Destination USA

Of the roughly 100 students who graduated with the International Baccalaureate Diploma in 2012 most applied to UK universites but some did choose to continue their studies in universities and colleges in the United States. Of those who chose US universities it is pleasing that 5 out of the 8 students gained entry to their first choice institution.

The universities are listed below along with their position in US universities league table:

• 2 to Pennsylvania State University, both to do engineering (for which Pennsylvania State is ranked #16)
• 1 to New York University (ranked #32 in National Universities)
• 1 to Northeastern University in Boston (ranked #56 although this student was invited to join their prestigious and much more competitive Honors Program)
• 1 to University of Richmond (ranked as a Liberal Arts College, #28)
• 1 to Barnard College, part of Columbia University in New York (ranked as a Liberal Arts College, also ranked #28)
• 1 to Xavier University in Ohio
• 1 to Parsons the New School For Design (in New York)

Catarina Koch, who graduated in 2010 with 45 points, took up a place at Cornell University (after a gap year) in 2011. At the end of her first year she transferred to Columbia University in New York, which is ranked #4 in the U.S. National Universities ranking by U.S. News and World Report. Columbia had been Catarina's original first choice so it was pleasing to see that her persistence, superb performance on the IB and the strong academic year at Cornell which the IB had well prepared her for paid off.

Paul Sinclair, US Universities Education Advisor

October