At Granite Bay High School, students face no shortage of academic rigor. Between AP courses, dual enrollment and all the pathways the school offers, one program stands out for its intensity: the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Offered at 120 schools in California and 940 in the U.S., known for its demanding workload and emphasis on critical thinking, the IB Diploma raises an important question for students considering it. Is it worth it?

To explore that question, multiple Granite Bay students currently in or planning to enter the program, as well as the school’s IB coordinator, share their experiences. The responses reveal that although it might not be the right fit for everyone, it offers strong academic and personal benefits.

For senior Fynn Gaillard, the IB Diploma’s integrative structure was what drew him in. Born to French and Italian parents, Gaillard initially saw IB as a way to keep international college options open. Beyond that, he said the program matched how he naturally learns.

“I didn’t want to just commit to a few AP classes,” Gaillard said. “I liked my learning to be very involved altogether.”

He pointed specifically to Theory of Knowledge, a required IB course focused on how knowledge is created and evaluated. Gaillard, who has an interest in philosophy, said the class helped him think more critically about information sources and ethics. He also described IB as an opportunity to explore multiple interests at once, from science to the arts.

However, Gaillard said the program’s long-term assignments were among its biggest challenges. Unlike AP courses, which often focus on shorter units, IB emphasizes projects such as the Extended Essay, a research paper of up to 4,000 words.

“You have to learn how to pace yourself,” Gaillard said. “That’s something I struggle with, but I know those skills are useful in college.”

Senior Sophia Siebum also pointed out writing as one of the most difficult aspects of the diploma.

“You have to write a lot of long research papers,” Siebum said, referring to the Internal Assessments required in multiple IB classes. While she said the workload took up much of her time, she noted that IB homework sometimes felt lighter than AP coursework.

The time commitment, however, does affect students’ schedules. Gaillard said that while he managed to balance IB with theater during his junior year, he eventually had to step back from extracurriculars. 

“I don’t think I’ve been able to do all three,” Gaillard said, referring to IB, theater and college applications. “A lot of the time I’m just at home studying.”

Junior Nour Ghanem echoed the idea that free time is limited. 

“You don’t really have a lot of time, and you don’t sleep a lot either,” Ghanem said, adding that stress levels can vary depending on which classes a student takes each semester.

Support within the program exists but isn’t guaranteed. Two out of the three students in the program said they felt supported, although one said support can vary by class.

“There are some strong teachers on campus,” the student said, but added that in certain classes, students may need to independently research IB requirements.

The student emphasized that this experience depends heavily on the teacher and is not universal.

IB coordinator, Bernadette Cranmer, said student support is a central part of the program’s design.

“What makes IB different from other kinds of classes is that it’s part of a program,” Cranmer said. “It’s not just about developing academically, it’s about thinking about how that academic aspect fits into their life.”

Cranmer said IB focuses on transferable skills such as research, communication and reflection. She also noted that IB classes move at a different pace than AP classes. 

“The aim in an IB class is to develop skills that you can transfer into other kinds of learning situations,” Cranmer said, explaining why many IB courses span two years instead of one.

For sophomore Allen Freeman, who plans to pursue the IB Diploma as a junior and senior, the program’s college style structure is appealing. He wants to have the experience going into college, knowing how the classes function. Freeman said he expects the workload to be stressful but believes the experience will be worth it.

Aligning with Freeman’s belief that it will be worth it, many others agree in hindsight, claiming they would choose the program again, noting that many of the skills developed through IB, such as research, time management and critical thinking, translate well to college and beyond.

Ultimately, Granite Bay’s students’ experiences suggest that the IB Diploma Program offers meaningful benefits, but at a significant cost of time and energy. Whether it’s worth it depends largely on a student’s goals, interests and willingness to commit to an intensive academic path.