Data shows that completing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma significantly strengthens a student's college application. At many of the top 25 universities in the U.S., IB Diploma candidates see acceptance rates that are substantially higher than the general applicant pool. For example:
Cornell University: 47% for IB candidates vs. 14.1% total.
University of Chicago: 60.3% for IB candidates vs. 7.9% total.
Brown University: 19.2% for IB candidates vs. 9.3% total.
Institutions like NYU and RIT specifically note that they recognize the "rigor and difficulty" of the IB program and encourage students to pursue the full diploma if their school offers it.
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As a local honors college, SUNY Geneseo actively rewards students who take on this challenge by offering specific incentives for IB Diploma holders:
Academic Credit: Students can earn up to 30 college credits for their IB coursework.
Scholarships: Geneseo grants a $1,000 scholarship to incoming students who have earned the IB Diploma.
Innovation Grants: In their second year, students may receive a $1,500 grant to further research their Extended Essay (EE) or CAS projects.
Application Perk: The application fee is waived for IB students using the code: Geneseovision.
For students currently in the program, Geneseo also hosts a residential EE Summer Camp (July 21–24, 2026). This 4-day workshop provides 1-on-1 faculty support and library access to help students complete their mandatory 4,000-word research paper before their senior year begins.
For more information on SUNY Geneseo and the Summer 2026 EE Camp CLICK HERE.