<p>I plan on self studying AP Human Geography and taking the test May 2011. I bought the textbook and Barron's and have started reading the books. </p>
<p>Now, where do I take the tests? At my private high school? Or one of the local publics? Does the school have to offer the class to order the exam? Can I sign up on the CB website and have them assign me a school?</p>
<p>I know that was a lot of questions. Sorry!</p>
<p>You have to talk to your guidance counselor or ap coordinator at your school. (Im pretty sure)</p>
<p>Well, my AP coordinator, who is also my guidance counselor, is VERY against self studying. I tried to self study freshman and sophomore year and she would not let me. She told me I had to take AP exams at the school I was attending. I believed her. But now, I don’t think she is right.</p>
<p>I am entering junior year and am really annoyed I wasted two years where I could have taken AP’s when the work load was lighter. I want to be an AP scholar with distinction before senior year and therefore need to self study this year. So I can’t really talk to her. Should I email the CB?</p>
<p>^ Yes. That’s not allowed. Any student can take any AP exam. A school is NOT allowed to deny a student to self-study an AP exam. If they don’t want it at their school, they’re supposed to send you to a different school.</p>
<p>You definitely don’t have to take it at your own high school. See [this</a> page](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>Register for AP Exams – AP Students | College Board) for help on contacting other schools to take an AP exam. You probably want to use this advice:</p>
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<p>Talk to your guidance counselors for starters; he or she will help get you set up.</p>
<p>^From the third post in the thread:</p>
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<p>So that’s probably not an option for the OP.</p>
<p>Oh never mind then.</p>
<p>Actually, don’t tell your GC you want to self-study this year or you’ll get yourself into more trouble. </p>
<p>And yes, a school can refuse to administer exams for a student. CB sent me this email saying that a school has the right to do so. </p>
<p>What I’d do is go to another school and take them there. Say you’re homeschooled or something. If you say you go to that school, they might confirm with your GC. It depends on the AP coordinator though; some might confirm and others won’t. </p>
<p>And just don’t tell people you’re self-studying AP’s. You’d be surprised at how fast information can travel. Something you tell your best friend can reach your GC in less than a month. You definitely don’t want to risk getting yourself into trouble with your GC considering that she’s writing your recs next year.</p>
<p>Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize I didn’t answer the questions. </p>
<p>Err, any school should be fine. If I were you, I’d ask around people who go to other schools. I heard that schools could charge extra if you don’t go to that school, so you might want to shop for the cheapest price =P And also, it’d help if the AP Coordinator at the other school wasn’t so strict on stuff just to minimize the risk of getting yourself into trouble with your GC. </p>
<p>I don’t think you could sign up at CB. You could just call up a school and ask for the AP coordinator there. </p>
<p>Whether the school allows you to write an exam that the school doesn’t offer the course for depends on the school and you’d just have to ask around. </p>
<p>Hope that helped. =D</p>
<p>I lurk on College Confidential, so this is my third post…hope I didn’t do anything wrong. </p>
<p>When should I start self-studying?</p>
<p>^You’re kind of hijacking the thread; you should probably create a new thread. (No worries, though; after all, you are kind of new. :))</p>
<p>That being said, it depends on the subject and your ability. Generally, for “big” exams (like Biology, Calculus, and History), you want to start at or near the beginning of the school year. For less difficult exams (Statistics, Economics, Government), you can start in January or February (of course, you can also start at the beginning of the year). Finally, for the “easy” exams (Psych, Environmental, Human Geo), you can start as late as the day before, but more likely in March or April.</p>
<p>@energize - Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t know >_> I don’t know how to make a new thread, but I’ll figure out how.
Thank you so much! I go to a school that only offers 4 AP courses, one for each high school year, so your help is much appreciated.</p>