u/CellResponsible3725

In general or on specific subjects.

These are mine:

1. DP2 is not that bad if you keep on top of your assessments and college apps. As a chronic procrastinator, even though I'm dying right now from the workload, I can see that if I didn't procrastinate, I'd be in a much better place.
2. IB ESS is not an easy subject, especially if you want to get a 7.
3. ESS is fun. I genuinely find it interesting, probably because I have a great teacher who knows the subject and how to teach it. Yes, most of it might not be useful after the IB, and some of it is very straightforward. People take it as a filler subject, and I do understand why. But HL is very cool, and as a student in high school, I enjoy taking a cool subject.
4. The IB is pretty fun and helpful, for me at least. I don't regret taking it.

Hi guys! This is a question for current students and alumni. I'm seriously considering applying to Swarthmore ED, but the number of comments I've been getting about how academically demanding Swarthmore is has been a little intimidating! From my school teachers, counselors, online reviews, school alumni, everyone everywhere

I do like academically challenging environments (hence, Swarthmore!), but I would also love to participate in clubs and have a couple of hours every day to chill and do sports. I also don't do very well in environments with a lot of peer or academic pressure. The intensity of the workload seems really intimidating, and I'm getting the vibe that this is encouraged by professors as well. I have a feeling that the workload varies between majors and courses, but I would really love to hear about your experiences!

• Is it really true that "you will feel tired all the time" (reddit comment haha), even if you manage your time well and don't overwork yourself by taking more classes per semester than required?
• How hard is it to do well in classes and achieve good grades?
• How much free time does a swat student typically have each week for extracurriculars, clubs, outings (downtown, Philly), sports, etc.?
• How would you describe your work-life balance in general? (eg. how many hours do you study & work outside of class?)
• And basically anything else about the academic & work environment!

Thank you guys so much! I'm sorry I know this is probably a question that's been asked a million times already...

Ask me anything! My daily life, the culture, foods, and I'll share my perspectives and experiences!

Some things about myself:

- I receive my education mostly in English. I'm not in the public education system, and never was growing up, so my school experiences might not be the same as those of most other students here. But I can still answer questions related to it using what I know!

- I intend to attend uni abroad.

Just a note: I won't be answering questions related to politics (because I simply don't want to.)

It's 1 am here now, haha, so I'll probably answer your questions 7-8 hours later! So sorry for the wait.

As a rising DP2 student,

Don't be scared!! Working with IB expectations can be frustrating. The rigid markschemes and restrictive ways of expression (such as in TOK and English A) can sometimes be frustrating too. But go into it with an open mindset and a genuine curiosity about the subjects you chose (and hopefully are passionate about). I started IB excited about my subjects, and even though the workload can get overwhelming at times, I was always enjoying myself (to some extent. Stress gets to everyone lol. Let's be real.)

Personally, I don't regret choosing the IB at all. CAS is really fun, and if you're already doing extracurriculars, you don't have to worry abt it because you already have material for it. For the EE, you get to explore an area you genuinely love in depth. Isn't that great? And with all the essays you'll be writing in IB, you're basically preparing yourself for college, where the workload is often writing-intensive. I really like TOK, probably because we have a great teacher.

This program is known to be "hard" for several reasons.

1. Course load: We do have more course components than, for example, the AP program. For instance, we have to complete an Internal Assessment (IA) for every subject, as well as the core components (the Extended Essay and TOK). But I think that with good time management and practice, you'll be able to do it.
2. Classes:
   1. Some classes can be difficult because it's hard to score well or earn full marks (eg. essay-based papers in Psychology or the occasionally confusing markschemes in ESS). This gets easier with practice papers and by familiarizing yourself with the markschemes, question types, and how IB grading works.
   2. Some classes simply have more difficult content. You could get a head start on the textbooks if you want, but do ask your teacher (if you can) which edition you'll be using, because textbooks can vary a lot in both content and focus.
   3. Some classes also rely heavily on having a good teacher and effective teaching methods. That can be a bit of a gamble.

So yall, tackle these facets and don't be intimidated.

General resources:

• IB Docs (https://dl.pirateib.sh/) is a collection of past papers for most subjects, free textbooks, and other study materials (such as Save My Exams and Revision Village). You can take a look at the past papers for your subjects just to get a feel for what they're like. This will be a lifesaver later when you're preparing for exams :D
• Save My Exams can be good for notes.
• Revision Village can be helpful, but sometimes the questions they generate aren't very accurate.
• On Clastify, you can find IA and EE examples.
• If you search "subject name+IB" on YouTube, you'll find some resources & channels.

My knowledge so far is pretty limited. I haven't experienced the wrath of DP2 yet. This subreddit is really useful and you guys, pls refer to posts made by graduating DP2s.

Best of luck to you, and (try to) enjoy!

(Originally wrote this as a comment.)

Mine would probably be:

• Rainbow valley
• The birch path
• "Crystal lake" (or "the fairies' mirror" haha)
• Four Winds lighthouse
• and of course, Green Gables.

Edit

• Echo Valley!!
• Patty's place

In Chinese, 披风 (pī fēng) means Cape or Cloak

披 is To drape, wrap around

风 is Wind

So the word for cloak literally means "wrapping wind around your body". The image! Isn't it wonderful?

I'm just really tired of wearing long-sleeved shirts and compression sleeves all day every day 😭

It's all over my arm, so bracelets might not work.

I feel seen, comforted, a little pathetic, and a little unsettled.

Can't talk to actual people but can have lengthy conversations and rants about the makeup of my person with a database wrapped in metal (that talks!) Don't really know how to feel about it...thanks tech I guess?

I physically do not know where to look.

The right eye? The left eye? Alternate? But that would be too obvious and looks like I'm trying to investigate their eye anatomy.

In between the eyes? Then it would look like I'm studying their nose bridge rather than looking at them.

For some reason, I can't look at someone's entire face and both eyes simultaneously.

Anxiety is definitely a factor. I get socially anxious easily, but now I literally do not know how to do it. Even if someone specifically instructs me to I wouldn't be able to 😭

I physically do not know where to look.

The right eye? The left eye? Alternate? But that would be too obvious and looks like I'm trying to investigate their eye anatomy.

In between the eyes? Then it would look like I'm studying their nose bridge rather than looking at them.

For some reason, I can't look at someone's entire face and both eyes simultaneously.

Anxiety is definitely a factor. I get socially anxious easily, but now I literally do not know how to do it. Even if someone specifically instructed me to I wouldn't be able to do it😭

I always thought "what a great choice for a national flower!"

Put "Mongolia flowers" as my favorite flower on a loooot of self-introductions and profile bios before I realized...

I said, gently brushing the dirt from your face.

We see the thin lines of a Smile and remember happiness, but never how lips lift, or how creases settle in the corners of eyes

We see Blue —a still square, four curves—and think of streams, but never flowing waters or dancing light

I want laughter to jump on gusts of air, not be framed by the caricature of a hollow mouth

I don't want to be shrunken to a box, or a slab with gestures to a life

What an insult to be represented by a thing so small. So trite.

***

P.S The rhythm kind of sucks 😭

So much

So much of you

That you sway a little when you walk

Shiver when touched

In the sun

Do you grow

Or do you combust?