Does taking AP classes look better for college admissions than taking actual college level classes?

Applying to College
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2

I would say yes. For one, some top schools and ivies only consider AP scores for credit but could care less about passing a college level class. Does it look good to take a college level class? Yes. AP is more likely to give you credit though, and because AP tests are the standardization for all schools on how well students are prepared for college material, it is more reliable as a guideline for colleges to assess your strengths.

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This is basically the age-old question on here. Dual enrollment vs AP? Virtually there are no major differences or adcom preferences that I have heard. It’s merely a personal preference on the student’s part.

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AP classes are generally harder than community college classes.

Taking AP classes at your HS is the preference.

IMHO, only take local college courses if they are a higher level than your HS offers.

5

Depends on which AP courses and which college courses.

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Echoing ucbalumnus. I did AP courses for the school year and took college classes over the summer

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Ap classes are technically college courses. So no big difference

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Actually, they are advanced high school courses which cover material that substantially overlaps with frosh-level college courses (of course, depending on which course at which college). I.e. they are not college courses, even though they may cover college level material. Note that one does not get college credit for AP courses, though colleges at their discretion may award credit for sufficiently high scores on the AP tests.

Even though the material may be similar, the format of the course usually differs in the usual way that high school and college courses usually differ. High school courses tend to meet every day, with frequent small homework assignments, and tests with many easier problems so that C students can get 70% of them correct. College courses meet less frequently, with less frequent but larger assignments and projects, and tests may have more difficult problems but are graded on a curve. College instructors have greater expectation of student self-motivation and time management; they won’t notify the student or parent that the student is falling behind if s/he misses turning in an assignment.