EMT or more AP Courses?

Applying to College
1

<p>We are very much confused about the best choice to make regarding senior year schedule as it will likely impact scholarships and college admissions. My D's high school offers EMT certification; it requires 3 periods because she will have to travel to another school (even though it really only takes up two school periods).</p>

<p>I would really appreciate feedback on what might be the best alternative between the two schedules, with the classes that she wants to take. Which schedule might help her get into BS/MD program and should we instead try to plan to get a scholarship at an undergrad? To go to a private university or public OOS, she will need to have a scholarship.</p>

<p>Current Stats:
Took ACT at end of Freshman year and got a 33, with only a 6/12 on the essay. Note: she did not prepare at all since it was taken as part of gifted program and it is optional as to whether it can be part of high school transcript.</p>

<p>Sophomore, ranked 1/700. Un-weighted GPA: 4.0. Currently taking AP Stat, AP Chem, AP World History; rest of classes are honors classes.</p>

<p>Junior Year: Taking AP Calc AB, AP Lang., AP Biology, Dual Credit US History, Honors Physics, Spanish IV, Phys Ed
(Class rank will probably fall a little because she is choosing to take dual credit US History instead of AP US History and could take Phys Ed online and then take another AP Course)</p>

<p>Senior Year Alternative #1
AP Calculus B/C
AP Literature
AP Physics
AP Micro Econ (one semester)
AP Psych
Organic Chemistry or Computer Programming/ US Gov
Dance (required for Varsity Dance Team members)</p>

<p>Senior Year Alternative #2
AP Calculus B/C
AP Literature
AP Physics
AP Micro-Economics (one semester)
EMT Certification
US Government Online</p>

<p>She really wants to do alternative #2. However, if she does this her class rank will fall further because she will be taking less weighted courses than she could.</p>

<p>One school we are looking at for undergrad will give her full tuition scholarship based on ACT & GPA ; they also require a "rigorous" course-load.</p>

<p>Would taking schedule #2 result in her being viewed as taking a non-rigorous course-load?</p>

<p>Would doing the EMT program at the cost of a reduction in her class rank be a bad idea in relation to scholarships or entrance to a BS/MD program?</p>

<p>Any advice would be much appreciated :).</p>

2

<p>By any measure alternative 2 is a very rigorous schedule. Alternative 1 (5 AP courses plus organic chemistry) seems very time consuming. It is unlikely that a college freshman or sophomore at even the most rigorous colleges would attempt such a schedule</p>

3

<p>Considering her goals, would she be able to switch AP lit for a college class like Computer Programming/Organic Chem? If English is required, can she take a “fun” class, perhaps a “college essay writing” class, instead?
AP Lit tends to be very time consumming and is not necessary for science kids (as long as she has AP Language).
Schedule 2 would definitely be seen as rigorous and the EMT certification would definitely help her stand out.</p>

4

<p>Don’t take APs just for the point of having them on paper. If the class is not useful, skip it. The EMT thing certainly stands out. I don’t think it makes too much difference.</p>

5

<p>Her GPA and ACT score qualify her for a whole bunch of big scholarships at institutions where the pre-med program will be sufficiently rigorous to prepare her for med school. Check the thread on Automatic Merit-based aid at the top of the Financial Aid Forum.</p>

<p>An EMT program makes perfect sense for your daughter’s career goals, and will provide her with a skill set that will allow her to hold much better paying jobs while she is in college than most students can aspire to. Don’t stand in her way on this one.</p>

6

<p>Thanks so much for the responses! </p>

<p>In consideration of your responses + d’s wishes, we will likely go with #2. We have to make a decision now because what she chooses to take this year and ECs she commits to this spring will impact what she can do both her junior and senior years. </p>

7

<p>@MYOS1634</p>

<p>That was my thought also regarding the English course. I originally had her down for dual credit English class, but she said she wanted to take AP Lit. She is a very creative person and does read a lot when she is not busy studying or doing her many hours of ECs. However, we did not know that the course was very time consuming. I will give her your advice and see if she changes her mind.</p>

8

<p>Go the EMT route if she’s interested in medicine. Her academics are great, and whether she’s 1 or 10 out of 700 is probably immaterial compared to what she will get out of EMT training which is a deeper look into the medical field, an EC that proves her interest in the medical field beyond just volunteer work in a hospital and a qualification that will help her get a good part time job during the remainder of her HS and college years.</p>