IB Busy! October 2013

Page 1

WE’RE BACK! BIGGER, BETTER THAN EVER! October 2013 AISE’S OFFICIAL IB NEWSLETTER

Volume 2: Issue 1

IB Busy!

GET IT?

Sexual Harassment: HarrasMap As I grow, mentally and physically, I start to realize how sexual harassment can be nervewrecking. I believe in freedom, the freedom to walk in the streets confidently, or to ride a car with no fear. I shouldn’t have to text my mother the license number just in case I do not return home safely, or not have to sit in the right side of the backseat so that I do not make eye contact with the driver. Surely, he is checking me out using one of many mirrors he has hanging in his car for obscure reasons. I have to say “elsalam 3aleko” not only because I am polite, but to give him a right impression hoping he would not take my looks or not being veiled as “asking to be harassed.” Over time, I started improving a very special skill: to look the harasser in the eye. However, unfortunately, those tricks rarely work. But this is only sexual harassment inside of a taxicab. HarassMap is a project started in 2010 that works on abolishing sexual harassment in Egypt, as well as altering the social acceptability of the concept itself. This volunteer-based intiative campaigns via billboards, text messages, their active website, and twitter to help spread awareness. This project offers active help and advice, as well as the ability to report cases of sexual harassment and assault. This easy, quick, and anonymous way encourages people to report incidents, and informs everyone of the results of this ongoing crisis. The project also involves active research being made with annual reports about sexual harassment in Egypt. Check them out at: http://harassmap.org/ar/ or follow them on Twitter @harrassmap Nadine Rady

The Almighty Mocks It is that time of the year again, when October rolls around and all the IB seniors are sentenced to the severe testing of the mocks. While of course these predicted scores may affect some people more than others, mocks are at the end very important. With college applications due in late November, and in October for some, these predicted scores are all that universities will know about your IB careers for now. In fact, when it comes to the UK, where all they care about is your IB Diploma, your predicted score is the be all and end all of being accepted into a university. If you do get an offer, you still have to obtain that score again in your finals in May. In other countries, like Canada, your predicted score does determine your acceptance, however requirements are usually much lower since they understand how rigorous the IB program is. Furthermore, most universities in Canada will let you skip a year because of your IB diploma, and offer you a scholarship too. Unlike the UK, you are recommended to reach your offer with your finals, but even if you don’t you will probably still get accepted, just without the excused credits and/or a scholarship. On a completely different side, US universities do not care much about your predicted score, since to them IB is simply the most rigorous program offered at your school. GPA matters mostly to American universities, as well as standardized test scores like the SAT and the ACT. Of course, requirements differ depending on the major. For example, most law and medical schools in the UK require standardized tests before you even apply. Score requirements also vary from major to major.

Marina Milad

All in all, mocks are a huge deal, especially since they are only our first attempt at an IB exam. While it may seem unfair to some, the process has improved, since before predicted scores were obtained by asking teachers. After a long summer break and with a year’s worth of material, taking the mocks isn’t easy, but it’s our only choice. Yes it is stressful, but worrying about the mocks will probably do more harm than good. If you want to get an idea of what you may get on your mocks, converting your semester exam grades into IB grades using last year’s boundaries would be a good start. To study, looking over last year’s notes may not be enough, since there is a lot of material to take in. Everyone has their own method of studying, but it is universally helpful to solve past papers and make flashcards/notes of things you know you might forget. Remember, never set your expectations too high or too low; you don’t want to disappoint yourself, but you also don’t want to underachieve. As for the juniors, know from now that you should start studying for you October mocks from the summer before your senior year. Time goes by ridiculously fast, and it will be hard to review during that first month of school before mocks. We only have seven months to go and the smaller half of our IB careers, so spending all the time we can studying will surely be worth it. If twenty-three IB classes have graduated from AISE, then surely we can be the proud twenty-fourth, regardless of how hard it may seem now. IB BUSY!

1


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.