Lambert students are known for their drive towards academic excellence, and the classes they take reflect just that. To challenge themselves, many students have the option to take certain subjects as either Advanced Placement (AP) or dual enrollment college courses. However, the main question arises: which ones should you take?
Students at Lambert can find a number of AP classes offered in person, but they can also register for other AP classes online through Georgia Virtual Schools (GAVs). Lambert students taking dual enrollment have the option to take the class with Georgia State University, University of North Georgia, or Lanier Technical College. There are also a few classes offered with Georgia Tech; however, those are more difficult than most other dual enrollment classes. More information on these options can be found on the Lambert Counseling website.
The process of applying for dual enrollment however can be very tedious. Dual enrollment requires the student to apply to the school of choice where they will have to send their transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. Students must also submit a funding application through GAFutures. Once students has been accepted, they then need to choose the class(es) that they need. This can be done through a required meeting with their counselor.
Unlike Dual Enrollment classes, AP classes are much easier to register for. Students simply fill in the AP’s they desire to take, with teachers and counselors approving them into the schedule. However, most AP classes have certain prerequisites, such as a specific grade threshold in a foundational class in the subject area. For example, a student cannot go into AP Language without having a satisfactory grade in their tenth grade ELA class.
Both AP and dual enrollment courses offer college credit for certain schools, with dual enrollment even affecting college grade point average and AP courses inducing a .5 GPA grade bonus. However, the only way to get college credit for an AP course is by taking the AP Exam at the end of the year and achieving a certain score (usually a 3,4 or 5). Each exam typically costs about hundred dollars to take.
“It’s more time commitment, for sure,” Lambert Senior Jaehun Baek commented on AP classes. “But also, I guess it can be a downside because it’s like one test. It’s like the SAT. If you just happen to have a bad day, you get a bad score, and don’t return from there.”
Despite this downside, Jaehun Baek still held a preference for AP classes.
“Just between in-person and online, more than the type of curriculum it (the classes) provides, being in person just provides so much more experience and learning,” Jaehun said.
Overall, choosing between which classes to take should be based on individual preferences, subject matter, and learning styles. Students should always take into consideration their own needs in a class, and they should take whichever option they, their parents, and their counselors believe will help them be the most successful.
