Welcome! You're not in the U.S. are you? I know many IB-ers, but none in the states. And to answer your description question, yes, you and I happen to be on the younger side of Hubski. It's a good thing.
I'm from the US! I'm actually from a city in the Midwest of about 250,000. The IB is really new here, I'm the 7th class to be sitting exams in may. There's a bigger program in a larger city north of us, but I'm kind of in the middle of nowhere on the grand scale of things... Where are you from?
I did do IB. Three years ago. I don't remember much. swedishbadgergirl is currently going through it, though, while also simultaneously being a badass and fighting off a tough illness. Give'er some props, fo'sho.
HAH. Was it worth it? I guess. Yes and no. For the college credit, sure. I got about 28 credits from the exams, so when I started PoliSci and switched to Computer Science and a minor my Sophomore year, I can still finish Uni in about 5 years instead of four. So it was a good buffer. You'll probably change your mind about your degree at least once, and the extra credits won't make you feel as bad about switching. Did I learn anything? Not really. I learned how to game the system and tell the IB Graders what they wanted to hear. I don't really feel like I gained anything from them. That being said, it did make college easier. Keep in mind that in High School you're taking like 8 College Level classes, whereas in College you'll at max be taking 5-6 (if you're smart and don't just drop 18-20 credits on yourself. Don't do that shit.). So you have less work to do, but know how to handle the workload. And I hated all but like 5 people in the IB program. They treated it like a fucking cult, called it an "IB family", and would just go on and on about it. The running joke with my friends is: How do you know someone was in IB? Just wait, they'll tell you five minutes after you meet them. So protip there: no one gives a fuck if you were in IB after your freshman year at college, and if you tell them about how you were in it, no one will appreciate it, or care. You're all the same once you hit college. And some people crash and burn freshman year, too. Girl that works for me had this exact issue her freshman year. Graduated from IB last year, came to my Uni this year, and fucked up completely, got like a 1.9 GPA her first semester. Don't make IB your highpoint. You're just getting started. So, like I said, don't remember much. It'll just be a memory to you soon.
Gaming the system is the best skill that IB has taught me so far, to be honest. When you're good at it, it can be beneficial, but you can't do it unless you know the course content to some degree. Also, did you get your diploma? God dammit I feel the "IB family" complaints too fucking much. I have a handful of people I enjoy, but the majority of them are completely insufferable. I think that several of them actually believe they're not only more intelligent, but somehow also morally superior to people not in IB. These are the same people who were told they had a high IQ when they were 10 and have been riding that train ever since. And yeah, I kind of figured no one in college would give a fuck. Hell, I don't tell my friends in high school about it unless they ask me. Anyways, thanks for being honest. There are so many people who say shit like, "IB was the best thing that I ever did!" and completely glorify the program, so it's refreshing to hear someone who's real about it. Hope you don't mind if I ask you another question, but I'm looking at doing computer science in college right now...is there anything I should know ahead of time that would help me? I'm pretty good with computers already, and I've been picking up bits of java when I've had time, but I don't really know what I'm doing.
I did, not that it's important. You don't find out if you got it or not till mid-summer, and you don't get the actual diploma until November. And it's hideous. I have it shoved at the bottom of a pile of papers in...some drawer in my apartment. THE BIGGEST THING TO KNOW ABOUT COMPUTER SCIENCE: 75% of the people in the program will proooobably be garbage. Ignore the fuckers that talk about how they've been coding since they were 4. Ignore the fuckers that bring up concepts that you won't get to until your third class. Ignore the fuckers that compare lines of code like they're compensating for something. There is an invisible power-struggle going on in CompSci classes all the time. Ignore all of it. Focus on your skills and your classes, and DON'T worry about what other people are doing, how far into the program they are, etc. etc. etc. By Junior year, you'll all be struggling with the same shit. But the difference between you and that asshole that thinks everything should be done in Haskell is that you will have the perseverance and know-how to get through the difficulty. For the other person, it'll be the first time they encounter something difficult. And 7 times out of 10, they'll shut down. Also, watch out for the weird freaks. If you have friends who are girls, screen any CompSci kids you meet before you let them talk to said girls. Most of them are relatively sexist, superior STEM-lords and if you have a hint of social viability you'll realize they're pompous asses. Honestly, if you can, make friends from OTHER departments/programs, that have well-rounded views and experiences and are generally not horribly awkward. As for skills - obviously practicing before you start the program would help a little, but it doesn't matter that much. I started from square one my Sophomore year and it was fine. Focus on fundamentals and theory, though, not languages - every professor is probably going to teach you a different language, although generally they start from Python and move on to Java for most of the time. If you want to practice before you start, try learn python the hard way,. It's a pretty good primer, and while it teaches you python, it also does a good (and important) job of teaching you theory.
Yeah, I kind of realized this year that I really didn't need to do IB. I'm finishing it up because I've already put in so much work, but the passion is gone after I realized how little IB can actually help me. Doesn't the diploma look like the cover sheet of the tests? I saw one of my friend's, and I felt strangely disappointed . I know I'm not entitled to a diploma that's aesthetically pleasing, but jesus...all that work for such a useless slip of 8x11 printer paper? I have a few friends in the program I'm trying to enter into, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_S._Raikes_School if you want to read up), and I think they try to screen for the "7 out of 10" types. I only have one or two friends in the program, and even though they're easy enough to be around, I think I'll definitely be around the type you described. You've got some really good advice, though. I've got an interview coming up in a month, and I think you've inspired me a bit! Where are you at right now in your life? I'll check out the python course and get back to you, I think it will be useful even if not entirely necessary.
Oh God not Nebraska. Although that's interesting as that's pretty much the exact program that I'm doing, just not in a specialized school. That being said, it will be even more important to find people to get to know that don't do CompSci and nothing else. It'll broaden your viewpoint and give you things to think about. My roommate is all CompSci/Math, all the time. He's the same asshole that calls Arts and Sciences, "Arts and Crafts", without a hint of irony or forethought, then jerks it to how amazing Breaking Bad is - you know, a show that requires ARTISTS to work on it. Oooh he grinds mah gears. Basically he's Reddit personified. I try not to talk to him often. Uh...my junior year, I guess? I'm just chugging along, working and what not. I'm not sure what you mean with your question, though, haha. If you elaborate I'll try to answer. But I'm glad I could give some good advice.Where you at right now in your life
Lil linked me to your trip report. Sea of corn is accurate, although we don't corn quite as well as Iowans. I really don't like it here much, but UNL has given me some important scholarships. I applied to other schools, but nowhere I can really afford--my main financial goal right now is to avoid as much debt as possible. If I get into Raikes, they'll match my regents scholarship, and I shouldn't have much debt at all...probably. I don't know. How hard is it to find people outside of your classes in college? I have no idea what it'll be like. God, I hate that type of person. That is the type of person I want to avoid, and you're totally right to call him reddit personified. There's plenty of people like that in high school, and they're difficult to be around. I didn't really mean anything specific, you just seemed like you had things together, so I wasn't sure if you were still in college or what.
Well, yours is a special case, in terms of finding alright people outside of your classes in college, since they'll all be in the same program. Joining clubs/programs at my university helped me diversify a bit - Smash Club, Amnesty International, etc. etc. Try to give that a shot. Oh! Well thanks, I consider that a compliment. Truthfully though I am just spiraling through the air and wondering if I'll not splatter on the ground soon or land on my feet. It's easier to give advice than it is to use it, is what I'm saying.How hard is it to find people outside of your classes in college? I have no idea what it'll be like.
I didn't really mean anything specific, you just seemed like you had things together, so I wasn't sure if you were still in college or what.