One of the main decisions you must make, as you prepare for college, is whether to focus on honors classes or AP (Advanced Placement) courses. Each of them presents unique challenges and opportunities, preparing you for the upcoming college life. In fact, choosing between the two is such an important decision that some students even hire college admissions consulting experts to help them.
By choosing the right option, you’ll be on your track toward a more fulfilling college experience according to your interests. In this article, we’ll explain the intricacies of honors classes and AP courses, focusing on their main differences. Once you finish reading the piece, you’ll know which one is better for your college application.
AP Classes Basics
AP classes were created by the College Board, helping high school students experience college coursework firsthand. The program is so popular that you can find at least one AP course in 76% of US high schools. Furthermore, approximately 35% of college graduates have taken at least one course.
The great thing about Advanced Placement is that it covers a wide variety of relevant subjects, including math, biology, computer science, history, and more. Classes are streamlined on a broader level with a standardized curriculum. That way, each high school ensures there is no leniency toward the local kids.
As if that wasn’t enough, you can gain college credits by finishing these classes. It is worth mentioning that the College Board doesn’t use the standard methodology of passing and failing exams. However, they do track the grades for each student, and you have to get 3, 4, or 5 for the course to be recognized as completed by the college you’re applying to.
Honors Classes Basics
Honor classes are tailor-made for students who want to gain advanced knowledge of certain sciences. With more advanced coursework, it is widely recognized among US colleges. Besides covering more challenging concepts, honors classes are conducted at a significantly faster pace than the typical high school classes.
The main reason why you should take one of these classes is so you can improve your critical thinking. Furthermore, going through this curriculum helps you build discipline and a work ethic, both of which will prove to be helpful in college.
As for its direct benefits, honors classes can boost your GPA, giving you an additional grade point. Admission officers pay more attention to students who have finished these courses and recognize their commitment to excellence. For many students, it is a type of challenge that they can’t get in high school.
Comparing the Two Programs
Whichever program you choose, you will gain tangible benefits ahead of your college application process. However, we still have to mention differences in terms of standardization and curriculum.
College Credits
Perhaps the main reason why you should even consider AP classes is the fact that you can gain extra college credits. As mentioned, these classes demonstrate your ability to handle advanced coursework, similar to what you would encounter in college. If you finish AP classes, you can skip introductory courses in college, saving money and time in the process.
Curriculum
It’s hard to say what you’ll be learning during honors classes. Each district, school, or teacher running the program can use content they see fit, which makes it hard to standardize the process. So, while colleges will appreciate the fact that you’ve finished the program, they won’t be able to measure your acquired knowledge against that of other students who’ve also finished honors classes.
On the other hand, AP comes with a highly standardized process overseen by the College Board. The exams are always the same, regardless of your school, district, or state.
GPA Impact
Given that AP is a standardized process, most schools will weight it more heavily toward GPA calculations. In other words, some admission officers will consider a top grade in AP higher than the top grade in honors classes. Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the knowledge acquired during the Advanced Placement program is more valuable.
Which One to Choose?
Selecting between these two options is usually hard, even though it might look as if AP has an advantage over honors classes. So, you’ll have to consider the following factors beforehand:
College’s Focus
Each college has a different stance on honors classes and AP courses. While AP courses might seem better for particular college programs, as they’ll prepare you for a specific subject, other colleges give an advantage to honors classes because of a more comprehensive curriculum.
To eliminate guesswork, you should inquire about your target college’s policies. Whatever the case might be, almost every college will welcome students who have finished at least one of these two programs.
Academic Strengths
Consider your interests and strengths. If you wish to focus on a particular field of study, you should take AP courses. If you’re looking to expand your knowledge of various topics and are considering multiple disciplines, completing honors classes makes more sense. Overall, honors classes provide you with much more flexibility.
Workload
Getting extra credits and a boost to your curriculum sounds great on paper. However, overburdening yourself might have an adverse effect, leading to issues at school. Whatever the case might be, you’ll have to spend some extra time on either of these two programs.
AP emphasizes a specific field of study as you delve into advanced concepts. On the other hand, honors classes might not require that much studying, but the classes are done at a much faster pace and might cover areas you’re not good at.
Selecting Between AP vs. Honors Classes
Based on everything we’ve said, the AP program provides a great basis for future college education. On the other hand, the fast-paced honors classes will test your general education as well as discipline.
Both of these provide benefits for your academic development, teaching you valuable skills used in college. However, as they’re inherently different, you should take your time deciding which one is more valuable to you.