By Kiara Amaya

With growing competition and unwavering acceptance rates, students are focused on getting that acceptance letter into a college or university. Throughout high school, students are encouraged to challenge themselves with a rigorous course load and embark on the journey of earning college credit before ever even stepping foot on a college campus. 

As some of the most important aspects in society are time and money, getting a head start on college saves on both. The most prominent ways to do this are through taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes or dual enrollment classes at a community college. Although both options challenge students to take on the rigor of college courses, the path to success looks different for everyone. Both options have pros and cons, and they should all be considered when weighing different academic endeavors. 

AP classes allow high school students to demonstrate their ability to excel in college-level courses. As a widely recognized program created by the College Board, taking these classes can set a student apart from the crowd in a college applicant pool by taking advantage of the rigorous coursework that is offered to them. 

At GHC, students have the opportunity to opt into the AP Capstone program over their junior and senior years. This is a diploma program created by the College Board that is based on two year-long AP courses, Seminar and Research. These courses are meant to develop students’ research, presentation, analysis, and collaboration skills. If a student passes these two courses in addition to passing four other AP courses over their high school years, they earn the Capstone diploma. The offering of this program makes taking AP courses even more accessible to students. 

Additionally, AP classes can help students develop intellectual stamina and better study skills when entering college. Selective colleges often look for students who take on a more difficult course load to identify them as driven and capable. Especially since AP classes are embedded into the school day, they are easy to integrate into one’s schedule.  

“AP classes were more preferable for me as they stood to challenge and stimulate my mind, but didn’t overwhelm me in my pursuit of extracurricular activities because they are implemented within my schedule,” senior Haiden Sanchez said. “Enrolling myself in the AP Capstone program was a perfect opportunity to further facilitate my academic journey because it encouraged me to not only take but succeed in these classes.”

Moreover, due to widespread recognition and access to AP courses across the nation, there is no shortage of preparatory materials for the final exam. There are hundreds of resources available that are tailored to each student’s unique learning style whether it be through books, videos, or practice exams. 

Despite these benefits, AP exams are scored from 1 to 5 using a standardized system. While these classes do count for high school credit and are a good GPA booster, just taking the class doesn’t guarantee college credit. In addition to demonstrating strong academic performance in class, students must also take and pass the AP test with a passing score of at least a 3 to earn college credit. 

Many selective colleges and universities, notably the Ivy Leagues, will only accept top scores of 4 and 5 for credit. Additionally, some schools do not accept scores from certain AP classes such as AP Seminar, or accept scores at all. Thus, it is important to be mindful of what APs to choose or if it is worth it to take them. 

At GHC students are fortunate enough to have access to a variety of AP classes and exams at no cost. Students attending lower-income schools may face the challenge of a limited array of AP courses and have the financial burden of having to pay testing fees out of pocket. Thus, the opportunity at GHC is not one to pass up. 

Nonetheless, AP classes are a great way to expose students to college-level material with teachers who dedicate themselves to helping students pass the test. 

With community college classes, students can begin their undergraduate education without starting college. Unlike AP classes, dual enrollment credits are not based on standardized test scores but on purely passing the class. 

These classes come closer to giving high school students a taste of college-level rigor since they are taught by college professors. 

At GHC specifically, there is a strong partnership with Pierce College. Many students take advantage of the opportunity for dual enrollment, showing the popularity of this academic path. Additionally, many local community colleges accept dual enrollment students at no cost or minimal fees. 

“From experience, it’s more rewarding for me to enroll in dual enrollment classes in subjects that I enjoy rather than AP courses that I may not,” senior Danica Dabatos said. “I also like that I’m able to take multiple per semester, allowing me to get through my prerequisite classes faster.”

Knocking out high-school graduation requirements while gaining easily transferable college credit can help students save on college tuition. Dual enrollment courses often cover niche subject areas not available in high school which can enable students to explore different areas of interest that can pertain to their prospective career. 

Despite these benefits, the college registration process can be time-consuming and overwhelming, considering the plethora of paperwork that has to be filled out. Additionally, spots for college courses fill up fast, so students may have to track the exact time when the course opens for registration. Without the proper guidance from a counselor, it can be difficult for students to navigate the process independently. 

In addition, many selective universities are less likely to accept dual enrollment credits from community colleges that may be unfamiliar to them. They may not equate dual enrollment credits to an AP course.