Is the IB Diploma worth it? My Honest opinion on the IB diploma - From a 43 Graduate!

Summary

In this video, Marcus, a third-year medical student at the University of Cambridge, reflects on his experience with the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. He discusses how the IB boosted his university prospects, including his acceptance to Cambridge, and provided a well-rounded education through its challenging workload, diverse subjects, and flexibility. Marcus highlights the critical thinking, essay writing, and time management skills he gained, while acknowledging the intense stress the program caused. Despite the hardships, he concludes that the IB was ultimately worth it for his academic and personal growth.

Takeaways

• 📚 The IB program is intense and stressful, but it's worth it for future opportunities, as it can open doors to universities worldwide.
• 🎓 Completing the IB helped the speaker get into the University of Cambridge, something they believe would have been harder without the IB diploma.
• 🌍 The international recognition of the IB diploma allowed for broader application opportunities, including in the UK, US, and Europe.
• 💼 The IB workload is challenging, with six core subjects, the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) essay, Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) requirements.
• 📝 Balancing the IB workload with university applications and admissions exams can lead to a highly stressful experience, especially in the final year.
• 🧠 The IB promotes well-roundedness, offering freedom to choose subjects across a broad range of fields, including economics, languages, and STEM.
• 🔄 The flexibility to switch subjects in the IB allows students to tailor their education to their interests and university requirements.
• ✏️ The IB teaches essential skills such as writing essays and reports, time management, critical thinking, and how to conduct research.
• 🎓 Though the IB covers a broad range of topics, its depth may be less than A-Levels or US diplomas in subjects like math and biology.
• ⏳ Time management is a key skill learned in the IB, as students must juggle multiple assignments, essays, and extracurricular activities at once.

Q & A

What are the main benefits Marcus gained from completing the IB diploma?

Marcus highlighted several benefits from the IB diploma, including better future prospects due to the international recognition of the qualification, freedom to study a broad range of subjects, and development of valuable skills like time management, critical thinking, and essay writing. He also believes the IB contributed to his acceptance into the University of Cambridge.

How did the IB diploma help Marcus in his university applications?

The IB diploma allowed Marcus to apply to universities globally, including the UK, US, and Europe. Its international recognition made his application competitive, and he could discuss activities like volunteering in his personal statement due to the CAS program. Marcus believes the IB played a crucial role in his successful application to the University of Cambridge.

What did Marcus say about the IB workload?

Marcus described the IB workload as intense and stressful. With six core subjects, CAS, TOK, an extended essay, and internal assessments, it left little free time, especially when applying to university and preparing for admissions exams. Despite the difficulty, Marcus believes the workload was worth it in the end.

How does Marcus compare the IB diploma workload with A-levels?

Marcus noted that IB students have a heavier workload compared to A-level students, who typically focus on only three subjects. IB students must manage more subjects, plus additional components like CAS and TOK, which makes the IB workload significantly more challenging.

Why does Marcus value the freedom of choice in the IB diploma?

Marcus appreciated the freedom to choose subjects that interested him, like economics and Spanish, alongside necessary STEM subjects for his medical career. This flexibility allowed him to explore various areas of study that he wouldn't have pursued otherwise.

What skills did Marcus develop from doing the IB?

Marcus developed skills such as time management, critical thinking, academic writing, and the ability to appraise literature. He also gained experience in creating methodologies and thinking independently through internal assessments and the extended essay.

How did Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay impact Marcus?

TOK helped Marcus improve his critical thinking and understanding of different ways of knowing. It also gave him an advantage when writing essays for university admissions exams. The extended essay forced him to think critically about evidence and research topics independently.

What challenges did Marcus face during the IB diploma?

Marcus faced significant challenges balancing multiple subjects, internal assessments, university applications, and extracurricular activities. The intense workload often left him feeling stressed and overwhelmed, spending long hours working in labs or on his computer.

What advantages did Marcus believe the IB diploma provided over other qualifications like A-levels?

Marcus felt the IB diploma's broad curriculum, flexibility in subject choice, and the inclusion of CAS and TOK made him a more well-rounded student. This contrasts with A-levels, where students are limited to three subjects, which may restrict their ability to explore diverse academic areas.

Does Marcus believe the IB was worth it in the end?

Yes, despite the stress and workload, Marcus concluded that the IB was worth it. He credits the program with giving him valuable skills and experiences that have benefited him in university and beyond.