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@galphonse
24 answers, 47 votes
 • 3 years ago •
Admissions Advice

Medical Assistant Program or AP Bio?
Answered

Hi!

I'm a rising senior in high school so I'm just preparing for college applications and such. I want to be an orthopedic surgeon and next year I'd like to attend CWRU to major in biology. I want to make sure I really get involved in the medical field, but at this point, I don't know what would be more beneficial to me.

My school had a partnership with a career center that offers a medical assistant program, where at the end you can get certification in the program. In college, I would love to be able to work as a medical assistant so this program could make the process so much easier for me. However, I was supposed to take AP Bio my junior year but ended up in AP Chem. This year I'm supposed to take AP Bio, but it's only offered during the same time as the medical assistant program. Which choice would be better to take: the Medical Assistant Program or AP Bio?

Thanks in advance! :)

apbio
academics
2022
AP
2
8

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2 answers

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Accepted Answer
@Texas_Student
110 answers, 143 votes
 • 3 years ago

It depends on what you are wanting. If you're wanting college credit and an increased GPA, you should go for AP Biology. If you're going for medical experience and a cool resume builder, you should go for the Medical Assistant Program.

1
[🎤 AUTHOR]@galphonse3 years ago

Makes sense. I guess I'm just conflicted on which advantage is better. My GPA already is high enough where I can be comfortable, but it wouldn't be bad to boost it a little more. But like you mentioned, this MAP is a great opportunity not only for my resume but for exposure. I get high grades, but I'm not in the top 10. At this point, is GPA even that important to boost?

@Texas_Student3 years ago

For GPA, it depends on where you want to go. You could also probably take AP Bio next year without the schedule conflict.

[🎤 AUTHOR]@galphonse3 years ago

For CWRU, my GPA is within their average top 75 percentile. I think I'm going to choose the MAP just because it is such a unique experience that I don't think I could pass it up. Plus, I have ample opportunity in college to learn higher-level Bio in core classes as well as electives. Thank you so much for your help! :))

1
@e1118
36 answers, 42 votes
 • 3 years ago

Hi @galphonse

I suggest you take AP Biology because first, the course will give you inside knowledge of the body and all the important things that make our body function. I suggest you fill this out as it will give you a sense of what AP Courses to take if you plan on becoming whatever it is. In my opinion, you should have taken AP Chem, AP Bio, AP Cal, or at least Pre-Cal and AP Psychology. It doesn't hurt to increase your GPA because believe it or not there are a lot of people who are willing to get their GPA increased. Good Luck to you and Let me know if you have any Questions.

https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/choosing-courses/by-major-career

1
[🎤 AUTHOR]@galphonse3 years ago

I get what you're saying. Thinking about it, in the long run, medical schools aren't going to be looking to see if I took AP Bio in high school. I think that it'll be better for me to just take the Biology courses once I get to college because with this MAP, I'll be learning about the basics of body systems in order to get my certification and at that point, I'm getting more out of the MAP experience over the AP Bio class (all it gets me is placement in a higher Biology and more knowledge [1/2]

[🎤 AUTHOR]@galphonse3 years ago

in the subject of biology.) Plus, you mentioned it being beneficial if I've taken AP Chem, AP Bio, and AP Calc. I've only taken AP Chem, have no plans to take AP Calc and won't take AP Psych until Spring 2022. I think I'm going to choose the MAP because it's more aligned with my immediate goals. Thank you so much for your help and advice, though! :) [2/2]

@e11183 years ago

No problem in the end it's what you think is the best decision for your goals. Good Luck :)

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