DS is currently planning courses for junior and senior year with the intent on applying to NCSU. DS has the opportunity to take either APs or dual enrollment (or a combination), which is looked upon more favorably for admissions? In-state student with undecided major at this point.
Definitely AP’s. They are more rigorous.
dual enrollment are as good. They might even be better, because with AP’s you have to pass the AP Exam with a certain score to get a credit for it.
From my interaction with admissions for two kids already at state, I don’t think they care which path you take. The message I get is “challenge yourself and do well”
My son is in a similar situation, and we have devised a mixed approach. For each class, we just look at the specific situation.
A couple examples -
AP chemistry made sense to us because a 3 on AP would fulfill NCSU requirement for lab science, and a 4,5 would give a full year. Also, the AP chem teacher at our HS is great. So overall, AP is the way to go.
AP composition requires a 5 for credit in ENG 101. Taking the equivalent classes at CC is guaranteed credit, so CC is the way to go.
AP American History - local HS teacher is worthless and believes busy=rigorous. So we just avoid that one, not worth the headache. CC for that one.
I’ll assume the OP already has this info, but others may be interested.
NCSU AP credit guide - https://admissions.ncsu.edu/apply/credit-opportunities/advanced-placement-ap/
NCSU CC transfer guide - https://www.acs.ncsu.edu/scripts/ugadmiss/trnsfcrs.pl/2?state=NC&state=Submit+State&country=SelectCountry
If you have plans for med school, AP courses in the required pre-med track will have to be repeated in college whereas dual credit courses will not.
Classes do not need to be repeated for pre-med. I am pre-med and skipped intro biology and chemistry, because the schools really want to see how you perform in upper levels. I had more time to take more rigorous chemistry and biology electives because I saved myself 16 hours of wasted time. UNCSOM takes AP, even Harvard SOM takes AP.
Agree with @DecideSomeHow in that a mixed approach could work. If he wants to go to NCSU, investigate what classes your high school offers and how it matches up with what you can receive credit for at NCSU. It may allow some general ed requirements to be completed through AP exam credit and DE. Now is a good time to research as you would have two years to work through it. Keep in mind don’t overload to the point of hurting the GPA.