Which would be more appealing for colleges: AP, Honors, or College classes?Answered
I am currently a junior and I have only taken regular classes so far but I've just now realized I need to take more rigorous classwork to raise my chances to get into my top 2 choices.
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4 answers
In general, colleges prefer AP/IB classes to community college classes. This is because many community college classes offered at high schools are typically not in core academic subjects, and are much less academically rigorous compared to AP/IB classes.
HOWEVER: If you are in a middle college/dual enrollment program, and are a full community college student, colleges will like that. In this special case, college classes are more impressive than AP/IB.
From experience, this is the order of impressiveness:
1. AP/IB Classes
2. Community College Classes
3. Honors Classes
4. Regular Classes
I would definitely say AP classes. I took two dual enrollment courses in 9th grade through my school, which definitely weren’t as challenging as the AP courses(especially AP calc bc, AP physics 1, ap bio) that I am currently taking as a junior. I think AP classes are much more rigorous than either of these options.
AP classes are college level so they should be equivalent to introductory college classes. People usually only take college classes when their school doesn't offer AP classes or has really little. Honors are in the middle, it being standard, honors, AP/college classes.
Dual credit classes are also another one but they can vary greatly per school. Some offer credit as part if a pre-college class program through community colleges (so almost like a class in the middle of AP and honors) while others are full college classes. I'm currently taking standard precalc but it is a college level class so it's available for dual credit. This isn't the case for all precalc classes so I would ask your school counselor.
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