Samuel Clemens International Baccalaureate

1. Samuel Clemens International Baccalaureate Excerpts from comments by Clemens IB Alumni about how the program helped them

2. Between IB and AP credits (my IB diploma plus a few extra AP exams), I ended up with 36 credit hours. I'm finishing a 5-year music performance degree plus a minor in biology and prerequisites to PA (Physician Assistant) school in 4.5 yrs. Go IB! Kelsey M

3. IB is what schooling should be about: learning for the sake of knowledge. I participated in IB because I wanted a challenge, but that isn’t even half of what I received from the program. It changed the direction of my life in ways I could not even begin to understand at the time. . . Learning the history of Latin America from a global perspective… Learning literature by reading vibrant contemporary and modern authors… Truly learning mathematics, rather than exclusively learning the mathematics that shows up on [standardized tests].  So maybe I got a little less college credit than I would have from AP (though that didn’t give me too terribly much either). I would recommend IB to anyone with any desire whatsoever to gain a better understanding of the world and become a better citizen of the world…perhaps because of IB, I became an English and Spanish major, and now I have dreams like teaching English in Chile, writing a novel, and joining the Foreign Service or the State Department. Yes, IB is a challenge; it is not for everyone. But if you want a challenge—if you even think there is the smallest possibility that you could succeed in IB—do it. You won’t regret it. --David G. (David G. was graduated from Millsaps College Valedictorian, winner of the Founders’ Medal, numerous writing and scholarly awards, fellowship, and honors. He obtained dual English and Spanish degrees with a minor in Latin American Studies, and is currently in his first year of teaching foreign language at Tallulah Falls College Preparatory in Georgia).

4. IBhas done so much for me! I recently graduated from UT, and because of IB credits I received, I was able to complete a 5 year education certification program in 4 years! I will be teaching … in the fall. I can't wait to use things I learned in my IB classes with my new students. The IB program instilled in me a love of learning that I will carry with me throughout my career as an educator. Katie F

5. IB greatly helped me improve my essay writing skills, study habits, and time management. First year of college was a breeze! It only started becoming hard this past semester. As for my life, I am studying International Security Studies at the University of Oklahoma. This summer I am interning with Exodus Refugee Immigration and helping refugees, mainly from Burma, resettle into the Indianapolis area. So far my college experience has been great!Hillary M.

6. I'm about to start my junior year in mechanical engineering. IB gave me some blank credits, but didn't get me out of any classes. IB did really help my writing skills, time management, and study skills though. And I'm currently in Los Angeles interning for an engineering firm that designs, tests, and manufactures systems for military aircraft. Austin C.

7. I got 32 hours of credits so will be starting as a sophomore at UT in the fall :) The IB diploma was definitely worth the work! Anna Maria H.

8. The IB program, even though I only got it in the guinea pig stage, was incredibly helpful in getting me on the road to success, actually being taught to /think/ about problems as opposed to giving the answer the test makers want was probably the most important thing that I took out of my experience. I am now a graduate student at Notre Dame University, getting my PhD in Computer Science. Ryan M.

9. I just did certificate IB (everything except the language– I just really wanted to take French and it wasn't offered under IB). I'm at the Air Force Academy along with Mara and Victoria and Dan; I did get out of freshmen English and tested higher into some language classes, but otherwise it's pretty difficult to get credits here. IB has helped me out A TON writing papers, getting the job done even though I still procrastinate, and knowing how to study (which kicks a lot of people's butts in college, I'm pretty sure). I'm a Foreign Area Studies- Africa major and (hopefully) a French and Arabic double minor. IB also helped me realize my strengths and weaknesses so I'm able to prioritize what and how much I need to study. IB definitely paid off (by getting me into a nice college and preparing me well)! Kaley S

10. I think it would be safe to say my college experience thus far would be drastically different if I hadn't taken IB. To begin with, Texas Tech awarded me 28 credit hours for the classes I took with IB, and I will be taking junior level courses this coming fall, the beginning of my second year. Second, Tech also gave me an additional $1000 a year scholarship for simply being in IB. Finally, the preparation IB gave me for higher education can not be over-estimated. None of my [college] classes have been challenging, and writing a 1500 word essay comes as second nature. Really, without IB, I'd doubt I'd be where I am today. Jack D.

11. In college , on the first day of government class…the professor spent a half an hour explaining the mechanics of writing well…for our two ten-paged (double spaced) papers... I am actually excited about these papers…but the rest of the students were terrified, and kept asking the most ridiculous questions (despite the fact that the professor had included a writing guide in the syllabus...). I have little to worry about with regards to workload, because all of my class work and homework pale in comparison to any IB assignment ever. Cindy T.

12. Even though I will only receive about twelve hours of college credit which will actually be useful for my degree in Criminology, I am extremely glad to have participated in the IB program, and, faced with the choice, would definitely do it again. Although I will be the first to admit that I never thought I would say this, IB prepares students extremely well for college, and said preparation is definitely worth the two years of blood, sweat and tears during high school. Cyndi T.

13. I achieved the IB Diploma and went to the Air Force Academy. All the work I had put in over 2 years in high school validated freshman 111 (essay writing) class for me and I tested into a pretty high Spanish class (I skipped 3 classes and was put into a 200 level class as a freshman). As an added bonus, IB during high school made me manage my time far earlier than most students are forced to and as a result I've done pretty well academically. While here, I elected to take on an extra class as a sophomore to become a certified EMT-Basic and now I’m the head of scheduling for the EMT Team. I was also accepted to USAFA's scholar’s program halfway through my freshman year, meaning that I will complete 10 scholars classes before I graduate (currently I've finished 5). . . The scholars program also gave me the opportunity to travel to New York as a sophomore and interview members of the United Nations for a presentation of our research at an honors conference in New Mexico this past April and another in Minnesota in September. IBallowed me the depth to focus on this research while attending a normal 18 credit class load and without the essay-writing experience the IB classes gave me, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with all the reading and prep needed for my classes. I am a biology major and a Spanish minor with a pre-med focus. I’m in the top 100 students of my 1000 member class. Mara O.

14. I am about to enter into my junior year at TLU as a Chemistry/Physics double major. IB did help me with my time management, study habits, and writing skills. I seem to have a better time writing papers for my classes than almost all of my peers. After going through the IB program, my first year in college seemed super simple. This summer and last summer I participated chemistry research at TLU. And, this coming fall I will be a supplemental instructor (almost like a TA) for general chemistry. Sandra R.

15. I recently graduated from TLU with a bachelor's degree in dramatic media (that's fancy talk for theatre) and theology. I'm hoping to work at a church in the area children's, youth, and family ministry.When I started college I felt like being in IB really prepared me. I felt confident writing and giving presentations because I did them so much in high school. When I had to write my first major term paper, I thought, "I wrote 4,000 words for an extended essay... I can write this paper easily!" Victoria H.

16. IBhas made writing college papers so much easier! I'm so glad I took advantage of IB English. I actually think my IB classes were more challenging than some of my college courses. I cannot praise my former teachers enough. I also got college credit for English Composition. Donna D.