Huron is known academically for being an International Baccalaureate (IB) Program school. Freshman have required Middle Years Programme (MYP) classes, sophomores complete their Personal Project, and juniors and seniors choose what level they will be involved with IB with their courses. Diploma Programme (DP) students, Career Programme (CP) students, and course students, all take IB classes, with some DP students taking up to seven, and course students taking as little as one IB course. Seniors Maddie Pale, Bea Harss and Nicole Harris give their thoughts on the IB Program here.
What is your current involvement in the IB Program?
MP: DP Programme.
BH: I am currently taking three DP classes, and I’m also in the Health Science Program. I’m a course student.
NH: I am in DP Bio.
What has been a benefit for you from the IB Program?
BH: I’m excited for my second semester in my health science class. We get to do clinicals.
NH: I really like how IB classes challenge you, but in a more well-rounded way than AP classes.
Are there any benefits outside of the academic rigor from taking IB classes?
MP: I’ve gotten to know some people that I don’t think I would have met otherwise.
NH: You have the same group of people in all of your classes, which is really nice.
What has been a drawback of the IB Program for you?
MP: IAs.
BH: I think Huron has an issue with their [course] offerings, and also support, because being an IB student is hard. And I think that Huron is lacking in their support systems to help students actually be successful.
Were you able to enroll in all of the classes you wanted to?
MP: For me yes, but I know people who would answer otherwise.
BH: [Classes are] scheduled in a way that is best for full DP students…that meant that I couldn’t take the English class that I wanted to take because of scheduling.
NH: No, not really.
Do you think that your involvement in the IB Program has prepared you well for college?
MP: I obviously have no idea what college admissions officers are looking for, in terms of IB compared to AP, but I do think that taking DP classes gives me an advantage.
BH: I think that IB classes at Huron have prepared me well for college, because they are challenging. They’ve taught me how to write essays fast and the content is rigorous.
How difficult was it for you to manage your schedule how you wanted to?
MP: I’d say fairly difficult. I think that because there are not that many options for classes within the DP program. If you’re taking a full DP you have to take a class in all the subjects, but within each subject, there really aren’t that many options.
NH:I usually end up with something that I am happy with, but it is definitely a process. Ms. Mashal and I send a lot of emails back to each other, you know, it’s sometimes a struggle. If you want to do music programs and you do DP, or the health sciences programs, things don’t get along. And I suggest taking at least one fun class in your schedule so that you have a break during the day.
Huron students have the opportunity to take academically challenging classes through the IB program, and even after the required MYP classes in freshman and sophomore year, these IB seniors believe that overall, taking IB classes is a great decision.
