Stop taking AP classes and start taking them at a college

As an advanced placement (AP) student that has done Dual Enrollment at Ventura College to get ahead, I often question myself on why I do so much work in my AP classes when I could be learning these topics in online or in person classes that range from four to eight weeks and don’t require an AP test grade to get the same college credits. Dual enrollment is something that all students who enjoy rigorous classes should consider. 

Dual enrollment is an option offered to VHS students, where they can take classes at Ventura Community College, while AP classes are classes that count as college credit if you pass their exam from the College Board in May. 

To apply for dual enrollment, you have to fill out a form and then get a parent’s as well as a counselor’s approval, which is so much easier compared to the tight spaces in VHS AP classes that are sought over. After doing this, you can join a college-level class at Ventura College, Oxnard College or Moorpark College.

You can do dual enrollment in the spring, summer or fall seasons, making it so that you can take the class even when you are in school if you have busy summers, or if you just want to have time to relax in the summer. The summer classes are the best option because they are usually short, they last from four to eight weeks and you get to choose how long you want them when you register. 

Trevor Garcia ‘24 said, “I like dual enrollment classes because they are faster and give you automatic college credit.”

Another thing that is super nice about taking your classes at the college is that you get the college credit if you just pass the class, meanwhile with the AP classes, you have to be in the class for the whole year and not only be able to retain that information, but also be able to get a three or higher on the $100 AP test. That is just stupid. I don’t understand why so many people don’t use the option of dual enrollment when it is such a simple process. 

Owen Siegmund ‘24, who took a U.S. History course over the summer of 2021, said, “[I prefer] dual enrollment over an AP test because who would want to take an AP test? Only the people that have taken an AP test know that an AP test is probably the worst thing you could do.”

When you enroll for dual enrollment you do not have to pay the college enrollment fee which is $46 per unit which is a huge plus. Fees you do have to pay are the health fee which is $21 dollars for the fall and spring semesters but only $17 for the summer, and a student center fee which is up to $10.  These fees are nothing compared to the $100 AP exam that does not even give you guaranteed college credits. Since the first two years of college are prerequisites anyway, why not kill two birds with one stone? 

The absolute nicest thing about taking college classes is the professors. At school, oftentimes we won’t take a class in order to avoid a certain teacher, but this never seems to be a problem with college classes. Sites like Rate My Professor allow you to type in the name of any professor and give you ratings and reviews by students who actually took the course. The struggle of having an annoying teacher is completely eliminated.

Siegmund said, “Dual enrollment is a lot easier, the workload is probably a little more but it is in the span of four weeks so it’s worth it.” 

Taking dual enrollment courses can be the biggest time saver and grade booster. Everyone with good grades and a strong work ethic should definitely consider it.