I’m currently a sophomore student looking at potentially majoring in either nursing or paralegal studies and I wanted some advice on classes to take and what my chances are in these programs. I’m not a fan of math (or, I’m not a fan of calculus in other words) and I’d like to be able to drop it if I could, but I don’t want to take the class in college. Our calculus teacher at my high school is very good and it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll get a 5 on the AP test, but I’m worried that my GPA will suffer.
Unweighted GPA: 3.926
Weighted GPA: 4.0
I am in the top 10% of my class
PSAT: 183 (Reading: 67, Math: 62, Writing: 56)
9th Grade:
• 9th Grade Core: A / A
• English 1 Intensive: A / A
• Biology: A / A
• French 1: A / A
• Theater: A / A
• PE: A / A
• Algebra 1B: A / A
• Geometry: A / A
10th Grade:
• English 2 Intensive: B / A
• World History Intensive: A / A
• Trigonometry & Algebra 2 & Pre-Calc: A / B / A / (Looks like it’ll be a B)
• Chemistry Honors: A / (looks like it’ll be an A)
• PE: A / A
• French 2: A / (looks like it’ll be an A)
11th Grade:
• American Lit Honors
• APUSH
• BC Calculus (I’m iffy on this class…)
• Physics
• French 3
• Photography
12th Grade:
• American Gov / Econ
• AP English Lit
• Psychology & Sociology (one class)
• Physio Honors
• Biology Honors
Some optional senior year classes (I can’t decide):
• AP Stats (seems to be hit or miss… if I stick with Calc, then I don’t want to take this)
• AP English Lang (I know people who are taking both AP English classes & enjoying it a lot)
• AP French / French 4 (it’s a joint class and you can choose either option – I wasn’t planning on taking it & I’m not sure how I feel about the gap year)
• Heath Careers / Medical Technology (two classes; I would be taking them simultaneously year round – I don’t know if I want to major in nursing or not)
• Administration of Justice (I don’t know if this is year round or not but it’s interesting if I decide to pursue paralegal work; I’m kind of iffy though because it’s from 7:10 – 8:20 which is an awkward time… I would have to go to the class and then drive home until my second period)
Extra Curriculars:
• Court Reporter for my school’s mock trial team (for 3 years, I plan – hopefully I’ll get an officer position in senior year; I’m fairly confident because there are only two other sophomores on the team)
• Track (for 4 years, I think I’ll be a co-team captain in senior year; my friend and I have worked this out & our coach agreed so…)
• Theater (as tech)
• I have also volunteered at a science camp for children this year (70 hours) and plan to in junior & senior year as well
• I might volunteer at a local hospital this summer (if they’ll hire me since I’m not 16 yet)