Many students at Farmington High are getting ready to go to college after they graduate. They are getting all their credits in, and sometimes even slipping more in as well. Some of these classes give them college credit. But there are two different options that students have that they can choose from.  Advanced Placement (AP) classes and Concurrent Enrollment (CE) courses, both are designed to challenge students academically and offer potential college credit.

“I prefer AP classes because it’s not so much projects and assignments that you do in class, but a lot of learning that leads up to the big test…” Junior Bella Tolman said.

For students like Bella, AP classes offer a clear goal and strong emphasis on content mastery rather than constant graded work. AP classes are known for their rough curriculum and fast paced learning environment. These courses typically focus on preparing students for an exam at the end of the year, which determines whether college credit is earned. However, the pressure surrounding AP exams can be a major concern.

 “In my opinion, I feel like there is so much pressure to excel in AP classes and it all comes down to a test which decides if you get the credit or not.” Junior Olivia Gordon says.

Olivia brings up a big worry for many students, months of hard work can hinge on performance on the final exam. This testing can be motivating for some, but overwhelming for others. We can see that many students feel this way. Concurrent Enrollment courses offer a different approach, CE classes allow students to earn college credit through their performance throughout the course.

” I prefer CE just because it goes straight onto your college transcript as for AP you have to take an exam at the end to acquire the credits.” Junior Azrael Fiso said.

Both AP and CE classes offer college credit and advanced learning. The choice depends on how students handle pressure and exams. As these students’ experiences show, there is no right option. Just the one that best fits the learner.