I am going to be entering junior year next school year. Is anybody here associated with the IB Diploma Program? My school is the only school in our state that offers the program and it really encourages students to pursue the "IB route" as opposed to the AP. My schedule is already full of IB classes because the most advanced classes offered are IB classes anyway. My only AP options are AP Calculus and AP US History. Here is what my schedule for next year looks like (for now):
-IB Literature I
-IB History of the Americas I
-IB Higher Level Math
-IB Chemistry I
-IB Physics I
-IB Spanish
For now, I decided to go for IB History of the Americas instead of AP US History to make it a bit easier on myself. The only thing is that IB History of the Americas is not a weighted class the first year. Should I just go for a more rigorous schedule for the extra weighted class? I'm not in the interested in being valedictorian, so I'm not sure it's worth it (my GPA is already on the higher side—I have a 3.88). I heard that IB HL Math is a mix of calculus and stats. Is it a good class in general, or should I go for AP Calculus AB? Both are weighted classes. Is IB Spanish a weighted class at your school? I think I heard it wasn't weighted at mine, but I'm not too sure, I'll have to contact my counselor next year.

So unless I decide to drop IB History of the Americas and/or IB HL Math for APUSH/AP Calc, I already have a full IB schedule anyway. Should I go for the IB diploma? I have to take additional IB Theory of Knowledge for 7th hour, I know. And I know I have to write an extended essay and take the IB test and pass. How time-consuming is the extended essay, really? And is there anything else I need to know before committing myself to the program?