Three types of college credit classes are offered on campus, including Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, and OnRamps.
Each class contains diverse features that make each one a unique experience. All of them contain extensive work that helps students come together to learn, study and get a taste of education after high school.
AP is one of the classes that offer college credit. To earn the credit at most colleges, you must score a 3 or higher on the cumulative AP test, which is in May.
Some students do not like the stress of their college credit relying on one test.
“I enjoy taking tests, so I felt fine about the test defining my whole year. But I can see how it could be difficult,” junior Maya Fritz said. “Your teacher doesn’t even write the test, so while teaching you all year, they’re kind of just going based on what they think will be on the test.”
A bonus for some in AP classes is the flexibility teachers are offered when planning.
“I enjoy seeing the fun and innovative ways teachers come up with ways to learn,” said senior Jennings Barndt about AP World History. “There was a project where you picked a major civilization and traded with other people. It was an engaging (project) that wasn’t just ‘watch this video’ or ‘listen to this person ramble on.’”
The most popular option amongst students recently has been On-Ramps courses. These allow for Texas students to earn college credit through the University of Texas-Austin.
The classes provide a strict syllabus, where most assignments are implemented within Canvas, such as quizzes and labs. A passing grade is what grants the credit.
“I think OnRamps is way better,” senior Maria Iglesias said. “With OnRamps, I feel it is more rigorous, but it’s also not as bad as AP where you’re constantly reminded of the AP test.”
When it comes to choosing between the classes, one major factor is what the college classes can be used for. OnRamps and Dual Credit usually only transfer to Texas universities.
In AP classes, students earn a whole year of college credits but in OnRamps students only earn a semester of credit.
“A lot of the credits that I got aren’t going to count because I’m probably going to go out of state,” senior Caitlin McLain said. “A lot of people who are trying to do out-of-state college, it really (frustrates) them. I think it would be cool if we could keep the OnRamp structure for those who want it and then also have AP.”
