All acceptances from US universities are unconditional on final IB results and no university that I know of will require that you send your IB results to them. This is simply how the system works in the US. However, sending in your predicted IB grades may help you as universities will understand them and will have a better image of your worth. If you apply post-graduation and your scores were good, you should definitely think of sending an official transcript.

Many believe that doing IB will bar you from AP credits and Advanced Standing. This is not true. Most universities will gladly accept your HL scores as being equivalent to AP test scores, although you will be at a slight disadvantage because you actually have to take the course for IB and will be limited in the number of HL subjects you can take. Policies vary from university to university, but at Harvard if you receive a 7 in an HL you receive a credit for the course and if you receive a 7 in each of your three HL, you are eligible for Advanced Standing.

UK universities

All acceptances from UK universities, except a few rare cases (such as applications after graduation), are conditional on IB scores. This means that the university will make you an "offer" and that you will be fully admitted only after the university sees that you have achieved the number of IB points they require. Additionally, many universities will also place "tags" on your HL scores - requiring you to achieve a certain proficiency in those subjects. Again, this is just how the UK system works and it is not such a cruel system.

A good thing to know is that UK universities value the IB a lot - a lot more than their A-Levels often as they are constantly under fire for grade inflation. Another good thing to know is that UK universities often do not understand the IB fully and will underestimate the difficultly of the offer they are giving you, but most IB students do fine and can often arrange their way into the university by phoning them directly if they miss the offer by a point, even at Oxford or Cambridge.

It is very important to remember that you apply to courses in universities in the UK, unlike the university itself in the US. This means that you may be required to take a particular HL to apply. For example, Maths HL is required for Economics at the London School of Economics and HL sciences are generally required for Medicine courses. You will also be required to show that you have some proficiency or passion for that subject, either in your personal statement or in your interview. Since IB does have a higher workload than A-Level and other systems, you will need a bit of extra dedication to get through the extra reading that will impress the admissions staff, especially in the more selective universities.

Continental Europe

Many universities in continental Europe will only require that you achieve a certain number of points to sign up for universities. There is generally no formal application process for them in the way US and UK universities do, and the real elimination process unfolds in your first year of university, as poorer students are eliminated. Many of these universities are of a very high standard and are very affordable for US students; they should not be brushed aside without some deal of thought. Many offer courses in English and European universities do not require that you have a BA or BS to apply for an MD programme.

A lot of universities will however have particular requirements about what subjects you can or cannot take, and which ones you should take at HL. For example, German universities generally require that your A1 language be German, and many universities are not too keen on less abstract courses, such as Ecosystem and Societies, Psychology or Visual Arts. You should definitely do a bit of research if you are thinking about studying there, but a general rule of thumb is that this applies more to technical subjects than humanities. Taking Maths HL and whatever sciences you are thinking of studying at HL (several if you are considering Medicine) and staying clear of unusual courses should get you through most requirements. If you're not a science person, take your A1 language at HL, Maths at HL, and whatever subject you think you may want to study as your third HL.

These requirements change all the time so don't worry too much if you can't fulfil a particular requirement. Most universities will be reasonable and still be more than happy to take you on a case-by-case basis if you are a good candidate.

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