Dual Enrollment vs. AP
Dean Maniuszko Mr. McKnight English 3-4H, pd. 2 15 May 2013 Decisions for the Future ! As high-school students (and their families) approach their junior year of high
school, the same questions loom over their heads. What courses should my student take to better their chances of getting into college? What can I do now to alleviate the financial burden of college tuition? AP courses look better than Dual Enrollment courses on an application. Due to the minimal monetary commitment, the accuracy to the rigor of college courses, and the confidence students receive, Dual Enrollment courses are the best courses to take in high school that will prepare you for college. ! While AP classes are supposedly closer to the rigor of college courses, Dual
Enrollment courses offer the opportunity to take actual college curriculum. The “rigor” the AP classes have are usually added tests and assignments that just add more work. This philosophy could not be less accurate. In most college classes, students receive less than 15 grades per semester (Jenkins). How can a course justifiably say that it prepares students for college when it gives almost 30 more grades per semester? Dual Enrollment courses use curriculum approved and monitored by the college, not the high school. Dual Enrollment students were 12% more likely to go to college, and 7% more likely to get a bachelorʼs degree (Shaffhauser). These courses donʼt have as much assigned work (meaning they donʼt have as many grades) and they are closer to the
Maniuszko 2 difficulty of many intro college courses. Dual Enrollment offers more similar curriculum to college, without the overwhelming tuition fees that come with college courses. ! Dual Enrollment gives students the opportunity to take intro college courses at a
a much cheaper cost. Around the U.S., graduating high school students will have enough credits for an associateʼs degree and they will possess enough credits to be a sophomore or junior entering college
school, the same questions loom over their heads. What courses should my student take to better their chances of getting into college? What can I do now to alleviate the financial burden of college tuition? AP courses look better than Dual Enrollment courses on an application. Due to the minimal monetary commitment, the accuracy to the rigor of college courses, and the confidence students receive, Dual Enrollment courses are the best courses to take in high school that will prepare you for college. ! While AP classes are supposedly closer to the rigor of college courses, Dual
Enrollment courses offer the opportunity to take actual college curriculum. The “rigor” the AP classes have are usually added tests and assignments that just add more work. This philosophy could not be less accurate. In most college classes, students receive less than 15 grades per semester (Jenkins). How can a course justifiably say that it prepares students for college when it gives almost 30 more grades per semester? Dual Enrollment courses use curriculum approved and monitored by the college, not the high school. Dual Enrollment students were 12% more likely to go to college, and 7% more likely to get a bachelorʼs degree (Shaffhauser). These courses donʼt have as much assigned work (meaning they donʼt have as many grades) and they are closer to the
Maniuszko 2 difficulty of many intro college courses. Dual Enrollment offers more similar curriculum to college, without the overwhelming tuition fees that come with college courses. ! Dual Enrollment gives students the opportunity to take intro college courses at a
a much cheaper cost. Around the U.S., graduating high school students will have enough credits for an associateʼs degree and they will possess enough credits to be a sophomore or junior entering college
Cited: “AP and Dual Enrollment: Options for Schools and Students.” College Board. College Board, n.d. Web. 16 April 2013. Downey, Maureen. “Former College Prof and AP Teacher: Advanced Placement is ‘One of the Great Frauds’ in High School Today.” Get Schooled. N.p., 16 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 April 2013. Giarrusso, Theresa Walsh. “Do High School Dual Enrollment/AP Classes Push Kids too Far Ahead in College?” Momania: A Blog for Busy Moms. Atlanta Journal Constitution, 17 May 2012. Web. 16 April 2013. Jenkins, Rob. “Advanced Placement vs. Dual Enrollment.” The Chronicle of Higher Education. N.p., 14 Jan. 2013. Web. 16 April 2013. Mathews, Jay. “Dual Enrollment Courses: Up from Obscurity.” The Washington Post. Newsweek Interactive, 23 Oct. 2007. Web. 16 April 2013. Schaffhauser, Dian. “Dual Enrollment No Panacea for Helping High Schoolers Prep for College.” The Journal. 1105 Media Inc., 12 Dec. 2011. Web. 16 April 2013.