The dreaded ib extended essay

I’m sorry I’m bringing this topic up. For some of you seniors, it may resurface hidden memories. For juniors, you have already heard enough about this topic to the point that if any more IB related acronym is mentioned, you might just explode. Complaining aside, the Extended Essay is an important component of your IB Diploma Program experience. For starters, the Extended Essay is an in-depth research paper of up to 4000 words that explores a topic of interest. The IB grade you receive will be used with the TOK (theory of knowledge) grade to add anywhere from 0 to 3 points to your total score. So how exactly do you live through this horrid experience?

Breathe 

You hear upperclassmen complaining about it all the time. Your TOK teacher is stressing the importance of a good extended essay every spare minute he’s got. You see tons of Facebook rants and admittance of defeat. Yes, the first time your extended essay coordinator hands you the packet of instructions for writing the extended essay may be intimidating. You might be a little overwhelmed by the word limit or the depth of research expected. However, don’t forget to relax a little. The extended essay isn’t as scary as your classmates or teachers make it to be. By junior year, churning out an 800 word essay shouldn’t take you too long–one night tops. So, just think of the extended essay as five 800-word essays that you could complete in the hours equivalent of 5 nights if you really needed to pull those all-nighters. Take a step back and consider that you are given months to complete the research and write your first draft. If you plan accordingly, you’ll have plenty of time!

Let your passion guide you

Though each school conducts its extended essay process different, the first step is generally to chose a topic. A good rule of thumb is to choose an area in which you are interested in and decently knowledgeable about. Generally, history and English seem to be the most popular choices among IB students because they could potentially be easier to write than science or math papers, but motivation is key here.

On the other hand, you might run into the same barrier I had. You might have the perfect topic in mind, but your school either does not have a good mentor for you or you cannot fit it into one of the approved IB areas available to you. To be honest ,being in that situation sucks and I’m sorry anyone has to go through it. However, I encourage you to explore a secondary interest. You could also try addressing your favorite issue from a different perspective. For example, if you were really interested in public policy for climate change, but you could not find a mentor for political science/global issues, try pursuing research about how climate change impacts human geography.

Research, research, research

The more research you conduct, the easier it will be to write the paper. For science extended essays, your mentor should be able to help you get the resources you need to conduct the experiment. If your school’s science department does not own advanced equipment, try looking for local universities’ or hospitals’ labs. For humanities and social science extended essays, the library and online databases are huge helps. In addition for social science, interviews or surveys could be a valid research tool as well. Your school or local library should have subscriptions to major databases to get you started.

Once you locate your source, find out what sort of note-taking, data collecting method will work for you. I tend to save the articles in either PDF or Word and add annotations on the side. You might like cutting snippets and dumping them in a preliminary document. Your process might differ depending on where you are in your research. Start by reading up on your topic to get a broad understanding, then narrow your research down and scrutinize specific claims. Just always keep track of your sources.

The writing process

For such a long paper, for even the most outline-resistant students, various outlines should be drafted. You should feel free to always edit and alter the outline as you proceed with research and find out new developments. Have a good, solid thesis and research question down first. However, the key in the writing process is to be flexible. Be ready to adjust your research question later on. Overall, breaking your paper down into sections will make each chunk more manageable.

I found that writing was not so bad once I actually sat down and focused on translating what I discovered in research to words. Avoid excuses, and just sit down with no distractions. Once the words start flowing, keep writing for as long as you can. Take breaks when you need to. Soon, you’ll find out that 4000 words isn’t actually that bad. Splitting your writing into several days will also help relieve the overwhelmed feeling.

Finally, you’ll have a completed draft! You’ll be tired of doing citations and footnotes, and you’ll be tired of reading and editing the same lines over and over, but you should be proud! Also, don’t stress out too much about the extended essay–it only counts for a tiny portion of your overall IB performance.

To ib or not to ib: international baccalaureate students tell all

My old high school was best known in our district for two things: its sport teams and its International Baccalaureate program. As my klutzy nature kept me from excelling at any sport other than badminton (Asian heritage for the win!), it was the IB Diploma Program that convinced me to enroll at Montgomery High School. I wanted to take the most advanced courses possible and build up my college application marketability, so it sounded like IB was the way to go.

Founded nearly 50 years ago, the IB organization is a nonprofit institution that offers an international education to students at over 3,500 IB World schools in 145 countries; it also offers aMiddle Years Program for students from 11 to 16 years old, and even a Primary Years Program for students from 3 to 12 years old, building up to the Diploma Program for students from 16 to 19 years old.

The Diploma Program includes an advanced academic curriculum and several core requirements, including the Extended Essay (a kind of senior thesis), Theory of Knowledge (an epistemology course that emphasizes the IB philosophy), and CAS (extracurricular activities highlighting “creativity, action, and service” that counterbalance academic studies). Your IB final examination scores and fulfillment of above requirements determine whether or not you earn the IB diploma. I’ve found that American students rarely take on the IB diploma to attend university outside of the States, but rather to earn as many college-transferable credits as possible (to “get ahead” in completing General Education requirements in college,) or increase their college application marketability by boasting the IB diploma as an achievement on their resume.

Image from RyannaBella.

When I hit junior year, I took as many IB classes as I could, but when I looked more closely at the diploma requirements, final examinations, and the likelihood of transferring credits to my future college (undetermined at the time), I started second guessing my goal to earn the diploma. The IB program is great, and the classes definitely prepare you for the rigor of college courses, but there really is no guarantee for transferring credits from IB classes if you don’t know which college you want to attend (which is largely the case for high school sophomores about to commit to the IB Diploma Program).

In a best case scenario, my friend *Dan did the IB diploma and entered Brigham Young University as a junior because all his IB classes were transferable. In a worst case scenario, I had a friend named *Blake who completed the IB diploma and didn’t get into ANY of the schools to which he applied, but this was mainly because he didn’t take academics seriously for the first two years of high school; he went on to study at the local junior college for two years and transferred to the University of Southern California no sweat. (Don’t let this last story freak you out; it just goes to show that the IB diploma doesn’t guarantee anything, even though some people make it out to be an automatic admission ticket to a good college).

The IB diploma and the stories of the students working to earn it raises the frustrating question, “What does it take to get into a good college today?” and the underlying question, “Is the IB diploma really worth it?” I realized this may be a relevant topic for our readers at The Prospect, so I interviewed a handful of friends and friends of friends about their experiences with the IB diploma. What I found out surprised me.

Christina’s Story: Dealing with IB Stereotypes

One of our own interns at The Prospect *Christina is currently an IB diploma candidate, somewhat anxious for this article to state her name, as she herself has been wondering whether or not she truly wants to commit to the IB diploma. Her high school offers a range of course levels – International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, Honors, Regents, College Level (SUPA, Adelphi, etc.) courses, and Applied – but is gradually getting rid of AP courses and switching to IB. The IB program was introduced to her high school three years ago by a new principal (who is now, unfortunately, leaving), and the first class of IB students just graduated in 2012. Approximately 65 students in Christina’s grade tried out the IB program as juniors, but the number dropped down to 30 by the end of the year.

What IB students spend most of their time doing.

Christina initially committed to the IB diploma for a handful of reasons. “It was supposedly the most rigorous course load; my guidance counselor encouraged me to do it; I was intrigued by the CAS hours (I thought they would be a way of finding more opportunities to participate in the community); and the majority of my classes were IB… so I thought, ‘Why not?’ when going for the diploma,” she says.

Although Christina expressed how much she enjoyed her IB teachers and the classes themselves, she did mention a commonly held perception of the program’s atmosphere created by IB students. “In my school, the personality of the IB students comes out in ToK class because that’s the only class with solely IB students in it. This is only my opinion (I’m biased in that I don’t like the IB program and I don’t like the kids in it), but I get the feel that IB is viewed and treated as a sort of program for ‘gifted’ students when in actuality, anybody can enter the program,” she admits. “The students are sort of pompous, condescending, and over confident. I’m over exaggerating a bit, but a lot of the students believe that they’re better [or] more intelligent than other kids.”

Christina’s main criticism of her school’s IB program concerned the scheduling of IB classes in conflict with AP classes: committing to the IB program would mean missing out on AP classes she really wanted to take. Many high schools that include both IB and AP courses place a heavy emphasis on one of the programs, more often on the IB program, as many IB courses include material that sufficiently prepares students to take the AP exam in that subject but AP courses fail to fulfill requirements specific to the IB diploma. Christina believes she’ll continue with the IB diploma, since she’s already completed a year of the program, but her story does bring up some important points.

Courtland’s Story: The IB Conveyor Belt

Courtland Thomas, an IB diploma graduate from Florida, is gearing up for his second year atColumbia University, as part of Columbia College (which has the infamous Core Curriculum, similar to that of IB). Courtland was able to share how the IB program prepared him for academics at Columbia and the college experience itself. His high school offers alternative options to IB, such as AP, honors, and dual enrollment (a popular option); approximately 70 students in his class of 500 earned the IB diploma.

Image from IB2@TSRS.

“The IB program at my school was very much like a factory. It didn’t offer a large variety of courses in any of the 6 subjects, so you walked in, got put on a conveyer belt, and went through the whole thing. Of course, some people chose to jump off, or were put on the belt by their parents, but that’s generally what it felt like.” Since his high school had limited resources to support an IB program, Courtland confessed that, “my school wasn’t what I was fully expecting of the IB program – at least not the full flexibility to explore what subjects I wanted to…I would have loved to study have studied anthropology at the Higher Level, or French SL (both of which I’m now studying in college), but my school didn’t have the scheduling capabilities to allow such flexibility in my course selection.” Courtland was impressed by the passion that his teachers expressed for their IB course subjects, which Courtland had difficulty finding outside the IB program, even in the summer classes he took at the community college.

Courtland quite accurately described the program as “engulfing,” in substitution for the typical adjective “stressful” that most IB students use. “You walk into the IB program as one of the few in your school, and everyone knew whether you were an ‘IB kid’ or not. You were around all other students taking the IB a majority of the time, and, eventually, you gain this sort of community. You all undergo the same stress, the same judgement from your non-IB cohorts, and the same expectations of your professors to do your best, so you feel a group of students who legitimately have the same ideas or desires as you – knowledge.” An exclusive sort of society, but a strengthening one.

Looking back, Courtland admits that earning the IB diploma was the right choice for him. “I completed 3 years of Spanish and I was able to have a casual conversation about the protests in Egypt for my oral; I learned more about biology than I would have if I hadn’t done the IB simply because it didn’t fascinate me enough to take an additional courses in it; I probably would never had learned my passion for photography because I wouldn’t have taken a single visual arts course. But I do think the amount of time and effort I put into it would have been better utilized or appreciated if I had attended a different IB school.” Courtland’s story makes the point that not every IB World school necessarily has a strong IB program; this is something any IB diploma candidate should consider before fully committing to the program.

Image from IBO.

In terms of transfer credits, none of Courtland’s IB courses transferred for college credit at Columbia. In the case of my transfer credits, Wesleyan University only accepts a maximum transfer of two pre-matriculation credits. Wesleyan, like many other liberal arts colleges, really wants you to explore the classes it offers, which is what you’re paying for anyways; I figure that the whole transferring credits thing is really only appropriate if you have a good idea of what you want to study and want to get ahead in that field, or if you’re financially strained and want to save money by graduating early. I realized that, in my case at least, completing the diploma would be a big waste of time. Instead, I took a few IB classes (in English and Spanish), a few AP classes (in math and science), and several junior college classes (in subjects, like American history, that I absolutely did not want to slave over at an IB level). Junior college classes are almost always guaranteed to transfer to whatever college/university you end up attending as a full-time student, and they’re generally easier than IB classes.

To IB or Not to IB, That Is the Question

From what I’ve found, the IB diploma is right for you if you want to study overseas or if you know you want to attend a school that accepts enough IB credits to make your time and effort worthwhile. You don’t have to earn the IB diploma to go to a great school. But hey, if you do go for the diploma, don’t be embarrassed or feel like you’re a “sell out”. The diploma is ridiculously difficult to earn while both applying to college and keeping your social life afloat, and if you think you can do it (and, more importantly, that you should do it), then by all means, go for it!

I’m not sure if this isn’t a biased opinion, as I haven’t earned the IB diploma myself, but taking Junior College and AP courses alongside IB courses has worked for me and many other students I know. The most important thing is to challenge yourself academically, whether by completing the diploma or taking a smattering of higher level classes, without working yourself to death. You’re still in high school, and this is your time to have fun, too.

Ib what? explaining ib in all of its acronym-loving glory

From getting that text from Mom with the uncomfortably placed LOL to listening about the NRA on the news–or even hearing stressed out friends drone on and on about SATs, APs, and ACTs–acronyms seem prevalent everywhere…and the IB does not disappoint! Much like social media, politics, economics, you name it, the IB program comes with its own special set of lingo that students are fluent in by the time their journey is over. So, just what exactly is this IB lingo I speak of? Well, hold on to your hats, folks, because you’ve come to the right place! Welcome to the IB tour–giving you the nitty gritty on the IB program, one acronym at a time.

IB & IBO: The first stop of our tour–the International Baccalaureate and the International Baccalaureate Organization. Think of these as the foundation of a building or the entrance into a park or university; this is where our tour begins!

The International Baccalaureate program was created in Switzerland in 1968 by the International Baccalaureate Organization, and is available to students from the ages of three to nineteen. IB students are in a program that emphasizes hands-on learning, encouraging them to dig deeper into their own areas of interest and to cultivate and establish projects of their own. Focused much around reading and writing, the goal of the IB program is not to teach to the test, but to aid students in broadening their minds and think of themselves as global citizens.

A question that often comes up is how IB compares to AP, and the answer would be that the two are difficult to compare as they are very different from each other. Other than the fact that both are academically challenging, one of the only similarities between Advanced Placement and the International Baccalaureate is that students are able to enroll in just a few IB courses, like enrolling in AP courses, without going for the IB diploma. The students who choose to immerse themselves in the IB program and go for the diploma are in for much more than just IB classes; the full IB program consists of CAS, ToK, EE, in addition to IB courses…which leads us into the next stop on our tour!

SL & HL: A prerequisite to receiving the IB diploma is to study six academic subjects within the program, including the native language, second language, a humanities course, a mathematics course, a science course, and an arts course that is able to be replaced by a second subject in one of the categories listed. These courses come in different levels called Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL). Students can take a maximum of four out of the six courses at Higher Level, and the rest are required to be at Standard Level. Think of SL and HL to be pools with the same depth, except with different sizes; the main difference between SL and HL is how much the courses cover. SL is the pool that you are happy to jump into on a hot summer’s day to cool off, and HL is the pool that you want to jump into with your competitive swimming gear on to practice for your meet coming up soon!

ToK: You may want to put your thinking caps on for this stop! How do we measure knowledge? To what extent do our emotions have an impact on our every day decisions? Nature or nurture? Is it ethical to hire disabled persons to skip lines at Disney World? These are only some of the issues tackled in the course of Theory of Knowledge. ToK is a course to encourage IB students to reevaluate themselves as thinkers, examining knowledge and how we know things- emphasizing greatly on rationalization and analyzation. On our virtual tour, ToK would be the beautiful garden; touched by lovely sunlight with plenty of trees and plants thriving, you would be able to see people sitting around tables and on benches, discussing intellectual issues with each other.

CAS: Right now on our virtual tour, we’re approaching the center of extracurriculars! Standing for Creative, Action, and Service, CAS hours are a requirement to receive the IB diploma. Diploma candidates must complete 50 hours in each category, earning 150 hours in total at the end of the IB journey. There is much freedom to attain CAS hours. Creative hours could be attained from activities ranging from ballroom dancing to writing camp; Action hours could be attained from activities ranging from going to the park with children to varsity soccer; and the same variety applies to Service hours. But true to the IB mission, CAS hours aren’t guaranteed by a mere signature from a mentor; diploma candidates have to chronicle their experiences from their activities, outlining how they grew and what they learned as a result of participating.

EE: Our last stop on the tour, the Extended–EEEEEEEEEEEEE! What was that? Oh, don’t mind the screaming; it’s probably just another student trying to write their Extended Essay. But in all seriousness, the Extended Essay is a four thousand word paper that gives the diploma candidate a chance to explore further into a topic of their own interest. The EE is the library on our virtual tour, as it is a research paper on a thesis that the student comes up with independently. Although teachers provide as mentors, the research paper is largely independent and mandates for the candidate to come up with an argument regarding their topic, supported by solid research.

We have come to the conclusion of our tour, folks! Here, at the end of the road, lies the diploma for those students who chose to enroll within the program–for those who have passed their IB tests, completed their EE’s, CAS hours, and ToK essays. Ah, what was that? That was the sound of your brain understanding the lingo that is IB…which means my job here is done! Hope you enjoyed the tour and are leaving with a better understanding of what exactly the IB program is.

4 tips and tricks for ib study success

International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma students: fear not. Yes, exam month is rapidly approaching. And yes, it can be terrifying staring at years’ worth of notes, knowing you’ll have to conquer them all. I know, because I’ve been there.

Two years ago, I sat in my bedroom with a knot in my stomach. Six exams in three weeks? It seemed nearly impossible, especially because the amount of material for one exam alone was comprised of three enormous binders and countless Google Docs. My exams were as follows: HL French, HL European History, HL Research Methods in Psychology, HL English, SL Environmental Systems & Societies, and SL Discrete Mathematics. Definitely daunting.

But, as I got going, I developed a routine that proved indispensable to my study success. I’m not saying I got perfect 7s across the board, here—but I wound up doing well enough to get college credit for three of my four HL tests (my university, like many, doesn’t accept SL exams for school credit). Below are four of my tips and tricks for a successful IB exam period. When it’s over, it is one of the best feelings in the world. If you went in prepared and gave your best, that feeling is even greater.

Mathematics and Sciences: Make Notecards

Nothing helped me better for exams like Discrete Math and Environmental Systems & Societies (the two courses that didn’t come as naturally to me) than making notecards. I prefer the 4×6 size simply because they’re a nice medium between microscopic and enormous. The format I used was basic—on one side went a concept or definition, and on the other went a concise definition or 2-3 bullet points. IB is all about being clear and concise with your wording, so practicing this while making your cards is extremely helpful. Don’t be too wordy! The terms I defined were those that I had clearly outlined over the course of the year and those I was still confused with. No matter the exam subject, IB textbooks are nice because they normally include a clear chapter-by-chapter breakdown of terms you’ll need to know, inside and out. That’s also a very nice reference to have, so be sure to check out those lists. Notecards can seem overwhelming, but they’re also a portable resource—bring them with you on test day, because if you arrive early there’s always time for some extra review with your fellow classmates.

Social Sciences: Concept Maps

Notecards were an invaluable testing tool during my IB exam period, but I’m more of a visual learner. It helps me to see the flow of a larger, more complex concept with multiple parts when it’s laid out in front of me. If you’re also a spatial learner, another helpful tip I’d suggest is to make concept maps. For subjects like IB Psychology and Research Methods in Psychology, I had two years’ worth of material to digest in a matter of weeks before the exam. Don’t go about this thinking that you’ll have to re-learn material that you haven’t seen for a year. Chances are, you’re using a continuation or an extension of concepts from IB Psych in your Research Methods class—maybe without realizing it. Concept maps work perfectly here, because they enable you to physically link portions of a theory or idea. They also allow for the breakdown of particular studies and pieces of research, so that potential essay subjects can be planned for. Color coding is an excellent way to keep your concept maps in tip-top shape. I used 8×11 printer paper, nothing fancy, and found that it was the perfect blank canvas to study from. (I’ve also heard that these are great for sciences like Biology, Chemistry, and Physics!)

History: Plan Your Essays

Perhaps the most frightening sense of anticipation that I went through during exams was that of the IB European History test. It was comprised of three Papers, the lengthiest I’d seen, and each contained nothing but essays, essays and more essays. A helpful tool here was Googling essay prompts from previous years. These were my saving grace because, as most history exams do, ones success relied on memorization and clear writing. Having to study centuries’ worth of our world’s historical events means combing through facts, dates, names, terms, causes, effects, consequences, and more in a short period of time. Using previous prompts enabled me to prepare outlines for whatever could come my way—if a potential question asked about anything from the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the Arab Spring, I would have historical context and knowledge to back me up (even in the worst of situations). Your textbooks will help you. Don’t write out entire papers here—I’m just talking an outline. But be sure to clearly reference important key points. Color coding works, people! After review, you’ll have a mental timeline of material.

English: Review Your Texts

Each high school’s IB English curriculum varies, so there are no set texts that you’ll specifically be tested on. Essay questions that aren’t prompt-based will be umbrella-style, where you’re able to reference more than one text to aid in forming an argument. I read about eight novels and plays over the course of my senior year of IB English. In studying for my exam, I typed out reference sheets for each text. My teacher let us borrow a copy of a book if we hadn’t studied it since the start of the year and had handed it back in, which was nice because it allowed me to list one or two quick quotes for each point on my sheet. Each sheet was one side of a piece of printer paper–printer paper works wonders and is SO versatile to study with–and it was a layout of main characters, their traits, the novel’s prevalent themes, the author’s writing style, etc. Try to not stay plot-based–the exam graders don’t want to know how much of the book’s details you’ve memorized. Though it, of course, helps to know what happened, care more about how the book, play, etc. was written and the effects of literary devices. This shows critical thinking, a buzzword that’s crucial to essay success. Having a one-pager per book means that you won’t be flipping through binders of notes on exam day.

*I did have excellent preparation for most of my senior year of high school by my IB teachers—as I’m sure you have had up to this point—so take that into account, as well. There’s no better resource available to you than teachers who have been teaching the IB curriculum for years, because they know the format of these exams like the backs of their hands. Most of my teachers created their own pristine, detailed guide packets for our study benefit. Use these if you receive them! Definitely reach out to your teachers for help: that’s what they’re here for.*

6 factors to consider when deciding to be an international student

Deciding where to go for college is one of the most pivotal decisions in your life, not just professionally, but also to develop the path of your life. If you are exploring going to foreign institutions for the length of your undergraduate career, you should have a clear idea of what you are after and consider the following factors.

1. Cost

This is a major factor in considering where to study even domestically, so it stands to reason that you should refer to it even when it is on a larger scale. However, some of its aspects may change. For example, some programs in the United Kingdom may be cheaper than those in the United States, but this is evened out by the high cost of living in the U.K. Additionally, some schools do not offer financial aid to international students or are not need-blind when considering international students. Make sure you are completely educated on the details and give yourself an estimated cost that includes factors such as tuition, housing, food and if needed, transport.

2. Time

Some colleges allow you to complete your degree in three years, like certain institutions in Canada and Australia, if you have completed the Internal Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Conversely, certain programs at some colleges could be more time-consuming than the average four year course. This also ties into the price aspect, because graduating earlier or later can add or subtract a whole year’s tuition.

3. Transfer options

If you decide that you want to switch from an academic institution in Australia to one in the United Kingdom, you do not want to find out that they will not accept any credits from your prior institution and that you have wasted a year.

4. Professional goals

Do you wish to settle in that specific region abroad after you complete your studies? Some programs are tailored to the region, such as some Political Science programs that may put emphasis on the structure in the home country. You may also be offered job placements, or at least a grace period to look for jobs in that country, after college. Another good reason would be if the particular program you wish to study is not offered at any institution in your country.

5. Quality of education

Consider if the quality of the program you are applying to is better than any of those in your country. If you are applying to the program as a safety and do end up going there, reevaluate all the factors to make sure it really is the best fit for you.

6. Personal factors

Is the most commonly spoken language in the country English, and if not, can you speak the language fluently? Are you used to the local cuisine, and if so, do you love or hate it? Are you familiar with the differences in their culture and behaviors? It is important to note these seemingly trivial factors because the transition into college life is always hard, and the added stress of not fitting in can make it worse.

7. Specific policies 

Acquaint yourself with your countries policies. Do you need an i-20 and a Visa to study in the country you have chosen? Some believe that visiting certain countries may lead to others prohibiting you from entering their country. This is not a situation you want to face at the last minute!

To conclude, as long as you know your preferences and have given them enough precedence in your decision, you should do great. This could be a great learning experience that changes the course of your life.

14 hours of sleep through the entirety of junior year is possible

The best part of school ending: Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp

Feeling alone as you swim through the terrifying waters known as the college admission process? Have no fear! We have several seniors blogging about ups, downs, and random in-betweens of their college process for the next 12 months (from June 2015 to June 2016!). Sit back, relax, and get that “OMG I totally get you, bro” feeling. Information for how to contact a blogger will be at the bottom of his/her posts.

After twelve years of formal education, here I am: applying for college. I still vividly remember the first time I logged on to a university website; I was eleven and in fifth grade, and to me, it seemed as if I could do anything once I got that old. Funnily enough, I often still have that feeling, a sense that I know what the “right” path is but the knowledge that I could be successful in any number of fields.

Junior year has been the most emotionally and physically taxing, but I think it’s also been the most satisfying. I’ve been able to take more leadership positions in my school and community, and senior prom with my boyfriend was a nice perk, too. I may not have gotten much rest some nights (my sleeping in my own bed as opposed to falling asleep on the floor studying ratio is abysmal), but I survived. Well, not until June 12th, I won’t have, but I’m done with the ACT and APs, so, technicalities.

A little about me: My name is Katie, and I’m currently in my pajamas (junior year warrants it, I do believe). I live in Farmington Hills, Michigan as an almost-senior at North Farmington High School. I often sarcastically bemoan the fact that I’m like every other suburban white girl in America and therefore have nothing interesting to put on my college applications. While there is some truth to that statement (two-parent household, only child, a slew of extracurriculars), I’m proud to say that everything I participate in, I do so because I want to.

Prom: the night I’ve never felt more beautiful (Image by Katie Dimmer)

I’ve been involved at my church since elementary school, and I joke that during the weeks preceding high points in the liturgical calendar (Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, etc.), I live at my parish. Between choir and bell choir, cantoring at Mass, teaching religious ed, and youth group events, there is quite a bit of truth to that statement. Being Catholic and my religion as a whole is the most important thing in my life.

As for the rest of my days, I don’t ever think I stop moving, but I wouldn’t trade that reality for the world. I’m in marching band, band, and orchestra (clarinet), sing in a university youth choir, am the president of three clubs (Pay it Forward, Diversity, and Quiz Bowl), one of the managers of the literary magazine, run the soundboard for the school musical, and am in nearly a dozen other activities, including being a mentor to freshman through Link Crew. Right now, my resume is two pages single-spaced, and I’m hoping to add another page to that next year.

The quest for perfection, though, is a huge fear of mine throughout this application process. I love talking about what I do at school, the projects I run, the people I interact with, all because I really do love it. When I make horribly braggy statements like the resume comment above, it’s meant to be a testament to my tendency to do everything, not as a badge of honor. However, sometimes I worry that colleges will see quantity over quality, as the Common App and even supplements don’t leave much room for lengthy dissertations regarding activities. That’s the dichotomy: I look good because I do a lot, but because I do a lot, it could hurt me if I am unable to convey the meaning of and growth through those activities. And that’s why I do what I do: because I genuinely love it.

Sometimes you run into friends from Blue Lake at Link Crew conferences in other states. (Image by Katie Dimmer)

Last week in AP Lang, we started college essays with a super cool activity in class. We talked about each prompt for three minutes and tried to come up with experiences of ideas to write about; afterwards, we ranked how easy it was to discuss. My first draft was close but not right yet. That’s the hard part of all of this. I know me, my teachers know me. But college admissions officers know a file. They don’t know in the inflections in my voice, the way I scrunch up my nose when I get frustrated. How do I flatten myself into an 8.5” by 11” sheet of paper?

I have general themes or events I could write about for each Common App essay, and my current plan is to write every single essay, evaluate, and then sculpt my favorite. And this is what I do for fun. (Yes, I’m also the kid who was upset when we didn’t have AP Calc BC summer homework.)

Will my best friend and I room together? We’ll find out soon enough… (Image by Katie Dimmer)

As for colleges themselves, I have a list of five schools that I’m for sure applying to: University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Hillsdale College, University of Chicago, and Catholic University of America. All of my visits will be finishing up by the beginning of next week and early July. Why those schools? What were my interviews and tours like? Why, dear reader, I’m glad you asked! I’ll be back next month touching on that a bit more.

Until then, I’m off to do Honors Physics homework and write an essay in Spanish. And maybe read one or four novels as a study break. It’s been known to happen.

5 Testing Tips for Your Hardest IB Exams

International Baccalaureate (or IB) courses are designed to be more rigorous than typical high school classes. This spring, thousands of students at nearly 3,000 high schools will face the ultimate challenge – acing their May IB exams.

IB test scores are one of the main factors in determining your eligibility status for earning an IB diploma. College admissions officers tend to view IB diplomas very favorably, as they require a great deal of dedication and effort.

Even if you opt to enroll in just a few IB courses, rather than the full IB diploma, most colleges will reward you for earning high IB scores – often with class credit.

IB exams, which heavily utilize essay and short-answer items, challenge you to connect the knowledge you have learned in your IB courses to new ideas and information presented to you on test day. For this reason, IB exams can be very challenging.

However, adhering to the five tips below can make even your hardest IB tests a bit easier.

1. Establish a regular study schedule

When it comes to exam prep, cramming is never a smart idea. This is especially true for IB tests, which tend to cover an extensive amount of information.

To help you absorb all the necessary content, start studying for your IB exams at least 10 weeks before they are scheduled. For May exams, this means the beginning or middle of March.

A great rule of thumb is to set aside an hour a day for your prep.

2. Take past years’ tests

Like other standardized exams with a specific format, the best way to study for your IB tests is to take exams from prior years. Doing so can help you familiarize yourself with the test’s content and format.

Consider asking your teachers for copies of previous IB exams, if they are available. You can also find sample tests on the International Baccalaureate Organization’s web site.

3. Come to your exams prepared

Taking IB tests can be stressful, but being well prepared can help to alleviate some of your anxiety.

Besides studying, be sure to get enough sleep and to eat well in the days leading up to your exams. No matter how much you review, a lack of energy can impair your test-taking ability.

Individual IB exams are generally one to two hours in length. Bring with you only what is specified in your IB exam instructions.

For instance, calculator use is limited to specific subjects like Biology and Mathematics.

4. Outline your responses before recording them in your answer booklet

As you can imagine, students who answer IB test questions fully and thoughtfully score highest on their IB exams.

Try outlining the key points of your responses before you record them in your answer booklet.

Organizing your ideas makes it less likely that you will forget to include a key point in your responses. It will also allow you to more easily check that you have fully answered all parts of a given question, thus maximizing the number of points you can earn per item.

5. Reread your responses and revise as needed

After completely answering all of the questions on your IB test (and if time permits), go back and read over the responses you have recorded in your answer booklet.

Ensure that you have answered all portions of a multi-part question, and correct any spelling or grammatical errors.

Taking the time to go back and polish your work can help to improve your exam score.