Did you know that IB diploma holders have an 18 per cent higher chance than their peers of getting into an Ivy League school and a 22 per cent higher chance of being accepted in a top-ranked university?

Thinking about the future is obviously one of the most important considerations when choosing an educational path. Some programmes and curricula have been known to deliver better results, hence unlocking a wider range of opportunities.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is one such programme.

Holders of an IB diploma have various options as far as university admission is concerned. If you’re wondering about the relevance and importance of the programme for a child’s future, the following guide will outline some important details and the reasons why the British School of Sofia makes the IB curriculum available to our students.

What Is an IB Diploma?

The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is an assessed programme for students aged 16 to 19.

The programme focuses on holistic, comprehensive learning. It aims to develop important skills alongside academic competencies. That’s why the IB curriculum consists of:

• Studies in language and literature
• Sciences
• Arts
• Individuals and societies subjects like business management, economics, geography, history, philosophy, psychology, etc.
• The DP core that encompasses:
  • Creativity, activity, service (CAS)
  • The extended essay
  • Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

Over the course of their two programme years, students choose six subjects to focus on – three at a higher level and three at a standard level. For each subject, students receive a grade in the range from one to seven. Additionally, theory of knowledge and the extended essay can add three points to the student’s overall grade. To get their IB diploma, students need at least 24 points and the achievable maximum is 45 points.

When it comes to university admissions, each higher education institution has its requirements both in terms of the grade and the subjects that students have chosen. Someone who intends to study medicine at university, for example, will have to pick a different range of subjects from someone who plans to become a journalist, for example.

Through this comprehensive curriculum and the various elements that the programme encompasses, students acquire an array of important skills like:

• Research skills
• Critical thinking
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving
• Self-management and time management
• Social skills and collaboration

The Benefits of IB: Getting Ready for College Admission

The IB programme and the IB diploma are globally recognised, creating lucrative higher education opportunities for students.

What’s even more important is that some IB students benefit from the opportunity to earn college credits before they’ve even enrolled in a university. Some of the learning that occurs in school as a part of the IB programme could be considered the equivalent of university entry-level courses (depending on the curriculum of the respective university and the requirements for the successful completion of a course).

The benefits of the IB diploma in connection to college admissions can be summed up as follows:

• Excellent academic preparation
• The acquisition of real-world skills
• Developing some familiarity with university curricula before actual enrolment
• Opportunities for enrolment in some of the world’s best universities (especially with a good IB diploma score)
• Preparing students for the rigour of university studies
• Making the assessment of university applicants easier through a singular unified curriculum that all students go through, regardless of location of school specifics 

How Prestigious Universities View the IB Diploma

For many prestigious universities, the IB diploma is an indicator of academic excellence, which is why it’s known to have a notable effect on admission processes and criteria. 

This is the main reason why IB score requirements already exist and are in effect across the world. Oxford, for example, has a minimum requirement of 38 to 40 points, depending on the chosen major and course of study. 

It’s also important to recognize the additional advantage that a good IB score provides.

High IB scores can translate to university credit. This means that top performers can skip some entry-level courses during their first year and still get the respective credit.

We recommend checking with a university of interest when it comes to IB score requirements and the additional benefits that a student may enjoy if their school diploma is impressive enough. The IB programme’s focus on substantial research is recognised, which is why anyone interested in a competitive school should opt for academic excellence during their final years at school.

IB and Studying Abroad

Anyone who is interested in international learning opportunities is probably wondering about the impact of the IB diploma on the enrolment process.

Applying internationally can be puzzling because of differences in programmes and academic evaluation criteria.

Having an IB diploma simplifies those issues. It’s standardised and accepted in countries across the world. Holding an IB diploma also enables students to apply to universities without the need to partake in additional exams.

SAT is one example of a standardised exam that students may have to take, especially when applying to American universities.

The good news is that some higher academic institutions have started accepting an IB diploma as a substitute for the previously required standardised test scores.

Yale is one example of a school that previously demanded SAT but has now started accepting IB results as a replacement. New York University is another example of a school that has adopted a flexible enrolment model. Students have the freedom to sit standardised exams like SAT or they could submit their IB score instead, 

Once again, checking what a specific university’s requirements are will be vital to ensure competitive advantage during the application process. In many instances, having a good IB prediction will be sufficient. In other cases, standardised test scores may be required on top of the IB diploma for international admission. 

The good news is that formerly rigid processes have started changing. The prominence of the IB diploma will probably continue growing in the years to come, ensuring more flexibility during the international university application process. 

How an Individual IB Score Affects University Prospects in the Future

Elite universities in Europe, the US, and other parts of the world already have requirements for individual IB scores.

In some instances, these score requirements are non-negotiable and have to be met for enrolment to occur. In other instances, they are not mandatory but significantly increase a candidate’s chance of getting noticed during the admissions process. 

The IB diploma benefits become increasingly noticeable with a score that surpasses at least 35 to 38 points.

An Ivy League school in the US will require at least 40 points for admission. Universities like Princeton may have even stricter requirements (at the time of writing, the minimum IB score required for admission is 42).

Other prestigious academic institutions in America will consider candidates who have achieved at least 35 points on their IB diploma. 

Most UK universities will require scores in the mid-30s to consider candidates, as well. Some more competitive programmes will ask for higher scores. University College London, for example, has a requirement of at least 38 points with 18 of those at Higher Level (a candidate should also have at least a 6 in Higher Level English).

For other European universities, the IB entry requirements are as follows:

• University of Copenhagen: At least 30 points
• University of Amsterdam: 36 points
• ETH Zurich: 38 points
• Universite PSL, France: 33 points
• Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland: 38 points
• Trinity College, Dublin: requirements vary by course and are in the 28 to 40 points range
• Paris Sorbonne University: 33 points 
• Scholarships and Financial Aid Opportunities

The IB programme’s rigorous academic standards often give college applicants competitive advantage when exploring scholarships and financial aid opportunities.

This is especially true for the students who achieve excellent results and complete the programme with an outstanding IB diploma score.

Some research suggests that IB graduates have access to a wider array of scholarships than their peers. They also tend to have a higher success rate when applying for such limited opportunities.

A couple of scholarship programmes particularly targeting IB graduates are also available and such funding options can’t be accessed by holders of other school diplomas. Here’s one example of such a scholarship programme.

More information about the scholarships that IB graduates can apply and qualify for is available in this guide.

Studies and Evidence

All this may sound amazing but is there any evidence that proves the fact IB students enjoy excellent opportunities in comparison to their peers when it comes to university acceptance?

While the topic hasn’t warranted volumes of research yet, reputable studies exist and they support the importance of the IB diploma, especially when a student achieves top grades during their last years at school.

One of the most convincing pieces of research about the IB diploma programme and university admission was published by the International Insight Research Group. The study looked at university admission rates for more than 4,000 students.

The researchers found out that IB diploma holders had an Ivy League university acceptance rate that was 18 per cent higher than the total population acceptance rate. The gap increased when considering top universities outside the Ivy League – 22 percent.

There’s a reason why the performance of IB diploma holders is superior to that of the general candidate population.

An Educational Policy Improvement Center (EPIC) study shows that IB students have the knowledge and the skills needed for success during their first year of university study. To reach the conclusion, EPIC aligned the Knowledge and Skills for University Success (a standardised set) with the standards of the IBDP programme.

Indirect Ways in Which the IB Programme Affects College Admissions

The IB diploma benefits span beyond the academic knowledge and the rigorous workload that students have to handle during their final school years.

Universities recognise a few indirect advantages that are related to the IB curriculum and the manner in which the students complete projects in order to get their diploma.

To complete their studies, IB diploma candidates need to engage in various extracurricular activities. These are incredibly beneficial when it comes to creating responsible individuals, building communication skills, and sharpening problem-solving abilities.

Through the completion of the IB diploma programme, students also acquire emotional intelligence, independence, and excellent time management skills. Anyone who has gone to university recognises the importance of those and the reasons why students who already have such skills are cherished.

The British School of Sofia Experience: Where Our Alumni Are Today             

Now that you know what is an IB diploma and what its impact on university admissions is, let’s take a closer look at how British School of Sofia students perform once their IB2 year is completed.

If you take a look at the top graduates section of our website, you’ll see how an outstanding IB diploma translates into excellent higher education opportunities. Our best graduates have gone on to obtain degrees from reputable universities like Charles University, Bocconi University, the University of Amsterdam, Warwick Business School, the University of Manchester, and Concordia University.

A number of them also continue to obtain a master’s degree after the completion of their undergraduate programme. You can find some of the most inspiring alumni stories in the respective section of our website.

Final Verdict: An IB Diploma Creates Higher Education Opportunities

Choosing a school that makes the IB diploma programme available is a smart decision because of the numerous direct and indirect benefits.

Not only will students enjoy better higher education opportunities, they’ll also acquire essential skills that span beyond the academic and last a lifetime.

IBDP gets young people to think, establish logical connections, get creative, and sharpen their critical thinking skills. All of these assets are invaluable, and they help shape confident, knowledgeable, and ambitious individuals.

Enhanced university admission options are the cherry on top. Many universities across the world already recognise the extensive knowledge that students acquire in their final school years. That’s why admission could be easier. It’s also possible for students to skip some of the introductory courses at university because the IB curriculum has already covered those subjects.

If you’re considering IBDP and you want to choose a school with well-established traditions in academic excellence, consider the British School of Sofia. Take a look at this guide for more information about our curriculum and learn about our educational philosophy here.

Don’t hesitate getting in touch if you’d like to apply or you’d like to have your questions about the British School of Sofia answered.