| Athletics/ECs and IB
At S x 2 high school, IB students run the board from athletics to student council to service club leadership to academic team championships to theater, music, and art mastery to even ROTC leadership. This is true even though IB students comprise only about 25% of the total student population. In the past few years there were several IB students on state champion athletic teams, including football, soccer (mens and womens), and golf. They are cheerleaders and colorguard members. IB students star in the school plays, win ITS state level awards for writing, directing, acting and costume design. The regional art awards go to IB students. IB students start their own businesses, work at the grocery store, surf and ski, go to movies and play video games. They even are members of rock bands.
No time. No ECs. No way. Those who say this are lacking facts. The CAS requirement urges the IB student on the path to varied activities.
Colleges know these are the characteristics of an IB students and they like it. Colleges want students who will contribute to the university community, IB students do this at their high schools as part of the program and go beyond the requirements. This is why college admissions officers like IB students. These students have enhanced their high schools and are very likely to enhance their colleges as well.
Whether IB is "preferred" for admissions purposes, I can't answer. And as others have said, the college admissions officers do not answer that question either. But they will tell you the kind of student they want at their institution and when you listen to the description, it matches that of an IB student. |