<p>I see and hear a lot about self-studying AP classes. How can you do that? lol. I think that I would learn better in a classroom setting than my home. How would you know what to topics to study for that subject? and how would you get advice? Don't you have to buy books and junk. </p>
<p>Books + Other Junk = $$$ Money $$$</p>
<p>Personally, I couldn't do. If I did, when test time comes around, I wouldn't show up.</p>
<p>Books specifically made for a certain ap test are good at compressing info and telling you only what you need to know. Get one from the library for free</p>
<p>It costs only about $20-30 for the cost of books for one AP class if you want to be throughout and get a 5, or only $8-11 if you just want a 3 or higher.
If you’re buying a textbook, you’d be dumb to buy new ones unless you’re super rich and just feel like spending money on random things.</p>
<p>Some people self-study them just to boost their GPA. After all, taking the exam isn’t required…</p>
<p>^ woah, what schools do that? I know my school doesn’t even give credit for self-study, it’s just in the AP score…</p>
<p>Also, usually for self-study, I just get the textbook the class (or do some research about it) and start reading a chapter or so a week…just follow along the class or whatever. all about motivation haha</p>
<p>I’m considering self studying AP Macro/Micro Economics because my school doesn’t offer it and I’m thinking about majoring in something like Business Economics, so not only would I get credit for some classes, but I would also be exposed to economics to see if I want to pursue it in college. I agree with some of you guys, though; I never understood why people who want to major in science self study something like AP Euro. That just seems like a waste of time imo.</p>
<p>^^ I don’t see the purpose either…</p>
<p>@FollowTheReaper I agree with you’re last statement. You see a lot of CC’ers on here self-studying AP History and AP Languages and this and that and major in something totally different. They do it because they want to appeal to colleges, which isn’t a smart idea…</p>
<p>I don’t really see the enjoyment in self-studying because I enjoy being taught things, and I don’t enjoy learning from a book.</p>
<p>I was thinking about self-studying for a few tests in order to have a chance to get the National AP Scholar award before senior year. I’d only have to self-study 2. Do you think the difference between AP Scholar with Distinction and National AP Scholar is worth the time lost, or should I use the time to get more involved in my EC’s?</p>
<p>@tiger15: ECs, definitely. AP Scholar is not a particular impressive achievement. I mean, it’s worth a couple of brownie points, but no way will it make nor break an application.</p>
<p>I’ve heard a lot of people who get the AP scholar award, it’s cool, but not, OH MY GAWD! type of cool.</p>
<p>The only valuable AP awards are the AP State and the Siemens award, MAYBE National Scholar, but that’s more like PSAT Semi-finalist tier.</p>
<p>How many AP classes would you have to take to get the State AP Scholar?</p>
<p>^ I’ve heard it’s in the range of 12 to 20, usually.</p>
<p>Oh, ok. By the end of senior year I will have taken 17 AP tests, but unfortunately I’m in Cali so I doubt that will be enough. Oh well.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, California is definitely competitive. You’ll probably need between 20 to 25, possibly more if you want to be State AP Scholar there. </p>
<p>Usually around 12 to 18 is the range for less competitive states in the Midwest, Southeast, and Rockies. Expect 20+ for the Northeast, California, etc. Sometimes it can even be competitive to the point of being asinine - considering there are only 23 non-art, non-foreign language exams.</p>
<p>But realistically, State AP Scholar is nothing more than a pat on the back. You don’t get the award until after your senior year, so you can’t even put it on your college app or anything.</p>
<p>I would only self-study a subject I absolutely hate. I took AP Bio online (I hate science classes, but I can hold my nose for Biology) but I never got to finish it. I have to this summer then take the CLEP exam. </p>
<p>I may have to take another science class if I want an AA. It would be something useless like Astronomy.</p>
<p>Some APs are easy as $#Ite though. </p>
<p>AP Human Geography was a joke. College credits though, I’ll take 'em.</p>