How to self study for AP classes?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I would like some advice for self studying for AP classes.

  • Time management advice
  • Which books are best for AP psychology
  • Study Tips
  • Test taking strategies

Thanks

2

I would not spend any time studying AP Psychology (or any other AP). First off, self-studying for an AP is not regarded by admissions officers as having same academic rigor as taking a class. Secondly, AP Psychology is regarded as one of the easier AP classes and doing well on the exam will not add meaningful level of rigor to your program. I think your time would be much better spent focused on doing as well as you can in your academic classes and being involved in ECs you care about in a meaningful way.

3

I feel like self studying for AP exams was very much en vogue ~10 years ago, which always struck me as kind of a pity.
Now my impression is that it’s not quite as common at least on CC?

Regardless, I 100% agree with @happy1’s advice. Colleges like to see that a student has maximized his/her academic resources reasonably available to them, but self-studying a “tertiary” type of AP exam such as AP psychology doesn’t really fall into this bucket IMO.

I believe your time is way better used putting focus on an EC you’re passionate about.

4

Ok thanks!

5

As a data point to what @happy1 said, I did not take the class in HS. I literally just crammed the weekend before using a review book and got a 5.

The fact that the AP Psych exam is so mind-numbingly easy is one of the main reasons Dartmouth eliminated AP Psych credit.

http://pbs.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/curriculum/transfer-and-ap-credit

So yeah, you may (or may not) get some college credit from self studying, but there are better uses for your time.

6

What if I self studied as a freshman in high school? Also psychology is one of the fields I am interested in.

7

I doubt that would make a difference. You’re studying for one of the easiest AP exams that doesn’t require complex understanding of material, just lots of memorization. Colleges really wouldn’t be impressed by this at all, and as skieurope said, there are better uses of your time

8

Ok, thanks

9

I’m not really understanding the question It is better to actually take the class. Nobody will be impressed that you self studied. Not as a senior and not as a freshman.

10

Another reason many schools don’t give credit for AP Psych is that psychology is viewed as more of a science and many intro. classes now have a lab component (which AP Psych doesn’t have).

And agree, nobody will be impressed by your self-studying AP Psych no matter what grade you are in. Once again, I’d suggest you focus on your actual classes and involvement in ECs.

11

Before you ask how to self study APs, ask yourself why?

Self-studying APs does not help you with admissions. They don’t look at your AP test scores for admissions…seniors who take APs don’t get the scores back until after they are admitted.

So if you do it, you would be doing it for College credit. See if your colleges of choice would give you credit and if that credit would be useful.

Also realize that doing well in your HS courses is vastly more important than self studying…also would you have time to do ECs if you are self studying?

Reasons to self-study:

  1. Love to learn - great! Take the classes instead if possible
  2. Want college credit? Fine…but make sure it is not at the expense of your regular HS courses or ECs
  3. AP Scholars award with distinction…this is cool and all…but is not useful for college admissions
  4. College Admissions…doesn’t help. Many people take AP tests senior year after they are already admitted. Colleges don’t generally take AP scores into account. They take your GPA/SAT into account
12

Studying for an AP exam without taking the class sort of implies that your high school course load and EC’s aren’t very challenging or rigorous and that you have a lot of free time on your hands.