Hey!
So I’m a current freshman in high school, who is trying to plan my high school life in a way that set me up for college in the best way. Yes, I’I know it’s early but I wanna have a rough plan of what I can do.
~ I’m certain that I want to be a PA (Physician Assistant)
~ My dream school is George Washington University (it has a GREAT 5-year PA Program) and I live like 20 minutes away so that’s a plus.
I currently have a GPA of 4 UW and 4.46 W
- Honor Eng 9
- Honors Geometry
- P.E and Guitar
- Honors Bio
- Spanish 2
- Honors US History
I am kind of disappointed I didn’t take an AP Class ( I was not very goal-focused last year TBH)
I registered for the following classes next year
- AP US Govt
- Hon Algebra 2
- Anatomy and Physiology ( I don't want to continue Spanish and Anatamoy seems like a great class for my medical dreams)
- Hon Chemistry
- Hon English 10
- P.E 1 sem and Health and Foundation of Tech ( I need the credits)
Is 1 AP class too little if I wanna go to GW?
Also, as a junior and senior, there is a Career Program (dual enrollment, 3 periods at school, 3 at the program) that offers
" students to begin their education and career in the medical field, while still enrolled in high school… exit the program with multiple certifications and a strong background in the sciences and practical experiences as healthcare professionals. " They also offer medical internships in senior year which is amazing.
I am VERY interested in this program and will definitely attend if I get in. I will probably take all 3 AP classes at the school in the 3 periods for both years. I am also planning to self-study AP Environmental Science and AP Psychology possibly.
What is your advice?
Do you think I can accomplish these goals? Or stand a chance at GW?
What do you think of self-studying AP?
Please don’t give me the “you’re young, care about your social life, etc…”. I have a very active social life and fair community service hours. I don’t do sports but I do dance.
2 years of language is not sufficient for four year universities. Most colleges, including GWU, recommend 3-4. I would hate for you to be put at a disadvantage by dropping Spanish III for a class you can take at a later time.
Also, AP psychology is one of the easier APs to self-study for. If you are going to self-study, do it sophomore year before you get swamped as a Junior.
Agreed with everything above. GW is competitive and prefers 3-4 years of language rather than the minimum of 2. Atanomy & Physicology could wait until your junior or senior year. As someone who also wants to go to GA, and into their PA program, I know you’ll be taught one semester of A&P. You should probably think about taking AP Physics your junior year to complete the three lab sciences competitive schools look for.
I agree with 8thgradekid. You should probably self-study both during your sophomore year because it looks like you’ll have a lot on your plate your junior year.
What does your junior year schedule look like anyway?
Don’t self study, colleges want you in class, participating and taking tests.
Do take Spanish 3 (&4).
An issue with the career program, if you can only take 3 classes, is that top colleges expect 5+ academic classes a year, so how would it work? Are their classes like PLTW Health science, with 2 academic classes?
thank you all so much. I actually took 3 YEARS of Spanish but I’m currently in Spanish 2B. So I don’t know if that counts but. @clyson- there are 2 different directions I want to go in- if I go to the program, I would take AP Lang, Pre-Calc/ AP Calc and then a third (AP?)class (I’m not sure which) and if I didn’t -
Pre- Calc
AP English 11
College Test Prep
AP Bio - 2 period class
Sociology
AP World History
@MYOS1634 - here is an overview of what it would be like -
First year (Junior) students complete the following fundamental courses:
Foundations of Medicine and Health Science
Structures and Functions of the Human Body
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) course
Second year (Senior) students complete the following advanced level (honors) courses:
Medical Science with Clinical Applications course
Guided Research course
Internships at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Bethesda Health and Rehabilitation Center
Students who complete the program and pass the national certification exam will be Certified Clinical Medical Assistants (CCMA) and/or Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA). Students also receive Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training and may be eligible to take the Geriatric Nursing Assistant examination upon completion of the program.
The Academy of Health Professions meets the graduation requirement for completion of a career development program. Students completing the full program will earn a total of six credits. Students successfully completing the first semester of the second year school-based Medical Science program may be invited to participate in a second semester clinical rotation at a local hospital and long-term care facility.
@MYOS1634 I think that self-studying is fine if you have a full schedule, and I will self-study mainly next year. If I pass the test, I would still have college credits. Thank you!
I would look at GW website. My daughter has Spanish 3 as a sophomore and her counselor told her differently. We are Illinois and u of I and Northwestern’s info backed him up.
Colleges looked at level reached. You’d need to reach level 3 or 4.
If you self study to learn and perhaps get college credit, yes it’s worthwhile, but don’t do it “to impress colleges”.
