As high school students continue to grow and exceed in their studies, they are often informed about the class choices for the upcoming school year. Many underclassmen tend to be more inexperienced than upperclassmen, who know the how-tos of scheduling classes. Nevertheless, there are always a few stragglers who are unclear on the difference between dual credit and AP classes.
The main differences lie in the fact that AP classes require students to take a nationwide test in May in order to be eligible for receiving college credit. As a result, AP classes offer a more standardized curriculum, are highly noticeable by colleges, and provide students with valuable skills.
AP classes have an intense standardized curriculum that is followed across the country. The College Board requires that AP courses follow a specific syllabus that is designed to challenge students. These classes are comparable to college-level classes.
According to data organized by CollegeVine, dual credit classes are designed to cover content that is usually covered in an introductory college level class. Standardized curriculum helps to ensure that students all over the country are learning the same material. Dual credit courses vary from one school to another.
AP classes are also recognized by universities and colleges across the country. Having an AP class on your transcript not only makes your college application stronger than those of other applicants, but it also shows that you are dedicated to your studies because you took a course with rigor and challenged yourself to learn more difficult topics. Many colleges admire success in AP courses as that indicates a student’s ability to perform under rigorous academic conditions. Based on data collected by Research.com, a Forbes-recognized database for college-related questions, having AP courses on your application is appealing to admission officers and strengthens your application overall. In general, a high AP score of a 3, 4 or 5 is good enough to earn college credit from public universities. AP credits are accepted by a range of universities across the country. Since dual credit courses often limit college credit to in- state colleges, the options for where you can earn college credit are often a deciding factor for students to take AP classes over dual credit courses.
Furthermore, students who take AP classes develop critical skills through the rigorous curriculum and exam preparation. The College Board specifically designs the syllabus of each AP course to help students build essential academic skills such as critical thinking, time management and effective study habits. According to College Raptor, AP classes help students prepare for more advanced concepts which, in turn, help to better prepare them for college coursework. These skills will eventually help them navigate everyday life beyond the classroom.
Dual credit classes tend to be the less popular choice among students as they do not present as many advantages over AP classes. While Dual credit courses are still beneficial in many ways, they prioritize content over development. Dual Credit courses are not standardized, either, limiting a student’s improved preparedness for college-level academics.
AP classes provide stronger advantages for students who wish to excel academically as they offer a more formidable curriculum. Dual credit courses, on the other hand, may be the best fit for those who want to attend local institutions. Between the two, AP classes will better prepare students at a college level and for the challenging demands of both education and everyday life, making them the better choice for the majority of students at Glenbard South.
