<p>I want self study a few AP subjects. I will be taking AP classes during my years in high school, though: World History, Biology, US History, Literature & Language Composition, American Government, and AP Calculus BC. </p>
<p>So with the other AP's I'm going to self-study for, I want to balance my study time for junior and senior year. But if I put any AP's on senior year, that means I'll have to take the exams at the end of senior year which won't be helpful to college applications as they are due in December/January.</p>
<p>Can anyone verify my assumption? Or give me any suggestions?</p>
<p>Correct, self-studying for AP’s in senior year won’t help for college admission. But passing those AP’s will likely give you options once you get to college. </p>
<p>In addition to what @TheCrookedOne said, AP exam scores don’t help too much with admission. A 5 solidifies your A in the class, but the fact you’re taking them and getting an A is the important part to adcoms. </p>
<p>If you are doing this because your school doesnt have prep classes I think it would be a plus to list that somewhere on your app. If you are doing that in liu of your school’s prep you could be seen as gaming the system, and they will wonder why you didnt use the prep you had. </p>
<p>Hey mitchklong, I’m doing this because my school doesn’t offer some of the APs I want to take. I’m engrossed in history topics such as European History, so I thought taking the AP exam will be beneficial as well. What do you mean by the latter of your post?</p>
<p>I dont know that this would apply to you, but there are students who test well and can pass AP tests by studying the guides. As long as they can find a testing center they skip taking the AP class and test out. The result is cheap, fast credits. Thats what I meant by gaming. Nothing really wrong with that, but I wouldnt bring it up on your app if you did it. </p>
<p>If they dont offer those classes in your school I think what you are doing is studious. GL. </p>
<p>Just to emphasize, the main purpose of AP exams is to earn college credit for your high school work. Anything additional, like a good score as a boost to your app, is secondary. Adcoms are much more concerned with your grades in the class and how you have worked during the year. They realize that one test doesn’t determine your knowledge, but your quarter/semester grades are testament to your work ethic. If you feel that you can get credit by passing an exam without taking the class, by all means! Just make sure you study.</p>
<p>My initial reason to self study AP exams to boost my application for college, but now that you and so many have mentioned how self studying AP scores as a means to boost my app can be seen through by college adcoms, I’m leaning towards self studying the ones I actually want to learn about such as AP European History. I’m self-studying 4 AP tests: AP European History because I love history, AP Physics B because I won’t be taking physics junior year due to scheduling conflicts, and AP Psychology and AP Human Geography because those two are the easiest and just enough to help me get AP National Scholar. However, I’m contemplating on the last two… probably switching out to something more beneficial and meaningful like AP Comparative Government and AP US Government. </p>
<p>I have ample time to do other things as well, such as community service, ECs, etc.</p>
<p>I don’t think I made myself clear. Personally I never saw a whole lot of purpose to self-studying for any AP exam unless it was for the pure intent of learning the material for future use or, more commonly, earning credit for a college class. The $89 and efforts spent studying for each exam are justifiable expenses if the credit will be used, or if the things you learn are necessary foundational knowledge for your major. In that case, it will more than pay for itself. But if your goal is to go through all of that just to add another line or two to your resume, then your priorities are out of line. Besides, many competitive schools assert that they use AP scores for placement only after you’re admitted. More often that not, they have no influence in your decision.</p>
<p>Your pursuit of the AP Scholar award is a little superficial, don’t you think? I am a huge advocate of the AP system, but not when it’s played like this. The problem isn’t that your plan is ‘transparent’, because that implies that the goal of high school and AP exams is nothing more than pleasing adcoms, which is the furthest thing from the truth. Rather, AP exams are an investment, and my problem is when kids lose sight of that. If you’re willing to spend $356 and countless hours studying (which is reasonably what it would take to be able to use the resulting credits) for four tests than you aren’t taking the class for, then more power to you. But don’t lose sight of the big picture and what you’re actually working toward.</p>
<p>In the same vein, if you have time for community service/ECs, awesome. But that time should be spent with the same grounded intent in mind. Don’t let some admissions officer determine your high school experience. Do what makes sense. Just trying to help.</p>
<p>You’re right. And I know it’s up to me to make the call. It’s funny cause today in English, we had free writing Friday. I happened to write about how high school students nowadays spend too much time and effort trying to impress college adcoms that they don’t have time for a normal teenage life. Honestly, I would only ever want to self study AP European and AP Physics for the sake of learning them. The other two was for padding purposes that I will drop. Thanks for making it clear. At first, I thought you were kind of on my side, but I understand now.</p>