AP, IB & Dual Enrollment: 3 Benefits & 3 Cautions

Today I want to tell you 3 benefits and 3 cautions about taking AP, IB, and dual enrollment classes in high school.

AP and IB—Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate—are put out by competing companies that provide college level courses to high schools across the nation. Dual enrollment is something that your high school may be partnering with your local county college or a four-year university to provide.

One benefit of taking these courses is it prepares you for the level of classes you’re going to have in college. A second benefit is it shows colleges that you’re pursuing an academically rigorous course of study, which increases your chances of admission. A third benefit is, if you do well enough, you could get credits that will apply toward your degree.

Now three cautions: One, not every college will take every credit; maybe they won’t take it toward your major, so you may have to take those classes again. A second caution is some colleges do charge you money in order to transfer those credits in. And a third caution I will tell you is you don’t want to bury yourself by putting too many of these courses on your schedule that you won’t be able to do well. 

If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 732-556-8220. We are here to help.