Choosing the best route to college: AP or dual enrollment

     High school students are given two tough options: take Advanced Placement (AP) classes and face high-stakes exams, or choose dual enrollment and earn college credits before graduation. 

     “Oh, absolutely dual enrollment. You’re getting some of your college paid for, and you don’t have to use any scholarship money or use any of your Bright Futures money,” Dean of Academics Todd McNeil said. “You could get a year or two of college taken care of while you’re in high school, so it’s pretty economically good advice.”

     Through dual enrollment, high school students not only earn college credits, but they reduce the number of classes they would need to take in college which means less money they need to spend. This allows students to spend less on college, making dual enrollment a great choice for upperclassmen. 

     “It depends on what you want to do for college. If you’re staying in-state, dual enrollment is 100 percent better. But if you’re going out of state, I’d say AP, because dual enrollment credits don’t always get accepted out of state,” junior Alaric Lucas said.

     This is an important consideration when it comes to choosing between AP or dual enrollment. Students who plan to stay in state for college should typically lean towards doing dual enrollment, but for students going out of state, AP is a safer option. 

     “I think it depends on the student’s individual goals and preferences. To me, there’s not one that’s better than the other. 
It depends on what the individual student is looking for,” Director of Research, Data and Learning Megan Crombie said. “Some pros of AP are that you don’t have to drive. There are a bunch of AP course offerings here on campus. It doesn’t mess with your college GPA. It’s just your high school GPA, and you don’t have to have a certain score or grades to try AP classes.
So if you maybe just want to test out a course and you’re not sure if you’re ready for college-level material, AP might be for you.”

     AP courses give more flexibility for students who want a challenge without the stress of hurting their college GPA. Since AP classes are given as a class on your schedule, students do not have to worry about transportation, and the subjects that are offered as AP classes have a wider variety. Unlike dual enrollment classes, you do not need any requirements to take an AP class which makes it more accessible. For those who want the challenge of college-level education without the extra stress, AP classes are the safer option.

      Ultimately, the choice between AP and dual enrollment depends on the student’s goals and learning styles. AP offers more flexibility and accessibility for students, while dual enrollment gives students a few years of free college, college credits and a chance to experience higher education. Overall, it depends on what the student prefers and if they want the stress of a dual enrollment class or to face a tough AP exam at the end of the year.