I posted this in the nursing major section before but I think it could also fall into this category.Basically up until this summer I thought I really wanted to go into finance.This summer I volunteered at the hospital and fell in love with the nursing career.My ultimate goal is to become a neonatal nurse but for now it is to become a normal nurse.Anyway I originally only signed up for one AP class which was AP gov.I was not able to switch into AP Bio or AP Chem which i know would be more competitive for college.I switched my elective to anatomy to try to make up for the lack of AP classes I am taking as a junior.I am currently in AP Gov and this class is hard work and extremely stressful.Is it necessary to take this class because I want nothing to do with politics when I am older.But I feel like if I don’t take any AP classes than I wont be able to get into college.So basically do you think I should drop AP Gov which would allow me to spend more time volunteering and be way less stressed out or stick with it because it is my only AP class?Please answer as soon as possible if you think you would be of any help!
No stick it out in AP Gov and work hard. You want to be ready for college level coursework? The APs give you a small taste. To drop your one advanced course would NOT make you look appealing to many colleges.
Schools put a greater emphasis on academics than they do ECs. They want to know you are capable of participating in college scholastics.
Although your academics matter a lot more than ECs, drop the class if you need and feel like it may harm your GPA. If it is stressful but manageable then stick with it, but dont stay in a class you’ll end up doing bad in. I pretty sure most schools have an adjustment period when you can change your classes but it wont show up anywhere so colleges wont see it.
yes it is within the drop period so it would not show up on my transcript.
How have you done in your other science classes? How’s your GPA? By the time you’ve finished HS, what will be your highest math class? Will you have taken Bio, Chem and Physics? What’s your ACT or SAT?
I ask b/c you’ve got to understand how extremely competitive undergrad nursing truly is … it’s not for someone who finds science and math courses to be difficult.
I have gotten all As in my science classes and have a 3.8 gpa.By the time I have finished high school I will have taken Calculus.I have taken bio and chem and am currently taking physics.I plan on doing AP Bio next year.I haven’t take the SAT yet.
I understand how difficult it is.My parents are discouraging me from becoming a nurse because my whole entire family is doctors so they want me to keep up the legacy but I am motivated to pursue being a nurse.
I’m an old nurse so I can’t contribute on the AP stuff. Back in my day you just had to have a high college GPA (first two years of undergrad) to get into a solid BSN program. I just wanted to encourage you to not give in to your family who wants you to become a physician.
Both fields are truly distinctive roles requiring different personalities. If you are called to nursing then there is something in you that would not be happy in the physician role. Additionally, you will make a solid income with MUCH flexibility for the future and much room for lateral and upward movement should you so desire. I’ve been an RN for 20+ years now and I’ve worked ER, CCU, ICU, cardiac rehab and now am an FNP. Any time I got restless in my career and wanted a change or something different, I literally walked down the hall to HR and put in for a different unit. I have never had to put my family below my career and have always worked some combination of 24-32 hrs per week…sometimes less, sometimes more. Stay on track, continue to explore the field and sign up for A&P just as soon as you can. Does your school have HOSA? If so, for SURE get involved!
I love how flexible nursing is!I find it so amazing that there is so much more education I can get further than a bsn!My school doesn’t have HOSA but I am going to talk to my dad about getting me to shadow someone.
Good! It is really tough to get in to shadow these days in the hospitals because of all of the privacy rules. I would also encourage you to read the blog “Mothers in Medicine.” It is BEYOND sad to read the stories female physicians post there. If you can go into the “mail room” part of the blog, you will see that a huge number of those physicians will say they wish they would have done NP or PA instead of MD because of the lack of flexibility and the very few part-time positions. I feel I have a great win/win world with the flexibility and the career mobility. Best of luck with everything and hold strong to what you want to do.