If your grammar is any indication of your education, I can see why you didn't get into your college of choice.
bill wadeof FL10:21AM December 28, 2010
You are experiencing what MANY Florida high school graduates are finding. The Florida Prepaid college program, along with the 100% scholarship you recieved from Bright Futures has given a HUGE number of Florida Youngster the chance to go to a PUBLIC FLORIDA COLLEGE. However, there arent enough teachers or seats in the classroom to accomodate you all. If you had applied to a private college here in Florida (or even outside of the state) you would have been undoubtedly accepted. You didnt mention that you had applied anywhere else, so I am assuming that you only did so with UF. It is sad that someone with an exceptional education did not get their first choice, I would be angry myself, but dont be angry at IB. Place the anger where it belongs. The Florda educational system lacks in so many levels it is astounding. The primary fault is the lack of preparedness for all of these kids who ARE performing, but still cant get a break. They dangle this opportunity to go to college with Bright Fuures and FL prepaid, then dont provide the Education budget with enough funds to do the job!
Florida lottery funds are a joke. That money is now just replacing the funds that the Fl legislature took out of the budget and reallocated to another department. The education department doesnt get any extra push from the lottery. In fact, the department REQUIRES the lottery to keep afloat.
Im sorry you didnt get into UF. I hope you are in school now and happy.
Jimboof FL12:21PM September 22, 2009
I successfully completed the IB program at a top notch high school in FL. My next step was to attend The University of Florida, where two of my brothers and my mother had attended. I was not accepted. I got a 32 on the ACT and a 1480 and the SAT as well as attaining the the IB degree and a cumulative gpa of over 5 (on a 4.0 scale). My mother nor my brothers had nearly as high test scores or had they participated in the IB program. I questioned the admissions office on why I had been denied and was told simply "there is a racial quota that must be fulfilled". It seems that I was denied admission because of my race, rather than my academic achievements.
Dukeof FL10:57AM March 26, 2009
IB is a scam to overthrow the government of the place where it's installed.
NHof NH8:07PM March 15, 2009
I'm in my last semester of my senior year as an IB Diploma student, and while it may be an incredibly challenging curriculum, I feel very confident about the pending transition from high school to college because of this program. Already I have been accepted to my top 3 schools with multiple scholarships. I'm also enrolled in an AP course and am friends with a number of AP students, and I think it's safe to say that IB is far more challenging. There are several requirements - for example, the 60 hour community service project and 4000 word dissertation on any topic of one's choice - which may seem painstaking and tedious during the act itself, but upon their completion, I am so glad I took the time and effort required to create such a detailed and impressive product. IB is not for everyone - if you aren't genuinely dedicated to this process, you will more than likely fail. But if you see IB Diploma for what it truly is and devote your time not to simply passing your next test but to growing as an individual - academically, altruistically, analytically - you will undoubtedly succeed.
Bof LA12:03PM February 06, 2009
My daughter is a junior and fully immersed in her studies as a full IB student. She is working her tail off, and in the process is becoming ever more disciplined, better at time management, more global in her outlook, more reflective,and more well-rounded. She does all of this while amassing enough college credit to enter at the sophomore level when she begins her undergrad studies. Rather then just study to do well on AP tests in May (although she has some of those as well), she is regularly critiqued throughout the year by an international panel of educators through her IB subjects.
IB kids learn how the world works in many ways, not the least of which is how the business world works. The opportunities for international discourse are outstanding, fully preparing them for the global environment we all must know how to navigate.
The 150 (minimum) required hours of service, creative pursuits and action keep these kids multi-dimensional and not academically myopic. Most are fully immersed in sports, civic organizations, government, the arts, and more.
Colleges find these students highly desirable for good reasons. The students have already excelled at a host of college-level work for two plus years; they have shown a very high level of dedication and a strong work ethic; they have spread their wings philosophically, creatively, physically, globally,and through service to others.
In sum, they are assets to colleges, and show through what they have already accomplished, that they have much to offer. Rare is the successful IB diploma graduate who does not receive acceptance to the finest schools while also being offered numerous scholarships.
of NY5:10AM January 26, 2009
"Too bad"?
At least I've done the research to provide Caliteacher with answers to his/her questions, questions which this teacher was obviously unable to have answered by www.ibo.org, the company selling the program. Since I am not employed by the College Board or any other educational institution, I fail to see how you can categorize my response as non-objective. I OBJECT to IB and will continue to do so as long as IBO continues to attempt to scam the American public. By weighing the information provided by the host organization with the information I have endeavored to provide, an independent minded individual should be able to arrive at their own thoughtful conclusion.
ObserverNYof 8:58AM January 06, 2009
Good luck getting objective answers!
ObserverNY is the self-styled guru of IB and nothing, but nothing else is considered an acceptable answer without Observer's input.
Too bad.
cynic4:57PM January 05, 2009
What programs lose--and be honest here--when a school adopts the IB Program? Electives in the fine arts? Vocational programs? Programs to help at-risk students? Sports? - the students are the ones who lose out the most, but in smaller schools, Honors and AP courses are often eliminated to accomodate IB.
What about stress levels? Some parents say IB offers "another choice", but how much is appropriate for young people? - See our page on Is IB a Cult?
Are there teachers with moderate or fairly progressive opinions who are critical of the International Baccalaureate Program - Absolutely. In fact, the teachers I have found to be most critical of IB were the most experienced, best teachers. Teachers who do not yet have tenure are not going to oppose a program their administrators endorse.
ObserverNYof 8:47AM January 04, 2009
Despite your insulting catgorizing of those of us who oppose IB and inference that your questions are "more intelligent" simply because you are a teacher, they have all been asked and answered at www.truthaboutib.com. But I'll answer them again for you, since the News writers don't seem to be responding:
Who decided on the term "baccalaureate" for the International Baccalaureate Program? I've feeling this was a self-given title. - Your feeling is correct. IBO named the programme itself.
What exactly makes an IB curriculum superior? Maybe different, but superior? - Nothing makes it superior. Again, this is a self-declaration
Are "IB" teachers necessarily better than non-IB ones? Is it better to have a well-traveled and experienced non-IB teacher as opposed to an enthusiastic IB teacher who has rarely if ever stepped out of the country? - 3 days worth of training doesn not a "better" teacher make. Certainly personal worldly experience is going to provide an individual with far greater insights than a 3 day jaunt to Toronto.
Is IB "teacher-proof"? (I'm not assuming, btw, that AP is!) - of course not
Is it possible for a school to develop a global perspective program of its own, independent of IB sponsorship? - Yes
What are the real yearly costs--and I mean EVERYTHING, folks--of the IB Program? Can schools handle this in periods of fiscal austerity? I've heard of estimates between $20,000 to $200,000 a year? Can someone give me a straight answer? - see the section at our site called IB Fees.
What makes a school eligible, really? A perceived need, an apparent readiness, an ability to pay? - All schools that apply to IBO for IB authorization are granted authorization as long as the check is good
Are there more examples of districts who have opted out of the IB Program for budgetary and, as well, thoughtful and open-minded curricular reasons? - Also for scheduling reasons, On Long Island, Garden City just recently rejected IB, and in years past, Jericho, Oyster Bay, Wheatley, Manhasset, Great Neck, Cold Spring Harbor, Roslyn, North Shore and Syosset all rejected IB in favor of keeping strong AP programs. Those are just a few of the ones I personally surveyed.
Students submit external assessments to IB graders? Who exactly are these people? Are they trained as systematically as assessors in other advanced programs? Or, are students turning over work to individuals--each with very different ideas on what constitutes excellence? - We have been unable to obtain information regarding the "qualifications" of IB examiners.
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bill wade of FL 10:21AM December 28, 2010
Jimbo of FL 12:21PM September 22, 2009
Duke of FL 10:57AM March 26, 2009
NH of NH 8:07PM March 15, 2009
B of LA 12:03PM February 06, 2009
of NY 5:10AM January 26, 2009
ObserverNY of 8:58AM January 06, 2009
cynic 4:57PM January 05, 2009
ObserverNY of 8:47AM January 04, 2009
ObserverNY of 8:42AM January 04, 2009