<p>My school does not offer very many AP's and the ones that are available are for seniors except for AP U.S. history and AP English Language and Composition, I will be taking U.S. history next year. I feel that only taking one AP will look bad on my college application. I want to self-study this year for AP Psych, AP Environmental Science and AP World History and AP government and politics. I took environmental science freshman year and did well (96). I took world history freshman and sophmore year and did well sophmore year. (98). The problem is my guidance counselor is against me self-studying for AP's and said that I would not be allowed to take the exams in May. Technically she can't not allow me to take the exams but I need to persuade her that I should. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! also if anyone can recommend the best books for these AP's.</p>
<p>Why won't she let you do it? Most schools pray for students to self study in addition to school academics. Besides, if your school doesn't allow to take most of the AP classes, it won't hurt you in the college applications.</p>
<p>I am not quite sure why not. I think it might be because I am the only one who has ever wanted to self-study AP's in my school. I know it sounds ludicrous but it may very well be true. I know that it won't hurt me, but I think it would help me because it would show that I am disciplined enough to self-study etc. Thanks for the reply :)</p>
<p>Listen, it is perfectly legal to take the AP test. They cannot stop you if you want to self-study. Just ignore her/him and take it.</p>
<p>You can go to another school to take the tests.</p>
<p>gyros is right, they can't stop you from purchasing the exams.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the advice! I am afraid though that she will call my mom as a way to attempt to discourage me from doing it or vice versa because my mom is also somewhat against me self-studying AP's because she doesn't quite understand AP.</p>
<p>If your school doesn't offer many AP's, colleges wont hold not taking them against you. There is very little benefit in self-studying an AP outside of the college credit you get, which at many schools that CCers apply too, is none. Also, doing well on a typical freshman/sophomore-introductory class probably hasn't prepared you for an AP exam very well. If you're truly interested in the subjects, maybe self study one of them, but not all.</p>
<p>What do you care what the GC says. Self-Study anyway, register for the tests, get 5s and go to him/her a say "What now Beach!"</p>
<p>That guidance counselor sounds like the ones at my school... im not sure they even graduated high school... freaking retards are screwing up the students..
"no, i don't think you should take AP chemistry even though your chem teacher approved of it."
"What's the PSAT?"
God please...</p>
<p>lol, I think my guidance counselor is better at helping those with personal problems. For example, I spoke to her at one point about the possiblity of taking APUSH, Junior year and she told me I would most likely get in due to my PSAT scores, which were fairly decent, and I took the PSAT as a pratice test sophmore year. Out of all the students in normal world history meaning not in honors, I was the only one that got in, I even beat out most of the world history honors students. (Sorry, to go on, but I am so annoyed with my guidance counselor). oh well, if i feel that the self-studying is not going well I can always not take the exam, hopefully that won't be the case :)</p>
<p>she can't stop you....</p>
<p>Wow, your mom and counselor got some personal issues.</p>
<p>
[quote]
lol, I think my guidance counselor is better at helping those with personal problems. For example, I spoke to her at one point about the possiblity of taking APUSH, Junior year and she told me I would most likely get in due to my PSAT scores, which were fairly decent, and I took the PSAT as a pratice test sophmore year. Out of all the students in normal world history meaning not in honors, I was the only one that got in, I even beat out most of the world history honors students. (Sorry, to go on, but I am so annoyed with my guidance counselor). oh well, if i feel that the self-studying is not going well I can always not take the exam, hopefully that won't be the case
[/quote]
ok i am kind of confused over here....
umm..whats APUSH hafto do with World history honors .and how do both have ANYTHING todo with PSAT ScoreS?</p>
<p>oh and btw...take the AP tests..just self study..</p>
<p>I hate when people think that they know whats best for you, especially when guidence coucellors think that they are doing you a favor by limiting your options. I had the same problem freshman year. What you need to do is to study and then get all 5s, so that you can shut those people up.</p>
<p>I had a similar problem. I was taking extra self-study exams and my high school AP coordinator was incompetent and couldn't get anyone to proctor them.
I called several schools, a few refused. Then, I called NCSSM (North Carolina School of Science and Math) and they allow their students to take any exam they wish. Their AP Coordinator was very nice and allowed me to test there for some exams.</p>
<p>So, I recommend you to look up all the schools that teach AP in your state about a month before AP registration. Then call them up and talk to the coordinators. Also, if there is an institute in your state that offers people to take AP courses online, call it up. They will likely point you to a testing center that they point their students to.</p>
<p>If you won't be able to find a center, call AP services, they should also help you look since they have databases on what schools teach what AP classes.</p>
<p>Hopefully, that helps. If you have any questions, private message me.</p>
<p>Like others have said, they can't stop you from taking the AP exams unless they refuse the money (assuming you have to pay at your school). I would recommend talking to your mom about the point of these exams, who in turn might be able to talk to your guidance counselor. Or you can just go elsewhere.</p>
<p>However, before you self-study for four exams, in addition to taking another one, you should really reconsider your priorities. Even though some of those are not considered the hardest by far (in fact, the opposite..) four is still a bit much for independent learning.</p>
<p>I am not quite sure as to why being in WH honors or having high psat scores helps one get into AP's and honors but for some reason these are things my school looks at. The said that as far as the PSAT for AP USH you have to have a high writing and critical reading score because a lot of AP U.S. History is reading and writing. I guess my school also feels that if you are in an honors class you are most likely going to be able to handle an AP course more easily than someone who was not in honors. The good news is that I did get into AP U.S. History so I don't have to worry anymore.</p>
<p>you GC is doubtlessly a moron. do well to adress he/she/it by it's proper name.</p>
<p>be wary of independent studying however. slacking off, especially to take care of what is required already for school, is VERY easy. Four seems like too formidable a challenge, given you don't have a history of taking very many aps.</p>
<p>conversing with anonymous people on a forum in order to make such an important (and costly) decision is probably not the way to go. i would advise confiding in a teacher whom you trust and respect in just how many would be prudent for a student of your calibre.</p>
<p>I have a similar problem. The registrar in my school has forced me to right an appeal on why I think I should be allowed to take 3 APs and one honors class this year. Because of this I know for certain that she won't allow me to take Enviromental Sci exam (self study). Even if she does I will have to pay extra for the proctor and room fees because I'll be the only one. My school sucks like that.</p>