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Capstone Educational Consultants

Helping Students with Test Prep, Tutoring, and Navigating the College Journey

Dual Enrollment

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AP Test Just Got Interesting

Deciding on whether or not to take an AP test not only got interesting, it appears to be getting a lot more tricky!  According to The Washington Post, new registration deadlines and fees were unrolled recently by The College Board and could likely impact students taking AP classes.

The biggest challenge would be for high school students deciding if they should sign up to take an AP level class in high school and subsequently the notorious end-of-year exam used by many colleges to potentially earn college credit long before sitting for the exam.

It appears, starting in the 2019-2020 school year, students will be required to sign up by Nov. 15 in the year before they take the spring exam if they don’t want to incur a late fee. The registration fee would remain the same, but late registration would cost an extra $40 along with an additional $40 “no-show” fee. All-in-all, it appears a student who signed up late and never showed up for the test would be out $174.

Parents and students will be in an interesting predicament. Many students will be deciding on taking AP classes and some students will choose to substitute AP classes with dual-enrollment opportunities. But now, deciding to place an AP class on your 2019-2020 schedule could mean registering for the AP test months before actually sitting for the test. This would bring a whole new meaning to planning ahead!

Deciding on the best solutions between AP classes or dual enrollment is not to be taken lightly. There are pros and cons to each.

If you would like some clear direction between AP classes or dual-enrollment, feel free to get in touch!

Note: AP fees or registration requirements on the College Board website were not reflecting these changes at the time of this posting.

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Community Colleges Make The Grade

Community College

Community colleges have a long history of confusion for parents of college-bound students. They often wonder if choosing to attend a community college is the best idea for their son or daughter. After all, when all of the other students are going away to 4-year institutions, what does it say when your child stays behind and enrolls at the local community college? Studies show, you may be the smartest parent in the community!

Let’s look at some of the numbers on a national scale for students attending community colleges out of high school. As reported by the NPR in December of 2018, community colleges enroll up to 41% of all undergraduate students in the U.S.

As good as that seems, there are still several stigmas that tend to follow the idea of attending a community college out of high school. These myths prevent taking the step and often deter the idea of selecting a community college all-together — myths like, the lack of student life, under qualified professors, it’s too easy, it’s unsafe, it’s a waste of time because credits won’t transfer, or that you’ll be completely on your own. It’s a shame.

Truth is, students are utilizing the benefits of community college attendance to leverage their transfer power into 4-year degree programs all over the country. In fact, “according to a new report from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, graduation rates of community-college transfers meet or exceed those of students who enroll at selective institutions as first-time freshman. Community-college transfers also graduate at higher rates than students who transfer from other four-year colleges.” (Harris)

This is great news for students and families in Fayette County, Georgia considering community college as a viable option in their student’s college journey. Our local community college, Georgia Military College has an impeccable reputation not only in our community but across the state and throughout the nation! GMC ranks as the #1 Community College in the State of Georgia according to TheBestSchools.org. And, GMC is also the 14th Best Community College in the Nation according to the same website.

Community College is not for every student, but it certainly stands a chance for consideration. After all, community college students are proving themselves well-prepared for success at even the elite schools!

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Dual Enrollment vs. AP

When faced with the option to expand upon academic rigor as a high school junior or senior, inevitably this question is raised . . . “Should I take dual enrollment or AP classes?  Which is better?”

It’s an age-old debate on the choice over which a student should spend his/her time pursuing most in high school:  an academic profile to include AP coursework or one whose namesake suggests twice the reward . . . dual enrollment.  But really, how is one to determine what’s best and what will work in the long-term academic appeal for college and beyond?

It would certainly be great if “one size fit all” on this subject, but the truth of the matter is, each student’s journey will and should include an academic portfolio that honestly reflects not only where the student is willing to be challenged, but propose an academic culture with purpose as well.

Students are often trying to decide between dual enrollment or AP classes for one of two reasons:  either wondering which is most favored by colleges and universities or whether or not they count as credit toward college.

So, what’s best for you?  Should you consider taking AP courses?  Should you explore the option of dual enrollment?  Or one better, should you consider both or neither?  Let’s address these questions by taking a closer look at each of these options.

In taking a more objective look, each of these options follow a different set of measurements for evaluation.   AP’s are generally understood by admissions professionals as having a consistent quality of instruction with consistent expectations.  Colleges tend to use the final scores from the AP tests (1-5) in a variety of ways:  academic placement without credit, academic exemption without credit, course credit for elective or course credit for core requirement.  Traditionally, regardless of the AP test results, students can count on added weight to be given to their high school GPA.

Dual enrollment classes take on a completely different feel.  For admissions professionals, when giving consideration to the level of academic rigor, it is a bit more difficult to gauge.  The level of academic challenge and course content can vary between institutions offering dual enrollment coursework.  While it may meet the need to fulfill a high school requirement, it may not meet the prerequisite at the college in which you wish to enroll.  This is then compounded by the fact that most high school juniors and some seniors have yet to determine even a small list of considerable colleges or universities to know if it’s a good idea.

However, while the above seems a bit cut-and-dry, it is hardly the case.  I have known plenty of students that have taken AP coursework in high school with strikingly excellent results only to learn none of their work would transfer into their college for anything but an elective.  In these cases, students are likely found repeating the coursework on the collegiate level.  On the other hand, I’ve known others who have taken enough dual enrollment courses while in high school to find themselves beginning college as a social freshman, but academic junior!  In this case, they have shaved off four semesters of college tuition amounting to tens of thousands of dollars in savings.

Truth is, this subject is a difficult one to hash out.  “Do I or don’t I?”  It is definitely a legitimate question, but before you go as far as to signing up for one or the other, consider your future!  Do you have a short list of potential colleges or universities?  If so, take a look at each of their requirements and collectively design a plan that could meet all or most.  As with any major decision in life, you must have a plan!