My daughter is a current highschool sophomore with plans to do the dual credit basic nursing assistant program her junior and senior year which will allow her to take her CNA test once completed. It also includes clinical lab technician classes. Will this give ger any advantage when she applies Fall 2026 to direct BSN programs?
My daughter did her CNA the summer before senior year and she had great success in her applications this fall, I think it did help to show interest in the field.
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Thank you, that makes me feel better. Sheâs also using it as a way to test the waters to make sure itâs a good fit, plus the district pays for it so kind of a win win.
If she can work as a CNA before she applies to college, she can confirm her interest in nursing (or figure out that she does not want to do nursing). If she confirms her interest in nursing, she may be able to write better essays on the subject.
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I think itâs a good idea as long as she has room in her schedule for a full range of academic courses. Many BSN programs want to see 4 years of English, 3-4 years of lab science, math through pre-calculus, at least 2 (often 3) years of foreign language, at least 3 years of social studies (history, economics, etc.) and strong grades in math and science. My daughterâs half day âHealthcare Pathwaysâ program didnât leave room for all of the recommended academic courses. She was still accepted to a few (less competitive) direct entry programs.
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This is so critical that people who are considering different HS âpathwaysâ programs understand the rigor piece of the puzzle, great post. The tradeoffs will be unique to each student, their goals, and their college list, and doing the research will help clarify the right decision.
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