The IB programs are known for their rigorous academic requirements, and yet, many students still choose to undertake this demanding but fulfilling challenge. In fact, despite the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 170,000 students were able to complete the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) in 2021. One of the many reasons why students deem it worthwhile to go through the IB program is because doing so gives them a better chance of gaining admission into some of the most selective colleges and universities around the world.
The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), which is the non-profit organization behind the IB programs, states that more than 5,000 tertiary education providers spread over 100 countries receive the applications and transcripts of IB students annually. It’s not unusual for IB students from some of the best international schools in Singapore, for instance, to head to prestigious universities in the US, UK, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, China, Australia, Japan, France, and other countries to continue their education. Moreover, according to a 2018 survey, IB diplomas do offer students a competitive advantage. Compared to the general population, IB graduates are 18% more likely to get into Ivy League universities and 22% more likely to be admitted into top-ranked universities in the US.
So why are IB diploma holders held in good regard by top colleges and universities? Here are 4 reasons:
IB Students Are Highly Likely to Develop into Well-Rounded Individuals
While academics are a strong point for IB diploma holders, this doesn’t mean that these students did nothing but study while completing the program. Creativity, activity, and service are part of the core subjects of the IBDP, and students are required to hone their artistic and athletic capabilities as well as involve themselves in community activities while fulfilling their academic requirements. This can be a lot to handle, and students must be able to develop personal discipline and excellent time management skills to balance all their responsibilities. At the same time, being involved in these activities helps IB students develop in a holistic manner, acquire transferable and lifelong skills, and apply their academic interests to real-life situations. It’s entirely possible, then, for IB students to excel academically as well as contribute to the university’s community as athletes, artists, and leaders.
IB Students Recognize the Importance of an Interdisciplinary Approach to Real-life Issues
Graduates of IB programs are capable of pursuing specialist interests in their university years and profession, but they also have the broad perspective needed to thrive in generalist and leadership roles. Before they acquire their IBDP certificates, students are required to submit an extended essay, which is a 4,000-word paper that uses an interdisciplinary approach to discuss a current global issue. This major requirement gives students the opportunity to think deeply about complex problems and to integrate insights from multiple disciplines or communities to solve them. The ability to contextualize challenges and possible answers is useful for solving complicated academic and real-life problems in a creative manner.
IB Students Can Seamlessly Transition from the IB Diploma Program to University Life
There’s often a significant divide between one’s experiences in their final year in high school and their first year in university. Aside from the difference in academic requirements, students in their first year of college must also adjust to changes in their environment, social circles, and the level of support that they have access to. This isn’t exactly the case for IB diploma holders.
Under the IBDP, students start learning at a pace that is comparable to that of college students, and they have to pass an essay that requires deep research to complete the course. These can be big tasks for young people who are between 16 and 19 years of age, but being in high school, these students can still count on their teachers for guidance and direction. Completing the academic requirements of the IBDP, among the program’s other components, can help prepare high school students for the demand and pressure that come with pursuing a college education. Because they know what is expected of them and they have experiences in fulfilling similar requirements before, IBDP graduates are typically able to adjust quickly to the challenges of being university students.
IB Students Have a Global Mindset and a Deep Appreciation for Different Cultures
The IB programs are typically offered in international schools around the world, but the programs themselves have a goal of developing a global mindset in students. Classes under Individuals and Societies, a core academic component of the IBDP, provide students with an environment wherein they can gain a better appreciation of the different physical, social, cultural, and economic environments that people live in. At the same time, IB students are required to learn a second language. Gaining proficiency in a language other than their mother tongue helps students expand their worldview and exposes them to how people from other cultures think and communicate. This can offer IB students plenty of advantages in case they find themselves joining a university with an international student body or an organization that operates on a global scale.
Students who have completed the IB programs are adequately prepared to keep up with high academic standards once they start their tertiary education. More than that, though, the skills, capabilities, and perspectives that they have gained as a part of the IB programs will enable them to lead fulfilling, meaningful, and balanced lives in and out of their respective colleges and universities and become highly productive members of society. It’s no wonder, then, that colleges and universities around the world are eager to welcome these well-rounded and well-adjusted individuals to their student bodies.
