To give a little backround, I will be a sophomore in a month and am going take honors English, honors algebra II, honors chemistry, AP Spanish Language and Culture, and regular world history. I also would like to self-study AP Environmental Science and AP Psychology (I have two free blocks, so I don’t think I will be too overwhelmed).
I haven’t self-studied before, but after doing quite a bit of research, the two mentioned seem like a good combonation of interesting and reasonable. However, I have found a wide range of strategies and reccomended prep books and I would appreciate any suggestions on the topic. Whether it is about the prep books, studying, taking the exam, etc anything would be great. If it helps, I will have the whole year to prepare and am willing to get a few for each class as long as they aren’t too expensive.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Does your school offer these courses? You should just sign up for the course if it’s available. Before you invest all this time, you should understand that colleges are not particularly impressed by kids self studying for AP exams, and say that they’d rather see kids pursuing interests than cramming from test prep books for easy APs. There aren’t any other actual courses at your school which interest you? No arts? No requirements like PE to take care of?
I agree with @mathyone; colleges like seeing your time spent somewhere else. The only reason you should be self studying is for college credit or if you are going into that field of study. Self studying doesn’t impress colleges or improve your application either. If the course is offered at your school you should take it. I think those free blocks better filled with classes than self studying.
@mathyone & @pinklinks Thanks for your advice! My school doesnt offer environmental science. Pychology is only a senior class and there were a lot of senior only classes that I wanted to take so I wouldnt have room for it. I totally understand what you are saying, so I hope this information clarifies why I’m thinking about it.
I played 3 varisty sports last year and took care of the requirment for PE, but only plan to do track and field for the next 3 years. I was just way too stressed out playing all 3. I’m not much of an artistic person, but I’m currently searching for other activities that intestest me. Please let me know if you have any suggestions because I’m not having a lot of luck coming up with any. If it helps, I work a lot with a family organization and hope to do more with it!
Are you genuinely interested in either psychology or environmental science? And by genuinely interested, I mean are you thinking about pursuing a major in either of those fields? If not, I highly suggest you not waste your time with self studying.
Have you asked your GC about this? In my experience some enrollment rules are just guidelines. Our school lists AP psych as grades 11-12 and yet there are always some sophomores in the class. Same for some of the other AP classes, whereas for some AP classes the rules are strictly enforced.
@Shanban1607 I’m not sure yet, but science is definitley my favorite subject. I am hoping to find a class that stands out to me, and so far biology has been the most interesting!
@mathyone Yes, spots would be given to grades 10-11 if the class doesn’t fill but that’s very rare unfortunately.