Adela Belin

It’s not easy being an IB student - one really has to work hard to earn that coveted IB diploma. From gruelling coursework and internal assessments to CAS, the Theory of Knowledge (ToK) essay and finally, the Extended Essay - the two years of IB are rigorous and require serious dedication. Yes, we hear you. So, you’ve recently been given the Extended Essay assignment and are wondering how to go about it. This is a long-term research paper and while you may be comforted by the fact that you have ‘enough’ time to finish it, that’s not always the case because before you know it, you’re grappling with so many other assignments that this one takes a backseat.

When you look back at your college days, one of the occasions you’re most likely to remember is your graduation day. Graduation ceremonies are bittersweet - on the one hand you’re excited and proud to see your years of hard work pay off, on the other hand, you cannot help but get teary-eyed with the thought of leaving your college and friends to step out into a whole new world. Yes, the dichotomy is real. No graduation ceremony is complete without a speech. It’s meant to tie together your experiences in college and thank all those who helped you through this journey while looking forward to what’s ahead.

Do you sometimes wonder where all those famous personalities got their motivation from? For instance, would physics be what it is if Albert Einstein was not motivated by his curiosity to determine the defining laws of modern physics? Would Michael Jordan be one of the best basketball players of all time if he was not motivated enough to succeed and get past his failures? Would the United States be united if Abraham Lincoln was not motivated and determined to preserve the Union, come what may?

Many of us can agree that History makes for an extremely interesting subject. It takes you into the past and lets you learn about key events and people who were instrumental in shaping our present. However, what happens when you are asked to single-handedly perform a “historical investigation” on a topic of your choice? Getting jittery? Don’t worry - we got you covered. IB’s History Internal Assessment (IA) is a critical and compulsory assignment that requires SL and HL students to choose a historical topic and conduct a thorough critical analysis on it. The purpose of this assessment is to encourage students to explore a novel historical topic and put their skills and knowledge into practical use.

Growing up, you were always intrigued to learn more about the history and origin of different religions, how the concept of God varies and the likes, which is why you took up Religion and Theology in college, with great earnestness. Yes, it is an interesting subject and you were thoroughly enjoying everything the course had to offer until one fine day, when you were asked to write a Theology and Religion essay. Now, you’re just staring at a blank computer screen, wondering where and how to begin! Does that ring a bell?

It’s a long journey from deciding to do a Master’s till actually getting admission in a university of your choice. Once you have narrowed down on the program and shortlisted the list of colleges you want to apply to, starts the herculean task of collating all the supporting documents. From filling the application forms and writing personal statements to gathering transcripts and references – applying to a Master’s program is serious, serious work.