When it comes time for the second semester of the school year, high school students will have to pick classes for the following year. One major decision they face is whether to sign up for Advanced Placement (AP) classes through the College Board or take Dual Enrollment (DE) courses through a local college. Both options allow students to challenge themselves and potentially earn college credit, but ultimately the best option is choosing to enroll in AP courses.
AP classes are offered through a non-profit organization based in New York called the College Board. Through that organization, standardized tests such as the SAT, PSAT and AP Exams are taken. Taking exams and classes offered by the College Board gives students the opportunity to earn college credits that can be sent to any college in the United States, as long as their score meets that school’s requirements. This flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of the AP program because the credits are nationally recognized and not limited to one area. For example, a student taking AP Biology in Michigan can still send their exam score to a college in New York or California.
On the other hand, taking DE classes is limited to the state in which they are completed. This can be a huge disadvantage, especially for students planning to attend college out of state. Many colleges outside of a student’s state do not accept DE credits because they do not know how the class was taught, how rigorous it was, or who the instructor was. This lack of consistency makes DE credits less reliable & flexible.
The College Board also provides useful tools for college planning, such as the BigFuture website for college searches and financial aid information. They offer CLEP exams to earn credit in introductory subjects and ACCUPLACER tests to assess college readiness. These resources help students prepare for success beyond high school.
Overall, AP courses are a better option for students who want to challenge themselves, earn widely accepted college credit, and prepare for real college-level work. While Dual Enrollment may be convenient for students staying in-state, AP classes provide more flexibility, stronger recognition and better preparation for higher education.
