According to the College Board, the Advanced Placement (AP) Program enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies with the opportunity to earn college credit, placement, or both, while still in high school. The College Board is a mission-driven, non-profit organization that expands access to higher education and connects students to college success and opportunity.

Classes are year-long and concluded through an AP Exam which is grade on a scale between 0 and 5. In order for students to earn credit, they should at least achieve a score of 3 or 70% on the standardized exam.

The Capstone Diploma program enables students to take skills-based and subject-based AP Seminar and AP Research classes. The AP seminar is taken by students in Grade 11 which centers on “exploring topics and issues from multiple perspectives, identifying credible sources, evaluating arguments, and forming logical, evidence-based opinions and recommendations”, as explained by the College Board. After which, students in Grade 12 are required to take an “independent research project”.

In addition to the AP Seminar and AP Research, students also have to take four AP classes throughout their high school journey. They have the option to take one AP course per year starting in their freshman year or choose to take all classes during their last two years.

Students who successfully earn a score of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on the four AP Exams throughout high school receive an AP Seminar and Research Diploma™. On the other hand, those who earn a score of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research but did not take the four AP Exams nor achieved the required score receive an AP Seminar and AP Research Certificate which signifies that students gained college-level academic and research skills.

The AP Capstone Program offers a good number of benefits to students who wish to obtain a college degree outside the country. It entails the following advantages:

Helps your college application stand out, especially in an international setting

Universities are not only looking for students who have done well in high school but they are also identifying that these college applicants were able to challenge themselves. Through this, it only proves that they are more likely to succeed in the college-level program. Additionally, AP Capstone is an internationally recognized program. This provides a huge advantage for Filipinos looking to pursue their college education abroad.

Develop key academic skills students will use in college and beyond

The most considerable importance in college admissions is the student’s academic skills and capacities. The strength of the academic competency is a good indicator of the student’s performance in school both prior and during his college days. It is the strongest, most valid sign in determining how a student can foster in higher education.

Become self-confident, independent thinkers and problem solvers

When students are able to think critically, they tend to be instinctual problem-solvers. Independent thinkers are also associated with a broad range of disciplines which can be cultivated in various cognitive talents. In addition, confidence is the forefront to learning on how students are not limited to being just a thinker but also a leader.

Earn college credits in advance

Earning a college credit in high school is the door for finding students’ true academic passion with the enthusiasm to explore different subjects in an in-depth manner. Through this, students improve the chances of getting into the college of their choice, improve the chances of qualifying for scholarships, and acquire beneficial skills and discipline that are essential in college.
Today, the education system has developed in providing more opportunities to students who want to succeed in the future. A good number of senior high strands are created to specifically fit to the students’ preference.
There are only two schools that offer an AP Capstone program in the Philippines. Enderun Colleges, one of the leading senior high schools in Manila, enables students to learn to think critically while considering multiple viewpoints in a number of disciplines. From a content-driven curriculum with highly localized focus, the AP Capstone program transitions to providing 21st century skills-based learning with internationally-aligned yet contextualized focus.