写给IB学子的话——如何选择属于你的完美大学
你高中的最后一年被分为两个不同的时期：申请大学的时间以及等待回复的时间。对未来的期待是明亮而又令人兴奋的，但是申请和做决定的时间很快就会幻化成你精美的个人介绍、各种访谈，以及校园之旅。
Jasmine Jackson-Irwin是Parkland Magnet高中的一位IB文凭的收集人。
她指出：“当你在进行高年级的课程时，学校给予你的学习任务以及大学的申请肯定会给你造成压力，但是请记住，在所有这些压力的最后，你会发现自己拥有一个不可思议的新机会：你将去到一个可以享受学术、社交，以及个人生活的地方。
尽管申请大学的过程看似有点疯狂，这个过程让你充满压力，但这也是一个让你自我反省、考虑未来之路的一个绝佳的机会。当你开始着手考虑申请大学的事宜之时，思考这四个主题能确保你为将来的四年找到一个合适的家。
1.学术水平
大学，当然是建立在你原有的学术基础之上。当你开始评价学校，试考虑他们和你所受到的IB教育最契合的部分：环境科学和生物？音乐和理论？美洲历史和物理学？花点时间去思考哪些课程和学校不仅能反映你目前的兴趣，而且还有益于你成长的部分。大学是探索新学科的最佳机会——你要尽可能地把事情想得简单点。
2.社交生活
IB，特别是高中文凭课程，是出了名严苛的课程。然而，许多学生和老师却通过这一课程建立了巨大的社会意识。对于许多人来说，离开高中严密的框架进入一个更大的大学系统是令人望而生畏的。当你挑选大学的时候，这个学校的社会环境对于你来说也是很重要的，要纳入考虑范围之内。就像课外活动丰富你的高中生活那样，试查看大学学生会组织的某次旅行，或者上网查阅一下该校学生组织的名单，你会在赛前热身的时候为人所知，还是会成为某个体育比赛的精神领袖呢？
考察一下这所学校令人兴奋的运动项目以及活跃的学生粉丝社团吧，学习当然是排首位，但在大学里一个积极且多样化的社交生活能帮助你管理压力以及建立终身友谊。
3.专业发展
虽然大学的存在是为了扩大你的学术视角，从学术的角度来看，从大学生过渡到一个成功的职业生涯或者是一流的研究生课程是大部分学生在大学毕业之后将要走的下一步。当你开始评估一个高校时，不妨同时考虑他们的就业率或者是毕业几年后的研究生录取率。许多高校也开始提供职业服务，为本科学生和研究生提供一些实习或者是长期社会服务的机会。正因为你不知道自己将来的职业路径会怎样，能够确保自己进入一个愿意投资你未来的高校环境就显得至关重要了。
4.影响
学生行动主义和公共服务是大学生活的基石。纵观历史，高校推动了社会发展、创新组织、慈善事业的发展。对于许多IB学生来说，高校的环境允许同学们在完成社会实践活动（CAS projects）的基础上进一步扩大他们的服务范围。如果为当地的慈善机构组织筹款或者为社区的非营利组织做志愿服务使你兴奋，那么你便可以寻求与当地和全球有影响工作深入联系的院校。
许多大学都有致力于社会服务工作的学生组织，甚至是有利于大学生态系统的工作机会。同样的，一些新的就职途径，比如一些社会企业以及非营利的组织机构也可以提供机会给你，让你把对社会服务的兴趣变成丰盛的、卓有成效的职业生涯。好好考虑你的选择，并且记住，创意、活动和服务时我们所有IB学生的核心。”
原英文版
If you are like me, your last year of high school will be divided into two distinct periods: the time leading up to university and college applications, and the time spent waiting to hear back. The anticipation of the future looms bright and exciting, but the application and decision making process can quickly devolve into a whirlwind of glossy brochures, informational interviews, and all too similar campus tours.
Jasmine Jackson-Irwin is a recipient of the IB Diploma from Parkland Magnet High School.
As you continue your senior year, the combination of regular school responsibilities and the university or college application process will almost certainly cause stress. Just remember, however, that at the end of all that stress, you will find yourself with an incredible new opportunity: a place where you find an academic, social, and personal home.
Despite the seeming craziness of applying to universities, the process affords students, like you, an unparalleled opportunity for self-reflection and consideration of your future path. While you are waiting for a reply, begin to think about these four themes to ensure you find that right fit for your future 4-year home.
1. Academics
College, of course, exists to further the academic foundation you have spent years already building. As you begin evaluating schools, consider the elements of your IB education that resonated most: environmental science and biology? Music and theory? History of the Americas and psychology? Take time to consider programs and schools that not only reflect your current interests, but areas for potential growth. College is one of the greatest opportunities to explore new subjects — take that underwater basket weaving class while you can!
2. Social life
IB, particularly the Diploma Program, is known for its academic rigour. What many discount, however, is the immense sense of community established amongst students and teachers throughout the program. For many it can seem daunting to leave the tight-knit framework of high school for a much larger college ecosystem. In picking a college, take into consideration the social elements of school that are important to you. Check out the Student Union on a tour, or a list of student organizations online, if extracurriculars dotted your high school experience. Were you known for leading pep rallies or the spirit section at sporting matches? Consider a school with exciting athletic programs and active student fan groups. Academics should take priority, but an active and varied social life in college can help manage stress and build lifelong friendships.
3. Professional development
While college exists to expand your mind from an academic perspective, managing a transition into a successful career or a top-notch graduate program serves as the next step in that process for most students. As you begin to evaluate your college options, take into account employment or graduate acceptance rates for graduates in the years following graduation. Many colleges also offer Career Services to guide students towards internships or long-term public service opportunities, both in undergrad and post-grad. Even if you are far from knowing what your professional path may look like, it is of the utmost importance that you ensure you enter an environment prepared to invest in your future.
4. Impact
Student activism and public service sits at the cornerstone of the US university experience. Throughout history, colleges have been a hotbed of social growth, creative organizing, and philanthropy. For many IB students, the college environment allows for an expansion of service interests often developed through completion of creativity, activity, service (CAS) projects. If activities like organizing fundraising drives for local charities or volunteering at a community non-profit excite you, look for colleges with deep connections to local and global impact work.
Many universities have student organizations committed to service work, or even work-study opportunities that invest directly back into the university ecosystem. Similarly, new academic tracks such as social entrepreneurship and nonprofit management can also afford you an opportunity to turn your interest in service work into a fruitful, impactful career. Consider your options and remember that creativity, activity, and service are at the core of all of us as IB students.
Jasmine Jackson-Irwin is a proud North Carolina native and recipient of the IB Diploma from Parkland Magnet High School. As an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Jasmine paired her academic pursuits in Political Science and German Literature with extracurricular advocacy work, addressing issues in state and local politics, criminal justice reform, and international education. After graduating from Carolina, Jasmine made a professional jump into the tech industry and hopscotched across the United States, most recently landing in San Francisco. She can generally be found reading voraciously about the music industry, ranting about the superiority of Southern cuisine, and dancing in the corner of concert venues across the Bay Area.
