IB Campus Updates

Principal's Notes: This week we are celebrating two students who are on the road to a career in medicine and one on the road to business. Vincent Ngo has accepted a place on the Pre-Med Health Scholars Program at Temple University and Khushi Parikh is on a pre-med track at Johns Hopkins University. Kirandeep Kaur begins her journey in Business at Villanova University. All three students are full IB Diploma Program students. Universities recognize the academic rigor of the IB Diploma Program. The commitment to critical thinking, community service and international mindedness all help our students stand out when they apply for highly selective schools and programs.

We are proud to congratulate Vincent Ngo for acceptance into a highly regarded 8 year medical program. Students have the option to finish undergraduate work in 3 or 4 years. The program comes with a scholarship for a full ride for the undergraduate years. Temple University describes its Pre-Med Health Scholar Program as "designed for high-achieving students who have distinguished themselves with impressive high school academic records and a demonstrated interest in the field of medicine." Vincent went through a rigorous application process including an interview with a group of faculty from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. The program looks for students who can articulate a unique perspective on being a doctor.

Vincent started his time in the medical field as a volunteer at St Christopher's Hospital working with patients on the nursing wards. He provided emotional support and company for patients in recovery. Once people at the hospital got to know Vincent, they asked him if he would like to shadow some of the doctors. They let him pick the departments he wanted to shadow, two places he chose were pediatrics where he heled with some of the fun events and brain imaging. Vincent also gained some experience in the Administrative side, processing orders. Vincent took a Certified Nursing Assistant Class where he worked for the Yardley Rehabilitation in Healthcare Center. He monitored patients and assisted them in the activities of daily living. These experiences helped him present as a strong candidate to Temple.

The Pre-Med Health Scholar Selection Requirements include demonstrated commitment to service/volunteer activities, particularly in health care settings. The IB MYP focus on Service as Action and the Diploma Program requirement of CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) which play a large part of the School Lane IB Campus experience are excellent ways for students to distinguish themselves as they apply for these very selective programs. As part of Vincent's CAS project he worked with a few other students to create a Science Fair during WIN for younger students.

We were excited when Khushi Parikh heard early in the year that she was accepted into the Jefferson University 7 year Medical Program. Students in this program do not have to take the M-CATs, the notoriously difficult exam required to enter medical school. We were just as excited when we learned Johns Hopkins University had accepted Khushi as an undergraduate student. Khushi decided to accept the place at Johns Hopkins majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology on a pre-med track. We are very proud of her accomplishments.

Khushi is taking both IB Biology and IB Chemistry both of which are highly regarded by universities as academically rigorous classes. Helping her on the way to a career in medicine, Khushi has spent time volunteering at a doctor's clinic where she learned how doctors interact with patients and about the daily life of a doctor.

Kirandeep has always been interested in business and finance. She took IB DP Business Management at School Lane and Business Calculus at Bucks County Community College as part of our dual enrollment program. Kirandeep also took Higher Level IB Math Applications for her IB Diploma Program requirements. She describes her classes at School Lane as challenging and good preparation for college. Her IB Math Applications for example covers a wider range of topics than is typical of high school in the US. Writing the Extended Essay, a 4000 word research paper is excellent preparation for college level work. Kirandeep chose Villanova because it is well known for its academic rigor. In the last ten years, Villanova has become very selective. It is not an easy school to get into. We are excited to see our students being recognized for the rigorous work they do in the IB Diploma Program.

Kirandeep already knows who her roommate will be as she enters one of Villanova's dormitories. She is looking forward to getting involved in activities outside the classroom, especially dance. There is an Indian Fusion Dance Club she is interested in joining.