When high school students navigate the college admissions process, it’s important to consider ways to stand out on college applications. At Laurel Springs, students have the opportunity to enroll in the AP® Capstone Diploma™ Program, a course with two year-long AP® course components: AP® Seminar and AP® Research. During this program, students learn about how to prepare for a college education through rigorous academic coursework, exploring a variety of topics that can be related to other AP® courses they take throughout their high school years. Students will spend time working independently and with their classmates who can be located all around the world. 

Their course projects will include a variety of team projects/presentations, individual written arguments and an Individual Media Presentation (IMP), an academic paper, and their presentation and oral defense questions. “The diverse student body at Laurel Springs introduces students from all backgrounds to cultures worldwide, revealing new passions and interests as students choose their topic of research in the course,” shared Dr. Inge Salierno, Electives Academic Chair at Laurel Springs. “This collaboration opens doors to learn more from other students’ unique experiences, expertise, and perspectives, as well as the areas of research other students are pursuing.”

The extensive coursework and collaboration required of students in the AP® Capstone Program stands out on college applications, showcasing to the admissions committee the level of hard work and rigor students are capable of. As one of the only online schools to offer this program, Laurel Springs continues to see students thrive in high school, college, and in their future careers from the foundation built in the AP® Capstone program. 

Read on to learn more about how the AP® Capstone program at Laurel Springs can benefit students who plan to continue their academic career and pursue a higher education degree. 

Stand Out in the College Application Process

Many colleges see AP® Capstone as an indicator of college preparedness, and when a student has this course on their transcript, it can help them stand out in the admissions process. Studies have shown graduates of the AP® Capstone course are more likely to persist through difficult material and have higher GPAs during their first year of college. Laurel Springs alumna Sanne Verkoeijen (Class of 2025) shared more about her experience in the program. “I was able to develop my essay writing in an academic way, as well as learning the proper structure of a research paper,” she said. “I have already applied this structure numerous times in college, and felt I was given a leg up by learning it in high school.” She also shared about how the AP® Capstone program prepared her for college by teaching her how to successfully cite sources, work in groups, and present to a group. 

“AP® Capstone was one of the most useful classes I took during my time at Laurel Springs,” she said. “Unlike other AP®’s, I felt like I was learning real-life skills which I can now apply to other work.”

Build Time Management and Project-Planning Skills

A large part of the AP® Capstone Program at Laurel Springs is working on a yearlong research project. Students design, plan, and implement a research plan based on an academic topic, a problem, or an issue they are passionate about. They’re able to reflect on their skill development from the past year working in the AP® Seminar course, growing their time management and project-planning skills, crucial skills needed when starting a college career. 

Increase Self-Confidence and Become an Independent Thinker and Problem-Solver

Laurel Springs students in the AP® Capstone Program collaborate on research projects, learning more about how to think independently and problem-solve as a team. “The AP® Capstone Program provides a unique opportunity among our curriculum where students are actively working together to produce a quality product,” shared Laurel Springs Dean of Counseling, Heidi McClure. Through this group collaboration, students are able to simulate a college-level group project, learning how to successfully communicate and work with classmates from different backgrounds. 

Strengthen Academic Writing, Presentation, and Argumentation Skills

Students at Laurel Springs spend time in AP® Seminar exploring the complexities of academic and real-world topics. They spend hours honing their academic writing, presentation, and argumentation skills, practicing collaboration with peers all over the world. They learn how to successfully research and communicate with others during the first year of the program, and when they move into the second year, they will implement the skills they have practiced and learned into their research project. Having these strong skills will benefit college-bound students, preparing them for the challenge of collegiate level work. 

Earn College Credit

While college credit is not guaranteed for completing the AP® Capstone Program, it is a possibility for many institutions and universities around the world. Students in the AP® Capstone Program typically take several AP® courses throughout their high school years, broadening their potential to earn college credit and lower the cost of college tuition. You can learn more about credit policies specific to AP® Seminar and AP® Research courses on the College Board website.

The AP® Capstone has countless benefits for students planning to pursue a college degree. For Laurel Springs students interested in adding this course to their course load, we recommend getting in touch with your counselor before registering for the 2026-27 school year. For families interested in getting started with Laurel Springs, we recommend attending a Virtual Open House!

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