Nellie Burch received some exciting news several weeks after graduating from Long Trail School in Dorset, VT. Expecting to enter her first year at Alfred University in New York State as a freshman, Burch was awarded second year status based on her performance in the International Baccalaureate program at LTS and will attain her undergraduate degree in three years. Alfred University grants one year’s credit (30 semester hours) to students who have earned an International Baccalaureate diploma in high school. The International Baccalaureate program is a rigorous academic program which ensures the education of the whole child through strategies such as time management and interconnectivity of ideas. “Long Trail is so pleased for Nellie. Not only has she gained extensive practice in the patterns of thinking and academic knowledge that IB promotes, but she has saved herself an entire year of college tuition and associated fees,” commented Dean of Academics Deb MacDonald. “Her decision to complete the IB Diploma Programme has had and will continue to have successful impacts for Nellie.”
While her $700 investment saved her more than $43,000, the IB course of study is not simply about potential financial savings. Burch gained confidence in her presence in the world and knowledge on a global scale which has spurred her to study international relations in college. At Long Trail, Burch took IB coursework in English, Visual Art, History, Mathematics, Biology and French. She also was able to take three years of Spanish. Additionally, the IB Diploma Programme required her to complete a 4,000 word essay, a community service project and a Theory of Knowledge course. “While I know college will be a lot of work, IB has already prepared me to complete that level of study,” Burch asserted. Burch’s mother Laura is also an avid fan of the challenge and choice afforded her daughter by Long Trail’s IB offerings. “IB requires commitment: the program prepared Nellie for success by helping her work ethic, her decision making, her integrity, and her ability to manage stress.” Laura added, “We saw a real change in her academic drive and focus on doing her best. In the end, she walked away with great life skills.”
For more information about IB and other academic programs at Long Trail, please contact MacDonald at dmacdonald@longtrailschool.org or 867-5717 x145.