So this year is my junior year and I took only one AP, AP Literature. The school I go to usually only offers all available AP this year for Chem, History, English, Math (If you took algebra II for freshmen year), and elective APs.
My problem is that I was behind in class level for science and math in freshmen year which only allows me to be in honor classes and my schedule prevented me from APUSH. MY electives are filled so no AP for my electives. Since this is the year which college would see my AP grades, I thought maybe I should study for the AP exam myself. So here are the questions:
1.) Should I self study or will it be to hard for AP exams such as AP Psych and AP World?
2.) Will college see that I took the AP exam without taking an AP class and will this hurt me?
3.) What AP exams do you recommend for self-study?
It is way more important to study for you current classes than study for some AP test. This would likely help you very little to none. You only self report AP test results. It will not modify your academic rigor classification. If you are going to spend time studying for a test, make it the SAT or ACT.
I personally like the idea of a student having at least one or two APs when they go to university. For example, at some point in 4 years of university you are going to run into a professor that isn’t very good . This can happen at any university, even the very top ones. If this happens in a very difficult class, then you might have to drop it and take a W. It is good to have come in with an AP credit so that this doesn’t leave you behind in credits.
Given that you already have one AP, and will likely get at least another senior year, I don’t think that you need to worry about it. If you are looking at Harvard and Stanford then having only one AP is already pretty much a nonstarter, and for a very long list of other very good schools your grades are going to matter a lot more, with self-studying for an AP test mattering very little if at all.
Which means that I agree with @Eeyore123: “It is way more important to study for you current classes”.
Thirding the “more important to study for your current classes”.
Will you be able to take 2APs as a senior?
Thanks for the response!
As to clarify, I am tempted to take one self study AP exam this year though. As for the SAT, I can keep that up while I’m keeping up with my school work. The only reason why I want to self study is because I didn’t get the opportunity I school and definitely can keep the workload up. Also, I want to have at least two AP exams in before Senior year as I been told that junior year in my school will be the only year colleges will see my grade.
Also, can someone answer 2.) Will college see that I took the AP exam without taking an AP class and will this hurt me
Colleges will see you didn’t take the class. AP scores are self reported so if you don’t report it they won’t know, if you do report it they will know.
Actually, it depends on the college. Your state’s public universities will see the grades up to end of junior year BUT will look at your senior year classes (for rigor in particular - and if you get a D or F you’re rescinded).
Private colleges will typically want not only the list of classes taken senior year but also the first quarter/first term/first semester grades.
in short, classes you choose to take senior year matter. Grades only matter specifically for private colleges but will greatly matter if you overload and get a D (since you’ll lose your admission).
Your time would be better spent on making sure you get A’s in your current classes and on daily preparation for the SAT and SAT subjects.
Perhaps plan on taking 3 Ap’s next year, AP Lang and 2 others.
What colleges are you thinking of?
One daughter did self-study for an AP class, in a subject where she was doing very well. I don’t think that it had any affect on her admission to university. However, she did get AP credit for the class (after getting a 5 on the test). I think that you should think of self-studying for an AP test as lower priority than doing well in classes and on the SAT or ACT, but something that you certainly can do if you want to do it.