INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)

Frequently asked questions (FAQ).

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Can any student enroll in an IB program?

• All 9th and 10th Graders are automatically enrolled in the IB Middle Years Program. 

• City College believes in a fair and equitable access to rigorous programs for all, so students may select IB Diploma Program courses when they complete their course selections beginning in December and into the spring. 

• The IB Diploma Program Coordinator will meet with sophomores and parents to share information about the program. In addition, the 10th Grade Counselor will also share information about the IB Diploma Program during course selections beginning in December and into the spring. 

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I am an IB student. Who do I turn to with questions about the programs?

• See Mrs. Sarah Jeanblanc, the Middle Years Program (MYP) Coordinator in the library for 9th and 10th Grade Questions, including the Personal Project.

• See Ms. Ndaneh Smart-Smith, the Diploma Program (DP) Coordinator in the IB Office, Room 102 for 11th and 12th Questions and any Creativity, Activity and Service Questions.  

• See Mrs. Jennifer Berg Gaither, the Librarian in the Joseph C. Meyerhoff Library on the 2nd Floor for any Extended Essay Questions.

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What does it mean to be “Full IB?” 

• Full IB at City College means that all of your classes in 11th and 12th Grade will be IB Diploma Level (DP) Courses. In 11th Grade, you will be in level 1 of the course (e.g., IB Math Analysis I) and in 12th Grade, you will be in level 2 of the same course (e.g., IB Math Analysis II). This means that you will be enrolled for 2 years in the Diploma Courses and do well to qualify for IB credit. In many cases, students who are full IB and do well over the two years and on the IB Exams can receive college credit as well as Merit Scholarship money. In addition, full IB Candidates will take the Theory of Knowledge Course, Complete the Extended Essay and the Creativity, Activity and Service Experience Hours.

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Can I transfer from one IB World School to another?

• Yes, in most cases, speak with either Mrs. Jeanblanc or Ms. Smart-Smith to discuss your personal circumstances.  

 

Is the Diploma Program curriculum the same all over the world?

• The core requirements are the same but there is room for flexibility. The courses offered by one school may differ somewhat from those of another school.  Visit https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/ to learn more about the diploma program or speak to the coordinator about the specific courses/pathways offered at City College.

 

How successful are IB students in applying to university?

• Recipients of the IB Diploma enjoy a high rate of acceptance at leading universities. 

• Baltimore City College IB Full Diploma Graduates attend selective and highly selective colleges and universities such as College of William and Mary, College of Wooster, Duke University,   Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts, Georgetown University, Haverford College, Ithaca College, Johns Hopkins University, The George Washington University, Tufts University, University of Maryland College Park, University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh, University of Chicago, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, Villanova University, Washington University in St. Louis. 

• In addition, some universities offer scholarships to IB graduates because of the rigor of IB courses. Locally, Towson University and the University of Baltimore will grant students 30+ credits for earning the IB Diploma as well as sophomore standing.

 

Can I take individual Diploma Program (DP)courses?

• Yes, at Baltimore City College, students may take individual Diploma Program Courses (usually one to five courses) junior and senior year and will earn an IB Diploma Course Certificate for individual courses taken, noting the courses they took and the marks they earned.  

• Students who take all DP Courses both years, complete all requirements and are successful, will earn the IB Diploma.  

 

How many examinations do Diploma Program students take, and when do they take them?

• Diploma Program students generally take six examinations, including one literature course taught in the student’s native language, one foreign language, one social science, one experimental science, one mathematics and one arts course. 

• The arts course can be replaced by a second social science, a second experimental science, or a third language. 

• Students take their examinations at the end of the two-year Diploma Program. Students may also take up to two of their examinations at the end of the first year of the Diploma Program depending on their coursework.

 

Where can I find a list of universities that accept the IB Diploma?

• IBO publishes an IB recognition policy on the country pages of the International Baccalaureate website: https://www.ibo.org/university-admission/recognition-of-the-ib-diploma-by-countries-and-universities/. Many other universities also accept the IB diploma but do not publish a recognition policy—you should contact those schools directly. 

 

Where can I find a schedule of Diploma Program examinations?

• Baltimore City College posts the exam schedule during the last two weeks of April each year.  The latest examination schedules are posted on the Information for students web page at https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/assessment-and-exams/exam-schedule/. 

 

When are examination results made available?

• Examination results are sent out on July 6 for the May session. Students may also obtain their results online by clicking https://candidates.ibo.org/ and enter the login credentials they received at senior check out from the IB Diploma Program Coordinator.

 

As an IB graduate, how do I arrange to send a transcript of my grades to a university or graduate school?

• The diploma program coordinator at City College will submit students' college/university of choice to IBO before July 1st so that transcripts may be sent after scores are released.

• Once results have been released in early July, graduates will then have to request for results to be sent to their college/university using this link:  http://rrs.ibo.org.​

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Please contact the IB Program Coordinators for further information.

 

Sarah Jeanblanc, Middle Years Program Coordinator (410) 396-6557

 

Ndaneh Smart-Smith, Diploma Program Coordinator (410) 396-6557