<p>I am trying to self-study one history AP. About half of my friends suggested APUSH, and the other half suggested AP World History. Which one would the college prefer? Which one is easier? What prep books should I use if I want to self-study?</p>
<p>Hi! I have no knowledge about AP U.S. History, but I self-studied (I had an online class, but there was no learning involved) AP World History. My friends used Princeton Review for studying, so I originally tried to use that book but I found it extremely vague, and not much detail. It is a good book to use if you are going to start right before the exam! I used Barron’s and I started in February; unlike PR, Barron’s had mini quizzes after every unit, which helped for retention. I bought the Barron’s book with the CD-ROM included, and the CD had two timed tests with great essay questions! I do not know if PR had a CD in one of its versions. I have heard that the WHAP DBQ is much easier to learn on your own than the APUSH DBQ. I found the DBQ in WHAP to be easy, and the other two essays to be harder. So, I think WHAP is harder because it encompasses such a huge time period, but on the other hand, APUSH could be harder because of the DBQ? I thought Barron’s helped a lot, and it was more like a textbook than a review book. I also bought the Five Steps to a Five Flashcards, but they did not help at all, but that might be simply due to a difference in learning style?</p>
<p>Let me know if you have any questions about AP World History! I will be taking AP U.S. History next year in school, so I am just starting my summer work!</p>
<p>Thank you so much!! I think I am going to do World History 
If I self-study using Barrons, do you think it’s possible to get a 5?
Also, did you also take the SAT Subject Test for WH? Is it a lot different?</p>
<p>Ask yourself this:</p>
<p>Do you enjoy US or World history more? </p>
<p>Whatever the answer to the question is, is the test that you should take. In my experience, the history that I enjoy learning about the most, is the one that I do best in.</p>
<p>APUSH was easier for me to self study but everyone is different.</p>
<p>APUSH all the way</p>
<p>Most colleges require US history…have you had it already at another level. Also, what is motivation to self-study? If it’s to get college credit, then do some checking. I have D at very selective LAC and a D at large state Univ…neither gives history credit for AP world history, just interdisciplinary credit or free elective credit.</p>
<p>I think it is possible to get a 5 self-studying (but I have not gotten my results back, so I am crossing my fingers!). Like I said before, Barron’s is extremely thorough and I really liked the format! Also, there is a website with many helpful quizzes and outlines for the Stearns textbook…I think it is called Mr. Burnett’s AP World History or something like that! I did take the SAT Subject Test in World History, and I found it to be harder than the AP test multiple choice section! It is definitely just a different style of testing! The SAT Subject Test does not have essays, has a penalty for wrong answers, and requires more memorization of facts than application of facts. Side note: There is no penalty for questions left blank, so be careful with guessing! The AP test is just the opposite, it has essays, does not have a penalty for wrong answers, and is based more on application of knowledge than memorization!</p>
<p>I’m not too much of a history person, but I really think APUSH was easier than APWH. There’s less confusion</p>
<p>I think AP World History is more interesting.</p>
<p>@tonkamavis
Did you use any textbooks? Do you think there’s a need to get an AP textbook ex) Stearns… Traditions and Encounters… Earth and its people…?
Can anyone who’s taken an AP WH class give me advice about which textbook I should use?</p>
<p>I used Traditions and Encounters for APWH, and I thought it was pretty helpful. Was able to get over 95s on all my tests, all comprising of actual AP questions. So, even though I did take a class - T&E probably helped more than the actual class did.</p>
<p>There are also online quizzes and outlines for each chapter, which are super helpful during review! My only complaint would be that sometimes there’s an excess amount of information (especially in the Medieval Europe chapter), but that’s always better than no information. 
</p>
<p>Even though APUSH is technically supposed to take half the time to learn than APWH does, APUSH is harder, at least in my school.</p>
<p>According to what I’ve read here, APUSH has much harder DBQs and has many additional things that would require a teacher. Also AP World is offered at my school as a sophomore class, which probably means it’s the easier one.</p>
<p>@tonkadavid same I’m taking APUSH at school next year! What’s your summer work?</p>
<p>APUSH is an easier subject in my opinion. I got a five on APUSH and I took World this year, and I think World is harder to self study as it is so broad.</p>
<p>If you look at the score distribution, World is much more difficult. You should take the course you believe you will enjoy the most. GL in your decision!!</p>
<p>Sorry for the late response! My online class used Stearns but I found it extremely dry and some bits were quite redundant! I also did not like how much the chapters skipped areas, just so they could remain in the same time period chronologically. If you self-study APWH, I would suggest looking up essay writing resources. I have found thesis writing worksheets specifically for APWH, I would just keep a folder of everything you find! I will try to post links up here later! I would tell you what I got on the exam, but I have not been able to log in to see my scores yet!</p>
<p>I am looking forward to APUSH! My summer work is to read and take notes on the first 3 chapters of the Brinkely book, then complete a take home test for the chapters. The other assignment is to write a research paper about early European colonization! I have not started yet and I have not yet even bought the textbook!</p>
<p>Didn’t take APWH, but took APUSH and it was an easy 5, coming from a guy who’s never really done very well in social studies/humanities. The Brinkely textbook is amazing. I felt like I was reading a giant novel. Pretty fascinating for a guy who doesn’t read… #lolengineer. It has absolutely everything in it. I basically never studied and crammed whatever chapters are on the upcoming test (ranging from 2 to 6 chapters) the weekend before, and never scored below an A on an exam. Essays are harsh though. </p>
<p>About two days before the AP, I crammed the AMSCO book (PDF found online) and breezed through it. 5s are a lot more common on USH than WH.</p>