MHS students looking to take advanced classes often consider taking Advanced Placement (AP) and community college classes. However, due to limited time and energy, students might only be able to choose between taking either more Advanced Placement classes or taking more community college classes. Most often, students take community college classes to pad their GPA or skip over subject requirements.
Some students may choose to take a community college class in a core subject, such as English or math, over the summer to fulfill MHS graduation requirements or university admission requirements. If a student wants to learn a subject thoroughly and is prepared for a rigorous educational experience, they should sign up for AP classes instead of community college classes. Since many AP classes cover core subjects, students should take advantage of the benefits of learning subjects through AP classes rather than community college classes.
Due to the standardized curriculum of AP classes, AP courses have a more consistent quality of education than community college classes. All students taking the AP class should be learning the same units and topics as each other, so when you are deciding to take an AP class, you can go through the AP course description for that class and have a much clearer understanding of the content and expectations of the class. When taking the class, you will have access to an abundance of free online resources created by the College Board and other sources such as Khan Academy. Also, by taking an AP class at school, you will have easier access to office hours and help from your teacher by being physically present in class five days a week. Even if the subject is challenging, the extra resources available for students taking AP classes will make grasping the material much easier.
The standardization of AP classes and exams also makes them more valuable when you are showing proof of your knowledge. When there is an option to take the same subject in an AP class format and a community college class format, colleges and universities may not value the community college class more because it is a college class; the level of difficulty of community college classes can vary drastically compared to the standardization of AP exams. EAnd, even if you ultimately receive an unsatisfactory grade in an AP class, you can study hard for the AP exam and receive a high score, showing evidence of your mastery of the class material.
Ultimately, although many community college classes are genuinely intellectually stimulating and allow students to explore subjects that AP classes do not cover, they are often less rigorous and less standardized than their AP class counterparts. As a result, when students often take community college classes in place of AP classes to fulfill core subject requirements for MHS graduation and university entrances, they will not be as prepared for future classes and situations which demand the skills and information learned in the subject. Due to AP classes offering a more supportive and standardized learning experience, students are more likely to learn and grasp more material, and colleges and universities will be able to recognize the student’s mastery of the subject with an AP exam score. When deciding between taking an AP class or a community college class for a core subject, I would encourage students to take the AP class version, if they have the time and energy to dedicate to it.