Hey aska! 🙂
I am currently in a program called the IB. School is tremendously torturous not only for me, but for all of us, and it’s safe to say that most of us
feel like we aren’t even going to get in to university. I do have some questions for you though, so that hopefully I’ll feel less hopeless… first, do you know if the colleges (Vic, specifically) have any entrance requirements in terms of IB points? Secondly, I have heard rumours from graduates of the program that universities do tend to look for students that have weathered such a tough program, though they aren’t exactly allowed to openly state so on their websites. Is this true (it’s perfectly fine if you can’t answer!), and are we really given a slight advantage? I’m also extremely interested in taking up the Vic One program. How difficult is it to get in? And finally, are there, again, any entrance requirements in terms of IB points?
Thanks so much for your help, aska, and may you have a stellar day!
Sincerely,
IB nerd
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Hey IB nerd!
Yeah, I know what IB is. I’m pretty sure most people do. Likewise, they’re perfectly aware of just how gruelling it is. I for one did a bit of pre-IB and realized that masochism wasn’t my thing. Anyhow, there’s no need for that kind of negative thinking! And if it makes you feel better, plenty of non-IB students don’t think they’ll get into university either, so no need to freak out!
So let’s start with the points business. I can’t tell you anything about entry into Vic specifically, but I can tell you what basic admission into the Faculty of Arts and Science calls for! Basically, you’ll need a predicted score of 28 or higher for a provisional offer of admission. More competitive programs will require 30-35, but be aware that pretty much everything is competitive here. Next, that provisional decision will be based off of your midterms or predicted marks and your academic record thus far. According to the website, most successful applicants are in the the top third of their class.
As for these rumors… who knows? Naturally, that does sound like something universities wouldn’t outright post on the Internet, but I do suppose being part of IB does show off a devoted, hard-working side of a student. However, that’s only really worth anything if said student’s grades are good enough for the university. So I can’t really say if there’s an advantage or not — mostly because I don’t actually know — but I think it’s safe to say that like any other applicant, what matters are your grades, not what program you got them in.
Now Vic One… Ha. One of my best friends did that actually and I suppose that yes, it’s competitive. I won’t sugar coat that for you. Most College One programs are , but just take a look at the requirements for help! This may very well be a shining moment where your toiling through IB will definitely come in handy. For example, in the first section, you can probably sell yourself based on how much learned and grew as a result of IB.
Anyhow, everything that you’re looking for is really all over the UofT website, aside from that tidbit you had the sense to know wouldn’t be something the university would post online. If you’re still confused, take a look at the hyperlinks!
Good luck getting in!
aska