<p>I was pondering on something recently. I planned to take several AP's senior year, most of them self study. Now, I remember that my Macro test junior year was in May and I got my results in July. Since most college applications are deadlined around early winter, and since most folks get their decisions before the Summer, I was wondering whether or not studying and taking AP tests senior year will be useful for college application. I mean, I won't be able to tell the colleges anything except that I'm taking AP classes or self-studying via midyear reports. </p>
<p>I think a student can report the AP classes he/she taking to colleges via midyear reports (for me, only one, AP calc), but what about self-studies (for me, four or five)? Can you put that in the "additional information" section? </p>
<p>And how important is the fact that you're taking AP classes senior year to admissions officers? They want to see AP test scores first, but all you can report in your midyear report is the grade in the class, and you can't get grades when you self study!</p>
<p>I'm in a dilemma! Should I study for and take about five AP tests if they won't mean anything for college admissions? </p>
<p>Taking AP classes senior year are very important. By the way, schools care more about your grade in an AP than your score on the AP exam, so your mid-year can definitely help you. </p>
<p>I'm not sure about the self-study exams, but my gut inclination is that you shouldn't bother or at least tone it down because they probably aren't going to help your chances.</p>
<p>Well, if you're only studying APs for college apps, then I say don't do it because the colleges won't see that fact in time and you're not really into it for the learning experience anyways. However, there are other benefits for the APs. If you're trying to get college credit for the classes once you're in college so as to save time and money, I'd say go for them. Check the colleges that you're interested in to make sure they accept the AP class that you'll be taking the test for. Good luck!</p>
<p>So far, I'm hearing that taking AP classes will help me because I can report grades in my midyear reports, but self-studies won't because....I guess because I can't report them on midyears?</p>
<p>Well, if that's the case, then can't I report that I'm self studying AP courses through some other medium? Like, an additional information section? I wold think that if anyone is self studying that they should have the right to report it to colleges.</p>
<p>For a little more clarity, I've taken AP Macroecon and AP Spanish. That should show diversity of interests, especially when I've taken other finance and language courses, and it should also show admissions officers that I'm not just taking so many AP's for college admissions(which I'm not). </p>
<p>Also, I'll probably be applying to the following:</p>
<p>University of Texas-Austin
University of California-Berkeley
Rutgers University
Cornell University
USC</p>
<p>So, how will these colleges look at it?</p>
<p>Again, I value your time. Thanks for the replies so far, and please keep them coming!</p>
<p>I think there is nothing better than taking AP's in senior year, and getting good grades in them first (and second) semester to show you are a serious student. Plus you can lighten your load in college with the credits you earn if you get 4's and 5's on the tests, which can be a big plus.<br>
As for self-study, see if you can do it through a computer course with a tutor so you have a record. Try the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins for this (cty.jhu.edu??). The tutors aren't great, but the courses are good guides and should help you. But sign up soon (it does cost some $$). And it is probably better to not overdo it, as you want to get A's and B's in your AP courses, so make sure you can handle all the work, as these courses will challenge you.</p>