Advanced classes well worth the effort

To the editor,

Aubrey Mitchell’s Feb. 1 article (“Requirements for AP, IB Classes Time Consuming”) accurately reflected that AP (Advanced Placement) and IB (International Baccalaureate) classes take time and dedication because they are much more challenging than most regular high school courses. This should not be surprising, considering that a university doesn’t grant university-level credit for a high school-level class. What isn’t discussed in the article is why anyone would go to the trouble and extra stress of taking these classes. Is it really worth it?

For some students, absolutely. I was one of them, about 15 years ago, in the IB Diploma Program at Palmer High School. The program was very demanding, but in the end I earned 28 college credits and was well-prepared to dive into university study, where the stakes are higher financially and academically. I have no doubt that the Diploma was instrumental in securing a $72,000 four-year scholarship that made out-of-state university tuition affordable, and this alone would make the extra work “worth it” to me. Equally significant were the less-tangible benefits of IB: learning how to think critically, craft arguments, and write purposefully, all important skills in college and in professional life. IB Certificates are useful for gaining college credit, but the comprehensive IB Diploma holds much greater weight. It is internationally recognized as the mark of a quality education, and I am grateful to the group of forward-thinking teachers at Palmer High who saw the potential in establishing such an excellent program — the first high school to do so in Alaska!

I have never regretted the time and work I put into IB and AP — the classes, the extra homework, the exam prep, the exams — because they pushed me farther than I would have pushed myself in high school. High school students: if you are looking for a challenge that will set you apart from other college and scholarship applicants, this is the opportunity for a world-class education. For those who commit to the rigorous demands of these programs, you’ll find that AP and IB are worthwhile investments that will pay dividends for years to come.

Sienna Campbell

Palmer