Nikola Urošević
Class of 2023/2023
Columbia University, USA
In my opinion, the biggest advantage of the IB Diploma Programme is how well it prepares you for university-level expectations. When I started at Columbia University, I immediately noticed how similar the structure was: fewer subjects overall, but each one explored in much greater depth. Because of IB, this wasn’t shocking to me — I was already used to focusing on a smaller number of classes that demanded real understanding, independent study, and responsibility. It made the transition feel much smoother and far less stressful than it could have been.
Another part of the IB that helped me a lot was the exam experience. In DP, we had to sit for exams one after another, day after day, and manage a heavy amount of material in a short period of time. My first finals at Columbia followed exactly the same rhythm — multiple exams in the same week, intense preparation, and very little time to rest. Instead of panicking, I actually felt like I had already been through something similar. I knew how to organize my time, how to revise efficiently, and how to handle the pressure without shutting down.
Overall, the IB didn’t just prepare me academically — it prepared me mentally. It taught me how to learn in a university style, how to take responsibility for my work, and how to survive the pressure of finals. Because of that, the step from high school to Columbia felt like a continuation, not a jump into the unknown. IB gave me the confidence to feel like I belonged there from the very beginning.