Chance Me- UNC, Wake Forest, NC State (2023)

RayManta
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 15:36:46 +0000

Good morning. So, I’m coming from the perspective of a father whose child is a junior in an IB diploma program and beginning her own college search.

First, congratulations on your GPA, which is an incredible accomplishment in IB. Which brings me to . . .
Second. Every school knows and recognizes that IB is the gold standard for rigor among HS programs. Other than the very, very top schools, they admit IB students at a higher rate than the general population–sometimes much higher. About ten years ago a study was done on this. The data seems to be self-reported and I don’t know anything about the background behind it. The results are incredibly difficult to find online but luckily I stumbled upon it. Go here: https://www.rjuhsd.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=13340&ViewID=7b97f7ed-8e5e-4120-848f-a8b4987d588f&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=16706&PageID=7234, click the link, and it is the middle document shown. It compares the general admissions rate for over 100 schools for the rate for IB students. Again, this data is ten years old, so the rates may be off some (especially for the top schools), but it reflects their preference (at least as it was ten years ago). You’ll see that you have a much better chance than you think you do.
Third, seems to me that the only blemish on your record is your math SAT score, which seems puzzling since you are in the math honor society and math club, so obviously have an interest in it. But since your intended major is a social science, it probably wouldn’t be a deal breaker. The key, from their perspective, is that through the IB program you’ve demonstrated you can do the work and keep up.

I think you’ll get into all of them. Again, don’t sell yourself short–IB is a HUGE feather, especially with a high GPA. We’re thinking about Wake as a backup school for my daughter, in fact, so I am in the process of learning more about that school, and will probably visit in the spring. Seems like it’s one of the top ten schools in the south and has a solid reputation. Good luck.