Preparing for a nursing degree and career in high school

nursing student with mascot.

Nursing is identified as the most trusted profession in the United States year after year. While this career can be demanding, it is also incredibly rewarding and full of opportunities for growth and advancement.

It’s never too early to prepare for your career – if you plan to pursue a health care career, especially nursing, there are several steps you can take to stand out among your peers and prepare for success in your undergraduate nursing program.

On this page

Basic Coursework to Prepare for Nursing Programs

Recommended basic coursework to prepare for an undergraduate nursing program includes:

  • English, with a writing component (4 years)
  • Math (4 years)
    • Recommended courses: Algebra, trigonometry, and statistics, if available
  • Science (4 years)
    • Recommended courses: Biology and chemistry

All New York State students have access to the Regents diploma. It is recommended that you pursue this diploma. You can learn more about the Regents diploma on the NYS Department of Education website or by speaking with an advisor or career counselor at your school.

Additional Preparation

The above recommendations will start you on a good path for success in nursing school. This section describes additional steps you can take to prepare, if available to you.

New York State students have access to the Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation. If you are able, aim to complete the requirements for this diploma. Learn more about the Assessment Requirements for a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation on the NYS Department of Education website or by speaking with an advisor or career counselor at your school.

Advanced Coursework

If you have access to Advanced Placement (AP) and/or college-level coursework in high school, we highly recommend pursuing the following courses.

  • AP Courses: Biology, English, Statistics
  • College-level courses: English, Introduction to Psychology, Statistics, Economics

Volunteer & Work Experience

Nurses are very important members of the community who provide health care services across a range of organizations. They are also educators, researchers and business leaders. Gaining volunteer and work experience can help you discover your passion, provide important services to your community and gain important insight into the nursing profession. Here are a few ideas:

Learn More about the Nursing Profession

Learn More about UB School of Nursing