This program sounds difficult. Won't it affect my GPA?

There are two answers to this question. The first is - maybe. The second is - is doesn't matter. IB students will receive +10 points in the GPA as do AP students. However, most colleges, especially the more competitive ones, want to know if a given student has challenged themselves in high school. Colleges know the level of rigor and academic integrity of the AP and IB programs. As such, they will look at an IB or AP student with a relatively lower GPA more favorably than a non-IB or AP student with a relatively higher GPA. Some colleges actually actively recruit IB students.