I’m going to try to keep it concise, but I am in a very tough place right now family-wise and school-wise alike. I’m a sophomore in high school and have thoroughly considered getting my GED and following with CC classes, then transferring to a 4-year college. My parents are completely opposed, but I feel like it’s due to the fact that they’re placing the GED next to a high school diploma and not a GED and college education next to a declining GPA due to extrinsic factors that are out of my control. The only real source of my dilemma: I don’t want to obliterate any possibilities of medical school. Will this be an issue? Hypothetically speaking, if I receive my GED, maintain an excellent GPA in CC, transfer to a 4-year university and carry on there, do well on my MCAT, volunteer, etc. will medical school still be a possibility? I’m basically asking if whether a GED will have any affect on my ability to eventually get into medical school or not.
Bump
Check your state education department website.
In some states you have to be 18 to get your GED, in one or two 19.
How do you intend to pay for college? If you get your GED and enroll in a community college, you’ll be a transfer and lose out on the opportunity to get scholarships at 4-year colleges. If you stay in school and work on getting high SAT and/or ACT scores and a solid GPA, then you have a chance at getting merit aid and reducing your out-of-pocket costs for school. That’s important for students who want to go to med school.
@mom2collegekids will know about the possibility of GED to community college to med school path. If she wanders by, pay attention to her suggestions. Good luck.
The age where I live is 16 with a waiver. Staying in school isn’t really an option for me right now. My local community college offers aid and grants especially for young students.
What state are you in?
Do you have any full-time dual enrollment options? Our county has this program at our community college: https://www.palmbeachstate.edu/chs/ . (Collegiate High School). Our local university has a full time high school program as well.
Where I live, if you get your GED you are considered “graduated,” and therefore you cannot get the above programs for free (technically not free because they are taxpayer funded, but still - free to the student).
Definitely hope @mom2coIIegekids stops by. She will have good ideas about med school and how it relates to what you want to do.
I’m actually from South Florida! Which university are you referring to?
The link above is for Palm Beach State College’s Collegiate High School - it’s located in Palm Beach Gardens. My son was accepted into that program but we decided we didn’t want to move north or drive that far every day (we live 45-50 minutes south).
Florida Atlantic University has a high school program as well (and also takes dual enrollment students - my son is one). http://www.fauhigh.fau.edu/
You should also look at Broward College. http://www.broward.edu/admissions/Pages/DualEnrollment-.aspx
Where are you in south Florida? Dual enrollment is a great opportunity for the right student. It’s not for everyone though.
I’m in Miami-Dade. This is good to hear! I haven’t heard very good things about my local CC, however.
Dual-enroll. Take CC classes “while in HS” for free, have them count both for HS and college, transfer credits to Florida public universities and graduate faster.
If you get a GED, you lose this advantage!
What’s the problem - is it with your family (must move out?) or with your HS (dual enrolling takes care of it, as long as you’re fulltime enrolled you don’t have to set foot on your HS campus - do keep working on your ECs in college though). Another alternative is to register for homeschooling and enroll in Florida Virtual School Full Time - free for FL homeschooling students, but you need to take 7 classes a semester and pass so you need super discipline.