<p>So I've been offered to go to a high school that also gives college credit, meaning when I graduate, I can get my HS diploma as well as an Associate degree. But the thing is, the number of extracurricular activities is pretty limited. It's pretty much National Honor Society and a government youth group. Also, there's no electives (sucks, because I love orchestra). But then again, I can get college credit, right?</p>
<p>So should I stick with my regular high school which does have AP classes and a LOT of clubs as well as electives, or is dual enrollment a better way to go?</p>
<p>Honestly, I would choose regular old high school with AP classes and EXTRACURRICULARS! I can’t imagine not being involved in the groups I am in, especially orchestra. NHS is whatever. Take the time to enjoy high school.</p>
<p>I don’t know how much you’re worried about paying for college credit but I wouldn’t sacrifice my high school experience for an early Associate’s degree. Electives are really an enriching supplement to the core curriculum, at least for me. If it is a problem or anything like that, then do what you believe is best.</p>
<p>My school has something like this, and I would strongly recommend against it. The AP classes I am taking far exceed the dual enrollment classes the “advanced” students take in difficulty, and I’m pretty sure colleges look at AP classes in a better light.</p>
<p>Ask yourself what you want your teen years to be like. As an adult, you just don’t get the chance to play on the football team, be in an orchestra, sing in a show choir, or twirl flags in the color guard. If you want to do these things (and notice I said want to do them, not do them to impress an admissions committee somewhere), stick with your regular high school.</p>
<p>As to which is better, AP or dual enrollment, well, it all depends where you go after hs graduation. Your responses to this are going to based on posters’ very limited experiences. Even if each of someone’s 4 kids (or 4 brothers and sisters) applied to 12 schools each, that’s experience with 48 schools, out of nearly 3000! It’s impossible for us to tell you what “colleges” prefer. It’s even impossible for us to tell you which is more rigorous, as our experiences are so limited. At my house, dual enrollment has been a good experience, but my kids didn’t have to give up extracurriculars.</p>
<p>I’ve alway’s been told AP’s are more universal and because of this, more highly regarded. Also, AP’s are more standardized because everyone takes the same test at the end. DE’s just require a final exam that varies from place to place. For what it’s worth, every DE class I’ve taken has been easier than my AP’s, too. I’d stick with the AP’s and extracurriculars =D</p>
<p>^^i agree with ordinarylives about taking everything we say with a grain of salt, but here’s my two cents:</p>
<p>i don’t think the difference between AP classes and dual enrollment classes, whatever and in whichever direction that difference may be, is that significant, or worth sacrificing your happiness. your regular high school sounds a lot better for you since you’ll actually have things to enjoy there, so i think that’s the better option. dual enrollment or AP classes will both impress colleges, so relax. your current high school has AP classes and ECs so satisfy college admissions and you, so why not go there?</p>