Life after 40: A Regents’ International Baccalaureate Profile (1)

Life after 40: A Regents’ International Baccalaureate Profile (1) Profile of one Regents student who excelled in this year's IB Diploma Having just scored 40 points in her International Baccalaureate Diploma – recognised globally as the hallmark of an outstanding IB result – Regents’ graduate Fern Maxwell reflects on both her future and her past.

So, Fern, how were you feeling when you got your IB Diploma results earlier this month?

I was so relieved! At first I was extremely nervous. I kept refreshing the page and waiting for my results to come in. When I found out I got 40 points I was ecstatic! I can honestly say it was a moment of overwhelmingly mixed emotions - apart from the happiness and relief, in my gut I was also dreading leaving Regents and going out to university all alone! 

How do you feel about your future now that your results are in?

Scoring well in the International Baccalaureate Diploma is definitely a benefit to getting accepted into university. Universities recognise that the IB is such a challenging and demanding course, so they are more likely to favour an IB student (who has done not only academics but also CAS) over others.

My 40-point score has definitely helped me with my application to the University of Groningen (Netherlands). It has allowed me to be put into the category of ‘direct placement’, so I no longer have to fulfill any additional requirements and I am guaranteed a place on the Psychology course.

What are you most looking forward to in terms of the next stage of your education?

I'm looking forward to meeting new people from different countries who are interested in the same areas as me. I also aim to develop my knowledge of Psychology (a subject which I find really fascinating and have enjoyed studying at school). Hopefully, I will continue on to do a Masters degree in Psychology as well!

What will you miss most about Regents?

It's so hard to pick just one thing that I will miss about Regents, as I have enjoyed so many wonderful opportunities and met so many helpful people during my 16 years here. All I can say is Regents has become a home for me and I will definitely miss everything it has to offer. The campus is always full of activities – Round Square trips, international days, sports days, and many other school events. This is a school with an extraordinary atmosphere.