My name is Madison Knapp, and I started college with 32 credits thanks to taking AP classes in high school. I came to the University of Montana as a first-year, out-of-state student, but thanks to AP, I had the credits hours of a sophomore when I arrived on campus.
In addition to my AP courses, I participated in a Dual Enrollment program called College in the High School. College in The High School is where I took a college course at my High School during my regular school day. AP and Dual Enrollment opportunities have ultimately helped me save money on tuition by getting me to graduation in less than four years, prepared me for college and allowed me to jump into classes more specific to my major and minor as soon as I got to UM.
Dual Enrollment and Early College programs vary by state and school, so be sure to research what is available in your area and how your credits might transfer. I took AP classes offered at my high school and earned college credit. Other Dual Enrollment and Early College programs offer students the opportunity to take college courses either on campus or online. Your high school counselors are a great resource when you are considering Dual Enrollment. Reach out to your counselor to learn what’s available to you.
Explore Dual Enrollment and Early College at UM
My high school in Bellingham, Washington, provides college-level courses in a high school setting. These “AP” courses are distinguished by more challenging material, firmer deadlines and university-level curriculum.
At the end of an AP course, you’ll take a test that will determine how many college credits you've earned. When you enroll at a university, you’re often able to "transfer” those credits in with you, and they often fulfill requirements for a university’s general education requirements. This means you can start taking classes in your major more quickly.
My Dual Enrollment courses fulfilled several general education requirements at UM, which meant I could skip some entry-level courses in areas that I’d already studied. Because of this, I was able to jump into some interesting classes right away. In my first semester at UM, I took a class about Irish Ghost Stories and a Fiction Workshop, both of which aren’t normally open to first-year students. This also provided a faster way to connect with other students in my academic program and to get a real sense of what this major has to offer.
I took AP classes in high school because I wanted a challenge. I also knew that I was going to major in creative writing and I wanted to jump straight into those classes as soon as possible. Some students take as many AP classes as possible while in high school. I, however, took classes that were most beneficial to my major and interests.
Below are the five AP classes I decided to take in high school. Each had various benefits and reasons for why I took them. Most of these classes benefited my creative writing major and French minor and allowed me to surpass general electives before even stepping foot on campus.
Tip: To receive credit from an AP class, students take a test at the end of the course and receive a score of 3 or higher.
I took AP World History in my sophomore year of high school. This class was online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I took this class because I did not want to take history classes in college since that topic does not correlate with my major. In this sense, I found it useful to get these general credits out of the way.
Despite being online, I enjoyed the subject. I received a 4 on the exam and earned the equivalent of six college credits. These credits helped fulfill the general elective requirements in Cultural and International Diversity.
I took AP U.S. History in my junior year of high school. I decided to take this class because, similar to AP World History, I didn’t wish to take much history in college. This class was the most challenging of the five I’ve taken, but it strengthened my work ethic as a student.
I received a 3 on this exam and obtained six college credits. These credits fulfilled the general elective requirement in Historical and Cultural Studies. Regardless of the class's challenging material, I enjoyed it thoroughly.
In addition to AP U.S. History, I also took AP Language and Composition in my junior year of high school. This class focused on public speaking, written rhetoric and devices employed by political figures. There were group projects that made the class enjoyable and applicable to the real world. The class required communication and collaboration to get work done successfully.
I received a 4 on the exam at the end of the year, which earned me six college credits. These credits allowed me to fulfill my Introductory College Writing general elective. I did not find AP Language and Composition to be a challenging course, but it allowed me to see the importance of rhetoric and collaboration in a scholarly setting.
I took AP Literature and Composition in my senior year of high school. This class was more challenging than most of my previous AP classes. However, it directly benefited my studies as a creative writing major. We looked at influential novels and literature and analyzed their social impact.
I received a 3 on the exam and was able to receive 6 college credits. These credits satisfied the Introduction to Literature course required for my major. This class, in particular, benefited me because I learned more about classic literature. We also analyzed rhetorical devices used by many authors in their writing.
I took AP French in my senior year of high school and found it very enjoyable. In this class we analyzed French poetry, literature and French opera. This expanded my French knowledge and my ability to speak and understand the language. This class was helpful because I am minoring in French. It also expanded my creative knowledge.
I scored a 4 on the AP French exam, satisfying the Elementary French I and II classes required for my French minor. This class wasn’t too difficult and was enjoyable since I had been in French for the previous three years. The spoken aspect of the test was especially helpful when I traveled to France in the following months.
Dual Enrollment allowed me to challenge myself academically in high school while also earning college credit before I got to campus. The credits I earned through my AP exam scores will save me the equivalent of an entire year’s worth of tuition and help me reach graduation sooner. I was also able to take more specialized classes during my first semester in college, which enhanced my university experience right away.
Madison Knapp is a freshman at the University of Montana who majors in creative writing and minors in French. She is an out-of-state student from Bellingham, Washington, and has thoroughly enjoyed her time at UM. She is also a DHC student and a proud member of the Grizzly Marching Band.