From STC to med School: Edinburg Dual credit students begin their journey in health care

Photo above: STC dual credit students Jose Olmos and Isabella Casas recently graduated with associate degrees more than two years ahead of schedule, giving them an academic and financial edge as they pursue careers in the medical field. Photo credit: STC Communications

Selene Rodriguez, South Texas College Communications

Edinburg TX – For many high school seniors, graduation marks the start of college, but for South Texas College Dual Credit students Isabella Casas and Jose Olmos, it also marks the completion of an associate degree more than two years ahead of schedule.

With this academic edge and the money they have saved through dual credit, both students have already submitted university applications across Texas, setting their sights on medical careers and a future committed to helping others. 

“We would not be where we are without STC. Being dual credit students gave us a huge head start and a real advantage in such a competitive field,” Casas said. “It opened doors most high school students don’t see until years later.”

Edinburg Students

The Edinburg Beethoven Vanguard Academy Early College High School seniors also graduated from high school recently, a semester earlier than planned.

With years of medical education ahead, both students said they knew early on that their calling was in health care. Olmos, 17, who aspires to be a surgeon, has been a member of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Future Health Professionals chapter for three years, and Casas, also 17, who hopes to become a chiropractor, has been involved even longer, joining HOSA in eighth grade.

“I’ve always wanted to do something hands-on, and becoming a surgeon feels like the best way to truly change someone’s life,” Olmos said. “When I first heard about dual credit, I knew it could open doors for me. It completely transformed my college path and showed me what I’m capable of.”

He said taking higher-level classes boosted his GPA, his confidence and helped him feel prepared to compete for admission to universities where he can continue working toward a career devoted to caring for others.

Casas said advanced coursework through STC helped her rise to the top of her class.

Supportive Faculty

“The professors are incredibly supportive. I’ve learned so much from them,” she said. “It’s not just what’s in the textbook. They share real-life experiences that stay with you. Taking dual credit gave us such an advantage. We took economics two years ago with STC professors, and now a lot of our classmates are taking it for graduation. We don’t have that extra pressure during our senior year.”

Both students are preparing to continue their education next fall. Casas has already been accepted to several universities, including Texas A&M in College Station and the University of Texas at Austin. 

She said completing the coursework for their Associate of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies strengthened their applications and proved they were ready for college-level rigor.

“Doing that work early showed me I can handle what it takes to go into medicine,” she said. “It made me feel like I’m really ready for this.”

Future Plans

Casas plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology before moving on to a chiropractic college in Texas. She said her interest in the field began after visiting a chiropractor and realizing how much the treatment helped her. 

“It felt like a perfect fit,” she said. “I walked out knowing this was the career for me.”

Olmos plans to attend the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley before going on to medical school, a path that will take more than a decade of training, and said he is grateful to have his associate degree before beginning his bachelor’s coursework.

“I’m just really happy. My whole college experience has completely changed because of dual credit,” he said. “I’m glad I started early, because now as a senior I’ll already have my associate degree finished. I always tell everyone that dual credit is the way to go.”

Dual Credit Program Preparation

Both added the dual credit program not only prepared them academically, but also helped shape their long-term goals. Olmos said the experience pushed him to realize what he could achieve and Casas said it inspired her to aim higher.

The two graduates said they feel grateful for the support they received from Vanguard Academy and STC and hope more students take advantage of the same opportunity.

“It’s something to be proud of,” Casas said. “You get to say you graduated from college before high school, and not everyone gets that chance.”

For more information on STC’s Dual Credit Programs, visit southtexascollege.edu/dual.