The Diploma
Program—
Demystified
Graduate with a
high school
diploma and an
IB diploma
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
$24,000
?
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.
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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
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.”
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.
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.”
The High School Diploma:
 220
credits
 350 or better on the CAHSEE
 College bound students: A-G
requirements
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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.
The IB Diploma meets all requirements for a high
school diploma. Fulfills all A-G requirements. What
else is required?
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IB Diploma
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)
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
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
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.”
Honors credits
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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?
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.
Use IB to your advantage
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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
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.”
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?
Additional benefit!
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
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.”
Find your rhythm.
Academics are important
Balance is important
Time for friends, family, and
fun is important
Learn to balance
your life!
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.
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.
Aleksander
Braksator:
Accepted at UCSD,
Harvy Mudd, and
Carnegie Mellon
“IB gave me lots of options
–the hard part? Choosing
where I want to go to
college.”
Put yourself in the position of
needing to choose where
you want to go to college
•
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2013 IB graduates
100% accepted at
multiple colleges
100% in charge of
their future!