Today, the majority of high school students have options to choose from a wide range of advanced classes. Whether it’s IB classes, AP classes, or dual enrollment courses, students have to think of these initiatives as opportunities.
Here’s an overview of the fundamentals of IB, AP, and dual enrollment classes and what makes them so vital for high school students:
Overview
Whether it’s getting college credit or checking out college subjects, high school students need to choose from three options for advanced curriculum. These options include International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment. In terms of differences, each program has its own goals and features.
For instance, AP offers students a specific selection of courses that aligns with students’ preferences. On the other hand, IB is a 2-year program that ends with a diploma. Ideally, the foundational purpose to opt for AP or IB should be predetermined.
Many high students opt for IB because it has a multicultural focus and a globalized approach. In retrospect, IB, AP, and dual enrollment classes each have their own importance and give students a much-needed academic boost. Ultimately, colleges want to see whether or not students have had the experience to take on a few challenges.
AP – Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement is a US program that most colleges approve of, and think of it as a crucial consideration factor. And the best part is that high school students can choose from a wide range of classes. When it comes to AP, essential categories of courses revolve around English, Arts, Math and Computer Science, History and Social Science, and World Language and Cultures. The hallmark aspect of AP is that enrolled students try their best to master a specific set of subjects.
IB – International Baccalaureate
The hallmark aspect of IB is that it focuses on understanding and improving the basic knowledge of students around a subject matter. The program allows students to be part of the community outreach and improve their research skills at the same time.
IB is an international effort and has global objectives. The objective of IB classes is to expand the intercultural efforts through the program on a global level. Again, the philosophical touchpoints of the IB program are interconnected across six subjects that include Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, Creativity, and Activity, Service.
Dual Enrollment
Many smaller colleges will allow high school students to enroll in a few units each semester, on top of their regular high school classes. Unlike AP and IB classes, dual enrolment courses don’t have a predefined standard to measure the mastery of students over specific subjects. In the end, dual enrollment courses fall into college and high school credit. But in some instances, dual enrollment classes count in high school GPA rather than college GPA.
Remember that classes of dual enrollment do not have any standardization that leads to more quality and effort across courses. Also, dual enrollment works in favor of students’ college applications. And that’s because dual enrollment courses offer a rewarding and unique experience to a diverse range of high school students beyond the structure of programs like AP and IB.
Which One is Most Difficult?
Colleges don’t have specific criteria to automatically mark IB or AP as more difficult. But the fact remains that taking IB, AP, or dual classes looks impressive on students’ transcripts. The fundamental difference between the AP and IB comes down to course grading. Since colleges are highly selective – it makes sense to most high school students to undertake the most difficult course classes.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to choosing between AP classes, dual enrollment classes, and other courses, the decision to make the right call is often confusing. In most cases, however, high school students want to know whether to opt for IB, AP, or dual enrollment classes in high school.
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