January 8, 2009 Meeting: IB alum return to CR to share their views of IB program as it pertains to their University experience.
Heidi Berry began the meeting with IB program updates. Main changes to the program involve CAS hour requirements. Juniors and seniors are urged to check with Ms. Prothey, CAS coordinator, as to the revised CAS hour guidelines. The new focus of the required 150 CAS volunteer hours is to include experiential learning. The required Theory of Knowledge, TOK ,classfor full IB students has also gone through a schedule change. At this point, starting next school year, Juniors and seniors would have TOK as a 7th subject two days a week. It would not interfere with after school sports as sports do not begin until 3pm, at which point TOK class would be over.
Next Colleen Chun gave a brief IB T shirt update. The design has been completed and will be printed on shirts as a fundraiser for the IB program. Please check out the CR IB website for details and to view the design: http://www.cribparents.com.
The focus of this meeting was on the visiting CR IB alumni student panel; Jake Braafladt (Loyola-Marymount), Heidi Mettler (USC), Stephanie Yost (WSU), Angeline Nguyen (Gonzaga), Valerie Matea (Mills College), Claire Eisenfeld (Tufts), Zara Lukens (USC), Michael Bobbe (Cornell). All eight university students agreed to share and answer questions pertaining to how the IB program affected different aspects of their university/college studies and how they feel about and what benefits did they gain from the IB program. Anne McEnerny-Ogle posed the questions to the panel; each gave engaging responses to each question:
Was the IB program worth it in the end? Yes. Although it was a demanding curriculum, it was meaningful, insightful and brought great rewards looking back. It was felt that although classes were demanding, many close friendships developed because of the collaboration in studies and in supporting each other.
Any doubts that you should have bailed on the IB program? Most felt heavy pressure finishing their EE paper during the first semester of senior year, that that was the toughest time. Having made it through that all felt it was so worth it. It has given them a great advantage in college. It was also mentioned that they have friends in college felt like they wasted their four years in high school. These students, full diploma and certificated alike, definitely felt great benefits from IB. All were glad they stuck it out.
How did the IB program help you at the college level? Hands down each student agreed that they came out of the IB program with strong skills, especially writing skills. Many said writing was second nature to them now. It was clear that each student felt that the IB program enhanced their abilities, strengthening their studying, writing, thinking skills. The rigor of the program was appreciated as it reinforced the value of hard work and that if you can do this you can do anything. That is an advantage in college. Overwhelmingly, all appreciated that they were academically ahead entering college. It allowed them to take more classes they wanted to take, avoiding many GE classes. Coming in ahead has also allowed many to double major, or pick a minor while pursing their major course of study.
How did IB program affect your placement in University? Most entered college/university with at least 20-30 credit hours, thus giving them sophomore standing. Because of this elevated standing, they were allowed to register for classes before other incoming freshmen which allowed them to get into the classes they wanted before they filled.
Were you able to do sports as an IB student? Yes. The entire panel of eight had all successfully participated in sports and/or extracurricular activities during High School at CR. All agreed that it helped them to budget their time and get their work done more efficiently. It made for balance. As one student said we just learn to operate on a higher level.
