory of knowledge, a three semester course exclusively for IB diploma students). You need to take 1 social studies class, 1 science class, 1 math class, 1 language and literature class, 1 world language class, and 1 final class of your choosing.

IB has many obvious benefits: it looks good on a college application, can earn you college credit, and provides opportunities to adjust to college-level rigor. Prestigious colleges like Harvard and the University of Michigan have both said that when looking at admissions, seeing the IB diploma helps students stand out on their applications. For most students the main reason why they take IB is the college credit. For a list of colleges that accept IB college credit and what score you will have to earn on the exams click here. While it is possible to earn lots of college credit, it all depends on how well you do on the exams, the college you go to and the courses you are taking. Possibly more valuable than college credit are scholarships. There are numerous scholarships that can help pay for college if you take the IB diploma program; for a full list of scholarships click here. Finally, lots of Northfield Alumni have said that taking IB has prepared them for the intensity of college-level classes, making the transition less shocking. This is especially seen with the long papers IB students write that are similar to writing expected in a college class.  

While IB has many benefits, the drawbacks should not be dismissed. First, there is a lot more work than the regular classes at Northfield, as well as a handful of longer term projects that need to be completed. These can cause increased stress and take much more time than your “typical” work due to the fact that they are mostly self paced. The structure of most classes also looks different with most classes requiring copious notes which can be a struggle for some students. Another downside to doing the IB program is there is not as much flexibility in the classes you can take. Because IB requires you to take a set 7 classes, there is only 1 period left to take non-IB classes; most people prefer to have an off period to limit the homework they have to do at home but others choose to take an 8th course of their interest. If there is a specific field that you know you want to go into, it might be a better option to take many CTE courses in that subject to get real world experience. Another drawback to the IB Diploma is the time you will need to spend working outside of school. Because of the workload, there is a lot less time to do extracurriculars. This can especially be challenging to people who need to work to support themselves and their families financially. Or, if you’re planning on getting an internship, entering a trade school, or entering a vocation program or don't plan on going to college, IB might not be the best fit for you. If this is the case for you, you might want to consider your time management abilities or other courses such as honors and AP. After all, even if a student is not planning to complete the IB diploma program, they should still create a challenging course schedule for themselves.

Overall, IB can be a great option, and is something all students can achieve if they are willing to put in the effort and time. However it might not be right for you, and that's okay. Before deciding what you will do, take time to consider the prior information and make an educated decision. For any additional resources, please reach out to our career/college navigator, Ms. Ursula Martin, the IB coordinators, Mr. Wright and Ms. Cruz, your respective counselor; or look through the resources specifically for IB on the school website.