Juniors and seniors become familiar with a few acronyms when considering classes – AP, PSU Dual Enrollment, and IB. The International Baccalaureate Program is a global program that enrolls students around the world. At Harriton, IB provides students a world perspective and the opportunity to interact with many international students. For an IB student, seven out of eight Harriton classes are IB classes. They must complete a 4,000-word Extended Essay on a topic of their choice and 150 hours of extracurricular activities to earn the IB Diploma, which both international and American universities value. High scores on IB exams in May can also earn college credits. Seniors Willie Marks and Rohanna Foote described their experiences with IB.

The Harriton Banner: What influenced you to apply for the IB Program?

Rohanna Foote: One of the main reasons I decided to apply was the ability to study abroad, but also I wanted to challenge myself. IB was really appealing to me because I like the international part of it and how we are such a well-rounded group of individuals. 

Willie Marks: I joined the IB Program because I had heard AP is geared towards memorization whereas IB was [about] broader thinking, the ability to expand upon what you learn in class, and being more creative, which fit more of what would make me happy.

HB: Underclassmen often believe that the program is only for students interested in studying abroad after high school. Is there anything you’d like to add to that, and do you guys plan on studying abroad after you graduate?

WM: It’s definitely not just for kids who want to study abroad. More than a handful of students in my classes are planning to study in the States, including me because I’d like to have the “American college experience.” Also, something important for the underclassmen to know is that you can apply to a lot of schools in Europe without an IB Program diploma, in case you are planning to do AP.

RF: I was considering studying abroad, and although I am not 100% sure right now, it would be nice [to have the IB diploma].

HB: With AP, you have the opportunity to pick and choose your classes. Why did you decide to turn that down?

WM: There still is a big course selection involved in IB. Aside from English and history, you can still choose what classes you’d like to take such as Standard [or] Higher Level sciences, three options for math, electives, and a lot more.

RF: I actually like how structured the IB Program is. With AP, it would be nice to choose your classes, but for high school, you might as well just take the courses they’re offering you.

HB: What is the environment like inside the IB classrooms?

RF: Because it’s such a small program compared to the other programs at Harriton, we pretty much all have classes together. I like how you can interact with your peers daily and you can’t see a student in one class and someone else in another. We all have classes together for two years.

WM: I like the culture of IB. Mr. O’Brien [the IB coordinator] is very good in getting everyone to know each other during the first month or so. During sophomore year, I hardly knew some of the people that I now consider good friends.

HB: Have you have been experiencing a lot of stress during this program? If so, do you have any tips to ease that?

RF: Yes, but stress comes with high school and it is pretty much inevitable. Time management and avoiding procrastination is very important, but it is manageable because the work is manageable.

WM: Yes, it is definitely stressful with the hard classes, but if you talk to any adult who asks you, “What year are you?” and you reply, “Junior,” they’re probably going to reply with “Oh, good luck.” Junior year and the first quarter of senior year are probably not going to be very easy years and everyone will be stressed regardless of the classes you take.

HB: If you had not participated in this program, what would be the main thing you would’ve missed out on?

RF: I would’ve missed out on Extended Essays, which I believe are a good foreshadowing of what to expect in college.

WM: The fact that you go through the same courses with the same people is a valuable aspect.

HB: What would be the #1 benefit you have gained from the IB Program?

WM: I think we had really good teachers and I really love the globalized nature of the classes. When I was a sophomore, I took two AP classes and if I had loved them, I would’ve continued with APs but I went the IB pathway. I wouldn’t consider IB as laid-back [as AP classes], but I enjoy the creativity and expansion of the learning.

RF: I like [that] it’s a new way of thinking. We have a class called Theory of Knowledge, and it’s about “How do you know what you know?”, which is incorporated into all of our classes. That was really helpful that you know the background of the learning and how one class is incorporated into most of your classes.

HB: To what type of student would you recommend the IB Program?

WM: To students who want to do IB, it’s as simple as that. However, I do think it is for students who are willing to work.

RF: Someone who is willing to work, as Willie said, and willing to work hard.

Mr. O’Brien and current IB students will visit English classes in upcoming weeks to present about IB and answer any questions. Sophomores still have some time to consider whether IB is the right fit for them: Applications are usually due in January and open up in November (though this year may delay into December). Interviews are in late January to early February after midterms.