Many students at Skyline High School take advantage of the rigorous and challenging IB diploma program Skyline offers. IB stands for International Baccalaureate, and it is a 2-year program students can participate in during their Junior and Senior years. To earn the full diploma, students must prepare by taking specific courses their Sophomore year, in a process called “pre-IB.” Both Sophomores and Freshmen can become pre-IB during any part of their first two years, and most students who choose to be part of the program are ambitious with their futures.
Annie Lin, a Freshman at Skyline, chose to be pre-IB last minute. “I joined IB because I’ve heard of it from a lot of my friends and they’ve all had pretty good experiences with it, and the IB diploma can really help me achieve my dreams,” said Lin. She’s looking to get accepted into Harvard Law and pass the Bar exam. Being a part of the IB program can also mean getting to take classes with people who have shared goals and appreciation for learning; however, it can get difficult academically. Lin stated, “[The] hardest part is definitely going to be all the work and strict classes you have to take, because IB requires you to take a lot of specific classes like the SL’s and HL’s (Standard Level and Higher Hevel), but I would just say you’ll have to do a lot of writing for IB.”
Aline Magdaldno is also a Freshman who is currently a part of the pre-IB program. “I joined IB because there were a lot of opportunities you could partake in as a Sophomore that I couldn’t do unless I was a Junior or Senior,” Magdaldno stated. Certain IB and Advanced Placement (AP) classes cannot be taken by Sophomores, but in the IB program, sophomores can take them and get credits. Another advantage about IB can be being surrounded by students who want to learn those subjects at a deeper, more sophisticated level. “The best part of it so far is probably the fact that I can take harder classes faster so I can get rid of the credits,” Magdaldno added. When asked if she would recommend IB to other students, she stated, “Personally I would if you want to get more advanced and ahead of everyone else… That’s what everyone does in college already, so why not do it in high school?”
Getting the full IB diploma is definitely not for everyone. Xavier Bacon, another Freshman attending Skyline, has decided against IB. “It seems like a lot of work, and my sister did IB and she had a lot of homework, and I don’t really like doing homework,” said Bacon.
Kirsten Rector, Skyline’s IB coordinator, has been helping students and leading them on the IB path for 5 years. Rector states, “Skyline’s IB program is inclusive. We’re looking for students who love to learn and want to challenge themselves. Anyone who feels like that describes them and wants to give it a try is welcome to join pre-IB.” The pre-IB track is typically open to only ninth or tenth graders, but Rector adds that Juniors may also be able to start the IB program if they “meet with their counselor and see if their schedule has prepared them for the IB program.” Rector believes students should be aware that it is Skyline’s best and most challenging college preparatory program. “It’s a good fit for students who are interested in taking honors classes, who want to be well prepared for college, and who are interested in learning college credit in high school.”
Students who have completed the full IB diploma consistently reach out and claim they’ve had a really good experience with their peers and have made a lot of friends through the program, and it can be really rewarding both academically and socially.
