Cambridge and the International Baccalaureate

I look back at IB with generally dreadful memories.

So a few facts first
- Canadian IB school
- applied to top universities in the States
- had predicted 39 (5, 5, 7 on HLs)
- rejected from pretty much all the Ivies, got into Berkeley
- actual IB score: 42 (6, 6, 7 on HLs)
- unable to go to Berkeley because parents refused to pay for it
- now going to UBC

If my teachers predicted me accurately, I might've had a shot at the Ivies or even had the guts to apply to Cambridge and Oxford for law. Some people at my school bagged for for higher predicteds from their teachers to get into Ivies, but ended up getting low 30s (Ivies didn't care about final mark). It's a shtty system. I was a way better student before starting IB ... and now whenever I study, I'm overshadowed by the thought that "whatever... marks don't matter... look how hard I studied for IB exams but in the end it was money and bad luck that decided my fate".

I wouldn't be so sure about them loving the IB. A friend of mine with an offer for NatSci has ended up doing (on top of his IB) the 3 maths A-levels as well; Cambridge don't like IB Maths, at least (though to be fair he only needs two As - the third is so he can mix and match his modules to make sure he gets As). His IB offer is 14 - 7 7 in Chemistry and Physics. He still needs to concentrate on everything, though, in case he doesn't make his offer somehow.

I've heard that Cambridge/Oxford love the IB - can anyone vouch for this?

Do any other colleges in London (UCL, Kings, St George's etc.) love IB Students?

For those that have studied the IB, anything you recommend studying in extra depth to give yourself a better chance to get in (in particular, Medicine)??

They don't love it or hate it- although I've heard one college's admissions tutor does and so my headmaster kept warning us off it. To be honest, it's a lot harder to meet the offer because of the sodding system (or at least it feels that way) but in reality it's no advantage/disadvantage.

I emailed the dampt department back in february(even if i'm applying for engineering) and the reply I got was that "Cambridge has alot of experience with the IB", suggesting that they should know by now how hard it's viewed by many students, so I wouldn't worry about an IB offer being "harder to meet" since they must know what they are talking about.

Does anyone know what is the typical ib offer for biology in oxbridge?

I've heard that Cambridge/Oxford love the IB - can anyone vouch for this?

Do any other colleges in London (UCL, Kings, St George's etc.) love IB Students?

For those that have studied the IB, anything you recommend studying in extra depth to give yourself a better chance to get in (in particular, Medicine)??

I got an offer from Cambridge this year for medicine, with 7 7 6 and 40 total in bio, chem and maths. But the offers vary from college to college, so it's not a definite. Most of the time I've seen 776 with 40~42 in total. I'd say that biology HL isn't essential, but maths and especially chemistry probably are. In the end I think you should just take the most challenging courses you can find, yet be sure that you will enjoy them at the same time. Good luck

(45 lol)

Sorry to interrupt the thread a little but I just wanted to express my amazement that Cambridge would make an offer of 40 for Medicine when my Music offer was 42! I also was offered 7,7,6 but it's a little absurd I think. I'm not complaining at all, I think it's good that the music course is academically rigorous and competitive but it's just surprising. I thought it was because of my high prediction (45 lol) but yours is 44 so maybe I was wrong. Then again each college to their own I guess ...

haha yes I agree! I was quite surprised at this offer actually. But then my school's an all-girl college, so my theory is that it's because they're desperate for people :P

not true- my offer from newnham was 42 points with 777 (bio, chem and maths HLs).

not true- my offer from newnham was 42 points with 777 (bio, chem and maths HLs).

...and

That's incredible! What subjects do you take?

English French Music HL, Maths Biology Eonomics SL. I got 43 by the way (southern hemisphere sits in November 09 not May 10).

And I'm so sorry to the poster with the 777 offer that is insane. You may find if you get a score like mine though, 43 with 776, that they may be slightly lenient as you beat the main offer mark. Then again it depends where the 6 works out. I know of some extremely smart people who did Maths Bio Chem HL and none of them got 7s in all of them (the most common downfall being Maths then Biology).