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Resources for Universities and Applicants

Tips for IB World Schools: The Importance of School Profiles and Transcripts


By Sandra Wade Pauly, University and Government Liaison, IB North America

 

The importance of your high school profile and high school transcript.

Can a university easily identify your IB students? Have you found a way to enhance visibility for IB Diploma candidates by supporting their college applications? From discussions with admissions professionals, IB North America has learned that there are two key documents at the Counselor's disposal that will increase visibility for IB students: the school profile and the school transcript. IB North America urges you to revisit your school profile and transcript so that you can optimize your communication with universities and colleges. Here are some suggestions you might find helpful:

  • Develop a school profile that presents your school's performance history in general and its IB history, in particular. Think about including the number of IB students, the percentage of students in the programme by grade level; the percentage of Diploma candidates; the percentage of IB Diplomas earned; the distribution of grades earned on IB exams, by subject each year, etc.
  • Keep details of your examination results, by exam session. Good models of some key data fields can be found in the Examination Review and Data Summary: A Profile of Diploma Programme Test Takers that appears following each May examination session.
  • Consider listing all the courses offered in the high school, by year, clearly identifying each IB course as distinct from other offerings.
  • Consider providing data on where your students go after graduation: % that attend four-year institutions, two-year institutions, enter the military, take a year off, etc.
  • Find a way to identify students as Diploma candidates on your transcript. This is especially important if your school sends transcripts electronically, because your student's transition from high school to university can be easily tracked. Over time, this can provide valuable information to both your school and the university.
  • Keep historical data on your students and the kinds of offers, acceptances and rejections they receive from colleges. Over time you can evaluate the impact of your curriculum.

There are clearly other things to consider in preparing a school profile and a transcript. You may find some other ideas under High School Profile here. Professional counselor associations should also have information in these areas. Take time to discover the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) and American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO).

It is hoped that your counseling section will accept the challenge to revisit these documents in order to present the excellence of your high school more effectively to your community and to universities that seek your students.