EMT or more AP Courses?

momofsmartdancer
Fri, 07 Mar 2014 19:37:37 +0000

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).

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.

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.

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

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)

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)

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

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.

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.

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

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?

Any advice would be much appreciated :).