Advanced Placement versus Dual Enrollment – Which is better for me?
The ultimate question: Advanced Placement or Dual Enrollment? While they are both great options for education, there are several factors when comparing the two. Both options will advance your studies toward higher education, jumping ahead in both high school and college courses. Most students will dabble in both choices so there are plenty of peers to look to if need be. But we made it a little easier for you by putting the general differences between the two in one post. Without further delay, here is the answer to Advanced Placement versus Dual Enrollment:
Advanced Placement
The definition of Advanced Placement is “offering college-level curricula and examinations to high school students.” They are offered at most high schools around the country (and in Canada) to accelerate a student’s course to higher education. The course is designed to prepare the students for the Advanced Placement exam at the end of the school year to evaluate the student’s ability to master a subject on a 1-5 scale. For most colleges to accept the course as college credit, a student must get a 3 or higher on the exam, and some universities may require a 4 or higher. Because AP classes and exams are standardized, each student is taking the same exact exam, no matter where in the country. Each student takes the three-hour exam, one section being multiple-choice and the other being open response questions. Colleges value AP classes on transcripts, whether or not the student passes because they understand the hard work dedicated toward the courseload. To stand out, it is definitely better to pass the exam, but the good news is you still have a fighting chance of being seen without passing the exam.
One major con of AP classes is that passing the exam does not absolutely guarantee college credit. Depending on the university you plan on going to, you may need to retake some courses that you already studied because the college does not equate the AP course to an actual college course. Keep in contact with the admissions of the university that you are looking at to see their standards regarding the AP course credit. However, passing an AP class will always guarantee high school credit. Another con would be the price of the exam, if applicable. There are a lot of high schools that will cover the fees completely or offer to help with financial aid. If your school does not offer some help, the exam can cost up to $94, which can add up if the student is taking 2 or 3 classes for each year of high school. Be sure to check up on your school’s policy for the payment of the exam so you know what you are getting yourself into.
Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment courses are college courses available for high school students for both high school and college credit. There are some more requirements for dual enrollment classes, including age restrictions for being 16 or older, keeping a 2.5 GPA or higher, and having guardian and counselor permission. The requirements can change concerning each campus but generally the ability to enroll in dual enrollment classes lie with those basic qualifications. The courses are offered in-person or online through a community college, depending on the campus by enrolling through the high school or directly to the community college. Students that pass their classes are guaranteed both high school and college credit. If a student starts taking dual enrollment classes at 16, they could be on the road to earning their associate’s degree at the same time they are graduating from high school. Talk about killing two birds with one stone! If a student starts dual enrolling a little later in the game, they are still able to complete their general requirements for the major they wish to pursue their bachelor’s degree. Plus, the student’s high school normally covers the cost of the classes, and sometimes, even the textbooks required. Again, it is necessary to keep in contact with the administration of both the high school and the community college to see if those services are covered.
Unfortunately, similar to AP classes, the dual enrollment classes are not guaranteed to count toward the credits for your chosen four year university. Some colleges will not accept the credits because they are not on par with their standard or they have different material from the course that was already taken. It is very common for out of state schools to not accept dual enrollment courses if taken in a different state. Also, keep in mind that choosing dual enrollment is always a time commitment, considering it is a regular college course. The class is not catered to high school students that have a late sports game or club meetings interfering with class time. Having a busy life outside a day on a high school campus, on top of dual enrolling, could be extremely difficult ot manage.
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So to answer the big question: there is no “better” option. Each student is different. Each university is different. The only way to know is to know which is better for one student. So do your research on the universities that you have your eyes on. Talk to advisors and guidance counselors to compare the prices of each. And make an advised decision about the factors that matter most to you.
