The Diploma Program—Demystified Graduate with a high school diploma and an IB diploma

1. The Diploma Program—DemystifiedGraduate with a high school diploma and an IB diploma

2. Agenda • What is the Diploma Program? • How does it fit with the high school diploma? • Requirements of the IB Diploma • How does it meet the A-G requirements? • Honors credits? • Using the IB diploma program in your application essays • Meeting the P.R. college requirements: Rigor, Grades, Academic Curiosity • Go the distance

3. $24,000 • ?

4. What is this? • The average cost of a year at a four-year college or university. • This is the amount you could save by attaining an IB Diploma. • The UC system will award 30 units of credit for a score of 30 on the IB diploma—a year of college. • Other colleges and universities offer similar credit for IB scores

5. Austin Ha: “I will be attending University of Pennsylvania next fall. The IB Diploma Program gave me the opportunity to take the most rigorous classes in our district. I plan to take the study skills from IB and apply them to college. A college education should be a challenge and IB has helped prepare me to meet that challenge.”

6. IB Mission Statement: • The International Baccalaureate organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

7. Find your way to an International Baccalaureate diploma Graduate from high school with a high school diploma AND an IB diploma. Stephanie Oliveira: “I have been accepted at Manchester, and am hoping to hear from York. If I don’t go abroad, I will attend UCSB. IB opened the international doors for me.”

8. The High School Diploma: • 220 credits • 350 or better on the CAHSEE • College bound students: A-G requirements • English: 4 yr. • Math: 3 yr. • History: 2 yr. • Science: 2 yr. • Foreign Language: 2 yr. • Visual or Performing Arts: 1 yr. • College Prep Elective: 1 yr.

9. IB Diploma The IB Diploma meets all requirements for a high school diploma. Fulfills all A-G requirements. What else is required? • 24 points (min.) 45 possible points including TOK and EE • 6 exams (7 points each) 3 Higher Level, 3 Standard Level. Up to 2 SL exams may be taken in the junior year. All HL and the remaining SL will occur in the senior year. • Lang A: HL • Lang B: HL or SL • History: HL • Science: HL or SL • Math: HL or SL • Arts: SL IB Art Design; Drama HL or SL • 150 CAS hours (combined hours for junior/senior year) • TOK (Theory of Knowledge) • Extended Essay (EE and TOK up to 3 extra points)

10. Subject Requirements • Each subject requires an internal assessment (can be an oral, a paper, a project) • Each subject requires an external exam consisting of two, or three papers. • Art and drama require additional electronic uploads or submission of projects • TOK requires an electronic submission of a formal paper • EE (4,000 word essay) demonstrates intellectual curiosity • CAS hours (150) help provide balance

11. How much work can I expect? • Homework will vary by subject. Sometimes there will be an hour per subject and sometimes there will be nothing. Count on an average of two to four hours of work per night. • Learn time management. • Meet deadlines • Form study groups • Study habits learned in IB can result in success for college

12. Brianna Tramontano: “Between the rigor of the IB Diploma Program and the added bonus of taking IB Art Design, I have been accepted at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the architecture program. The hard work of IB has resulted in acceptance in the number two architecture program in the nation. This opportunity is an extension of what I was able to do in the diploma program.”

13. Honors credits • I want to be valedictorian. I want the highest GPA I can get. Will the IB diploma program allow me to take advanced classes for honors credits? • As an IB Diploma candidate you will take the most rigorous (weighted) classes offered. • The diploma program spans the years colleges look at. It is the 11th and 12th grade AP/IB tests that may result in college credit. • How much honors credit will colleges award?

14. Jessica Cao: IB has allowed me to take the most rigorous classes in our district. I am in the running for valedictorian. Next fall I will be attending Brown University. IB is about more than just the grade. CAS (creativity, action, and service ) hours have contributed to who I am and how I look to the universities.

15. Use IB to your advantage • You have spent countless hours working on your IB diploma—use it. • When writing your application essay, talk about your IB experience • Use it to show that you are a dedicated student actively pursuing your education • Use your extended essay (EE) experience to demonstrate your intellectual curiosity • Approach the university admission process positively—don’t whine about how much work you did—be excited about what you have learned

16. Angel Gonzalez: I was accepted at my “gold” school—Pace University in New York. The admissions officer told me the rigor of my courses and sticking to the program was what got me in. For me, IB made the difference. I didn’t have the highest GPA—but the fact that I persisted in taking the tough classes and pursuing my IB Diploma resulted in acceptance at the college of my choice.”

17. What are colleges looking for? 1. Rigor: According to Paul Kanerac of Princeton Review, colleges and universities want to see you taking the tough classes. Are you rising to the challenge? 2. Grades: Are you keeping your grades high? Scoring well on tests? SAT and ACT? 3. Academic (intellectual) Curiosity: Do you see school work as an academic challenge rather than a burden?

18. Additional benefit!

19. Academic Honesty • IB and colleges demand academic honesty • Cheating and Plagiarism are not tolerated at either level • Adherence to the Centennial IB Academic Honesty Policy is expected and enforced • Personal integrity is part of being principled

20. Cameron Khansarinia: Attending Harvard University next year. “I have to think that my participation in FBLA is one of the factors that resulted in me being accepted at Harvard. Between the rigor of the IB program and my dedication to our FBLA club here at Centennial, I was able to meet the entrance requirements for Harvard.”

21. Find your rhythm. Academics are important Balance is important Time for friends, family, and fun is important Learn to balance your life!

22. Go the Distance! • If you are doing well in the IB program, then finish with rigor and strength • Colleges value perseverance and dedication • Learn to meet deadlines • Become involved in something besides just academics—show commitment • Demonstrate personal responsibility for your education—your parents will not attend college with you • This is your future—take the high road.

23. Make it count! IB is not for every student, but it may be for you. Take a look at yourself, your goals and aspirations, and decide what you want to do with your education. It is up to you to move forward on the highest possible level. Take responsibility for your own achievement. Your success is dependent upon you.

24. AleksanderBraksator: Accepted at UCSD, HarvyMudd, and Carnegie Mellon “IB gave me lots of options –the hard part? Choosing where I want to go to college.”

25. Put yourself in the position of needing to choose where you want to go to college 2013 IB graduates 100% accepted at multiple colleges 100% in charge of their future!