College and the IB

Many students and parents ask how colleges and universities view the International Baccalaureate program. There are three significant aspects to consider in answering these questions:

• Preparation to do college work
• Acceptance at the college or university of your choice
• Credit or advanced standing for work done in high school

Preparation for college is the primary focus of the International Baccalaureate program, and the only area in which we can "guarantee" results. IB students use college-level materials and thereby become accustomed to the amount and pace of reading required in college classes. They write frequently in all subject areas. IB courses demand a high level of critical thinking, analysis and application of concepts and principles – all skills that university students must rely upon. I always ask our graduates how well the IB has prepared them for college; invariably they report being ready for the challenges they encounter at university.

Acceptance into American universities is a combination of many factors. Guidance counselors always advise students to apply to a number of universities, and to select a range of schools reflecting both the student’s highest aspirations as well as more down-to-earth choices. Universities weigh many determinants in choosing students. Certainly the courses a student has taken in high school and the grades received are closely evaluated, as are scores on the SAT and other standardized examinations, extra-curricular activities and letters of recommendation.

While all competitive universities seek students who have challenged themselves in high school, it is wrong to assume that taking many IB courses – or even the full IB diploma – will "automatically" guarantee acceptance into any college or university. The wise student will select the courses best suited to his/her academic strengths and interests, will work hard to do well in those subjects, and will remember to balance academics with some well-chosen extra curricular activities.

Credit or advanced standing for IB courses is determined once a student has completed all high school work and has had official transcripts of exam scores sent to the university. Here again, taking IB courses does not guarantee that the student will receive credit. Some universities reward IB students with a great deal of credit; others do not. Most publish their policies on their websites. Factors influencing the amount of credit a student may receive include which IB courses were taken, the score(s) received, and the student’s college major.