5 Benefits of Graduating with 3 Diplomas

International opportunities, greater perspectives, and more. Know all the advantages of graduating with the Lincoln High School Diploma, the IB Diploma, and the Argentine Diploma.

Having the Lincoln High School Diploma, the IB Diploma, and the Argentine Diploma completes a powerful kit crucial to reach a well-rounded education that can open many doors. At Lincoln, students finish high school with all three credentials:

• The Lincoln High School Diploma offers a U.S. High School Diploma accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). This certificate requires 25 credits to graduate. With core academic subjects and electives, taught in English, as well as some courses in Spanish, learners finish high school well-prepared. 
• The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) is a multidisciplinary programme that involves the study of the humanities, science, mathematics, the arts, and at least two languages. It also requires an extended essay, the study of the theory of knowledge, and the creativity, action and service (CAS) element. It’s a mix of academics, extracurriculars, and character learning. The IB is globally recognized as a university preparatory qualification.
• The Bilingual Baccalaureate program is the secondary school credential that leads to the Argentine Diploma. It’s another tool to help students strengthen their academic profile.

1. Expand your Knowledge and Drive

Being able to reflect and critique is key to learners nowadays. To Douglas Dworak, one of the high school counselors at Lincoln, graduating with three diplomas not only brings intellectual rigor, but also time management and research skills “gained through exercises such as the Extended Essay, Creativity Activity and Service.” It all helps develop a reflective and creative mindset. 

With those three diplomas come traits such as perseverance, responsibility, inquisitiveness, critical thinking, and rigorousness. The three credentials give students a strong backup to show they got the most valuable skills nowadays.

It’s an extraordinary preparation for university work, and the kind of drive we see in our students. One of our high school learners, Juan, shared: “There is more than one way to learn, and it doesn’t have to be all in your classes. Find the things you want to learn and have fun challenging yourself with those things.” 

2. Have a Solid Preparation for College and University

Graduating from an international school means coming from a diverse environment, with a certain level of knowledge recognized by many international institutions. To counselor Dworak, all three diplomas offer a huge advantage: “Students gain global perspectives, crucial communication skills, become intelligent consumers of data and information, and learn to work independently and within teams.” 

Malen Inglesias is a hockey superstar playing in the United States and a former student of ours. She shared her experience as one of our former students: “Having attended Lincoln made the opportunity of going to college abroad more realistic for me as I had the help of our guidance counselors as well as other teachers.” 

Also, research shows that IB graduates are more likely to persist through college. They show community responsibility and have higher grade point averages (GPAs) and higher university graduation rates than learners without the IB diploma. In other words, they are ready to attend top universities around the world.

3. Study Anywhere in the World

More than 85% of our graduates continue studying in the top universities around the globe. Eighteen countries in South America and Europe accept the Argentine Diploma for University enrollment. Over 100 countries and 5000 universities have agreements with the IB as one of the most respected and transferable curriculum for international learners. As Counselor Dworak ensures, each diploma provides a unique pathway to university systems worldwide:

For example, as a US accredited high school, the US/Lincoln diploma is most easily accepted by colleges and universities in North America, with coursework in IB subjects providing another layer of rigor. For Europe, coursework in the IB is the most common entry credential, and the Argentine baccalaureate also is recognized by EU countries as an entrance qualification. Similarly, the IBDP and Argentine baccalaureate allow students access to universities across the Mercosur region.

The three credentials prepare international, flexible, and engaging minds that can reflect on global issues, adapt to different situations, and fully develop their potential. From 2018 to 2023, our students have pursued their higher education around the world. Our learners became eligible to study in Argentina, Canada, China, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

4. Stand Out in the Global Professional Market

At Lincoln, students learn from global educators to develop leadership and expand their horizons. An article from the American Psychological Association indicates that the multicultural environment stimulates creativity to the maximum. International schools have the diversity needed to challenge mindsets and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Our learners grow up in the colorful culture of Argentina and finish high school with work experience thanks to the service activities required by the IB Diploma and the Lincoln Internship Program, which is part of the Lincoln High School Diploma. Each diploma teaches real-life skills, as counselor Dworak explains: 

The skills students gain across all three diplomas in their "soft skills" (time management, active listening, empathy and perspective taking, critical thinking, clear communication) are now known as "21st Century Skills" and are as valuable to employers as we continue into an increasingly data relevant and saturated workplace.

They finish school already having a diverse and powerful network of fellow learners that go off to study abroad, start a business, and develop their skills in different fields. In other words, they graduate with strong connections that can boost their network in the future.  

5. Get ready for International Opportunities 

“I think a Lincoln Learner is someone who follows their interests and makes their own opportunities. Lincoln Learners own their learning and don't wait around for things to be handed to them.” Javier´s statement, a member of the Student Council at Lincoln, shows the spirit that comes with pursuing three diplomas. And with that drive, that solid preparation, and the tools that come after pursuing all the credentials, nothing is left other than success. 

Pei Shen CHOU, proud alumni of class '93, shared his story with us: “Lincoln was/is a very important formative time of my life, where I made life-long friends and was a key foundation of my development as a person thanks to the various special Lincoln teachers and staff.” Pei, or Pepe, as we know him, attended the school as a highly active member for many years. Music, sports, social activities, and academics. And then came the international opportunities. “I attended Tufts University after Lincoln, and for the last 25 years have been working in investment banking in New York, Frankfurt, London and currently Hong Kong.”