• Is IB more difficult than AP? 

The IB is a program that leads to a second high school diploma. It is not designed as a list of courses, although you can opt to choose individual courses. The program is designed to develop a person who will be well-rounded and successful in college and in life. The level of rigor in the courses is comparable, but where the AP focuses on a prescriptive, memorized curriculum and relies on external, multiple-choice exams only, the IB focuses on a broader, deeper curriculum where students are expected to express their thoughts about topics orally and in writing. The goal is to see the big picture. The courses rely on both external and internal exams. 

• Is IB weighted like AP? 

The IB courses are weighted like the AP courses. However, with the IB Diploma Program, students receive 6 weighted credits their Junior year and 5-6 their Senior year, plus one for TOK. These students can also receive AP weighted credits if they take those classes. With the AP, it depends on how many courses you choose to take. It is very rare that students will receive the same amount of weighted credits with AP courses as they will with the IB because most students do not take 7 AP courses their Junior and Senior year. Therefore, an IB DP student can have 15-16 weighted credits by the end of their Senior year compared to 8-10 on average for a student who chooses AP courses.

• Do I get to finish my pathway? 

This depends on the pathway you are in. The answer is yes for many fields but needs to be discussed with the Coordinator and your counselor.

• Can I do dual enrollment? 

If you opt for the full diploma, the scheduling of your IB courses will not allow students to participate in the dual enrollment program. However, if you choose individual IB courses, we will enroll you in the courses that fit your time at SCHS provided you have the prerequisites for them.

• What if I didn’t do a foreign language in middle school?

 If you did not study a foreign language in middle school, you can still do Spanish or French at the SL level if you start your freshman year. 

• Will I be in class with the same people all day? 

Although you will see a lot of the same people during the day, your class will be blended.

• What if my GPA is not so good? 

You don’t have to be a ‘genius’ to be an IB student. The IB values effort, persistence, and dedication.

• Why should I do IB? I don’t want to go to university abroad. 

Although the IB does make the process of being admitted to international universities easier, its benefits are not exclusive to these. American universities also highly value the IB Diploma Program because IB students are not only knowledgeable, but they are independent and persistent learners, who can jump into their college life with minimal adjustment time. They are also more likely to graduate college and pursue graduate degrees. Many American universities, like UGA for instance, recognize that students who have an IB diploma are more likely than their non-IB peers to succeed in college and therefore give them priority when it comes to admissions. Some, like Oglethorpe and SCAD, will give them scholarships. Please visit this page for more information about scholarships. https://blogs.ibo.org/blog/2014/05/06/scholarships/.    

• Do I have to spend all my time studying and have no life? 

Studying is an expectation and a requirement when it comes to any rigorous academic program. However, IB students are encouraged to be well-rounded individuals who live balanced and rich lives. As such, you are encouraged to engage in activities about which you are passionate. Your CAS experiences will largely revolve around those passions as well.  

•  Can I still be in the marching band? 

Yes, it is highly encouraged that you engage in those activities (artistic, athletic, service, clubs, etc.) in which you are passionate. An IB student is knowledgeable but also balanced, caring, a risk-taker, and someone who strives to manage his/her time effectively.