<p>Hi everyone! This fall I'll be a piece of freshmeat (aka freshman) in high school and I'm thinking about self-studying AP Euro. I'm very interested in European history, and can memorize things quickly. I would like to take AP Euro before the exam is redesigned in the 2015-16 school year. </p>
<p>If I get Modern European History by Viault, Princeton Review and Crash Course could I get a good score? (hoping for a 4 or 5) Also, how difficult are the DBQ and FRQs? Am I completely crazy to consider self-studying this, AP Music Theory and AP Psych my freshman year? (nevermind, don't answer that last question) I'm motivated and willing to put in the time self-studying requires. Thanks guys! :D</p>
<p>I forgot to mention this above, but one of the main reasons as to why I want to self-study AP Euro is because my school doesn’t offer it.</p>
<p>…That’s a little crazy. You don’t even know how you’ll handle high school yet and you want to not only do three APs, but SELF-STUDY them? I hope you can stay afloat.</p>
<p>@bodangles never said I wasn’t crazy 
but in all seriousness, thanks for the warning. You’re right; I’m not completely sure how I’ll handle high school, but I know I want to at least take two AP exams. I won’t really be spending too much time on the AP Music Theory because I have a very strong musical background, but would it be possible if I self-studied AP Euro?</p>
<p>Don’t underestimate AP Music Theory. If you can sight sing, have perfect pitch, and have great familiarity with treble and bass clef you are halfway there. If that’s currently lacking, you will have issues.</p>
<p>I never recommend self-study in lieu of taking the class. Since your school does not offer AP Euro, I’ll share my advice. I’m not telling you not to attempt it. It’s pretty straightforward. The FRQ’s are a breeze, assuming you know the answer. The challenge is the DBQ’s. You are basically analyzing data to support your argument, and for many, that’s a new approach to learning history. If you had taken another class where the teacher went through the process with you, you would be better off. Trying this freshman year, you don’t have that luxury.</p>
<p>Also, as noted above, don’t discount the transition effects of moving from MS to HS. Whatever you decide, good luck.</p>
<p>@skieurope Thanks for the advice! I can sight sing, do have perfect pitch, and I’ve played piano for about 9 years. I study music theory in addition to piano; my teacher gives me practice books and packets. I’ve already looked at the AP Music Theory course description and I’m familiar with a lot of the topics.</p>
<p>In my current history class, our teacher gives us DBQ’s to do about once or twice a month, so I’m familiar with analyzing documents. However, this is middle school level, so I’m assuming the data given in AP Euro is a lot more difficult. Our teacher taught us how to write a thesis, have two supporting claims, one counter-claim and a concluding paragraph. Would that be similar to the format of DBQ’s for the history AP’s? Thanks for helping! I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Pretty much. You should be OK then.</p>
<p>Well, I’m a freshman taking 5 APs: self-studying four APs in combination with taking AP Macro in school. (For context, people think I’m insane too…).
I’m also selfing AP Euro and I DO NOT like Modern European History. Too old and is not concise enough to self-study. Although I’m not as experienced in APEuro as some on here, Crash Course seems to be enough to breeze the MCs. Someone did a “study” on which book is the best and found that Crash Course had the most “hits” per page. </p>
<p>AP’s are overrated IMHO.</p>
<p>You’re overrated IMHO.</p>
<p>(jkjk)</p>
<p>I think I know why you’re saying that. The awe on people’s faces when I tell them I’m taking 5 AP’s as a freshman is amazing. Most seniors at my school don’t even take 5 AP’s before they graduate… People understand the difficulty of AP’s. If I tell the same people I made USAMO, they would look at me like I’m crazy, because a). they don’t know what that is and b). they have no idea how difficult it really is.</p>
<p>@DigitalKing wow! that’s impressive! thanks for your input on the Modern European History book. I’m just curious; how are you managing self-studying that many AP’s? Do you ever feel like it’s too much work? What other AP’s are you self-studying? How’s AP Euro? Sorry for the interrogation.
Btw, I completely agree with you about the USAMO comment. Most people don’t know what it even is, let alone the difficulty.</p>
<p>@wcao9311 nice to know your opinion</p>
<p>How am I managing this many APs?
Well it’s kind of interesting… My school is really sub-par academically, so I don’t get much homework. I don’t really have to pay attention in class, so I often study in class too. My environment, ironically, is beneficial to letting me do what I want to do academically.
I’m currently selfing MicroEcon, Psych, World and Euro while taking MacroEcon in school.
Euro’s the one I’ve procrastinated on. I started at the start of the year, working on Psych and World - except I planned on doing Environ instead of Euro. I changed my mind like a monthish ago (lol).
I actually am pretty busy with band/speech/tennis/ARML-practice!/random_junk, so it’s not like selfing APs is all I do. It’s more of a “filler” for the crapload of spare time I end up having at the end of some days and on weekends. I’ve saved my intense studying for spring break…</p>
<p>Woahwoahwoah, self studying 3 APs, before taking any APs, in freshmen year? Call me crazy, but that sounds crazy. I’d only do one, and if any I would do Human Geo or Psych. Euro History is pretty hard in itself as a course, but self studying it as a freshmen as your first AP exam with 3 other exams just spells out disaster. </p>
<p>I am going to let you in on a little secret about CC…people lie. Gasp! I know! People lying on the internet! Don’t let these unrealistically high standards trick you! There are students, who don’t self study at all and get into Ivy leagues.</p>
<p>If you’re headstrong and there is no telling you otherwise, I’d at least review a review book months prior to March to see how it is and decide from there. </p>