<p>Hi
I am a US Citizen, sophomore in a fully US accredited American School located in India (for expats) which ONLY provides IB. Since my parents are posted in India for the next 4 years, I have been attending this school and maintaining 96% avg grade till now. My questions:-</p>
<ul>
<li><p>While applying in good US colleges will it matter where I have appeared IB from?</p></li>
<li><p>While applying for scholarship will I be under "foreign" category even though I have a US Citizenship and studying in a fully US accredited American school?</p></li>
<li><p>If my school has limited HL courses, how should I make up for it?</p></li>
<li><p>Should I be doing anything different to prepare myself to target US Ivy league colleges if coming from American school outside US?</p></li>
<li><p>This American school is 25 years old with predominantly American teachers with 10-15 years experience, provides education somewhat like private school because we are only 15-20 in each class.
In qualifying for top colleges does it matter what type of school and the background of the school you are graduating from?</p></li>
</ul>
<p>As far as I know, here's what counts at the Ivies and other top colleges, no matter what high school you go to:</p>
<p>High Class rank
High GPA
High SAT/SAT2/ACT scores
ECs that show what you like and demonstrate passion and committment</p>
<p>Regarding IB, IB is a well recognized, international program with high, well recognized and regulated standards. Consequently, it makes no difference where you take the IB courses. A 7 in India will have the same worth as a 7 in the States. Ditto in regard to your grades and GPA.</p>
<p>As far as scholarships go, colleges will most likely recognize that you're a temporary ex-pat, and treat you as an American for scholarship purposes...but you should double check this with the schools you apply to.</p>
<p>If your school has limited HL courses, especially in areas of interest to you, you might want to seek out opportunities to study or work in those areas outside of school. Adds to your ECs, shows interest and initiative, and perhaps could get you leadership positions/awards etc., all things that look good on college apps.</p>
<p>I agree. I do the IBs here and would have liked to have done a couple of courses (Economics for example) that weren't available here. Still, IB is extremely highly regarded and gives you the chance to explore various interests even not doing those subjects (I have good chunks of Economics dealt with in Geography for example)</p>
<p>amptron2x Thanks a lot for such a precise and to the point answer. Now it makes lot of sense.</p>
<p>If anyone has anymore information on position of IB in qualifying for good US college would appreciate your comments.</p>
<p>From my academic history it seems that I have been getting consistently higher grades for science and math related subjects so the thought of going for medicine might turn out to be my preference, then will see....</p>
<p>I have already seen on 2 sites, Stanford University and the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill that they give credits for students with the IB diploma above a certain grade for some subjects</p>