Choose the curriculum that interests you most. The IB and APs consist of high school classes. It is true that some colleges provide credit and some will give up to a year. But those colleges are giving college credit for high school classes. neither the APs or IB would be confused with college classes. I question what it means when a college says that their first year is the equivalent to a year of high school classes. Scholarships aside, I think you tend to get what you pay for and calling IBs and APS college classes tells you more about the college than anything else. Just decide which curriculum will challenge you most.