<p>Ok here's the deal. Since my school offers only a small, select portion of science and math APs (and mostly during senior year only), several people choose to take AP US History in their junior year, using a self-studying method - without any AP US class (just a regular Honors US History class; well, honors might be a misnomer because all our classes are "honors" - special high school).</p>
<p>I had thought about it for the past couple of weeks, and I had come to the conclusion to take it. What the heck, $82, the cost of a book, and a big chunk of my time to study for it. If I do well, great; if I don't, I don't have to put it on applications because colleges (well, I know Harvard for one) do not require an official AP score report unless you enroll. Anywho, I have been kind of hesitant recently because it's a big, big time commitment (as well as spending the money, but not as big as the time commitment). I'm interested in history, sure, I'm even taking the US History SAT subject test in May. However, as of recently, I have been doubting whether I need to or whether I should devote so much time to study for one AP test, which I haven't even taken a class on.</p>
<p>So it got me thinking... is this one AP test really that important? Is it really going to be the tip factor between my application and another? At first I thought it would be good to take it, but now I'm starting to think that I could use my time more valuably instead of studying for what would be my only AP on my application (if I do well, that is; if I didn't do well, I probably wouldn't put it on at all, so it would definitely be a waste of time). Anywho, I'm just curious as to what you guys think.</p>
<p>i wasn't in the ap european class at my school (only taught 1 section during 1 class period, capped the class at 12) but i took the AP exam in the spring. the european class i was in was "honors" (all our classes are) and i found that i bought 1 review text and was very well prepared and did well on the exam. you'll find it will take less time than you think because you are well prepared in an honors section of that class (at least in my school). if you're willing to put in some effort, i think it's worth it.</p>
<p>it sounds like you're folding under the pressure of an academic challenge. meet the goals you set for yourself, otherwise, what else do you have in life?</p>
<p>I believe colleges understand some schools don't offer AP classes. Hence it's only natural for students from those schools to not take the AP tests. Don't worry, "honors" is just fine. They'll find out how much you really know through your SAT II score.</p>
<p>I think that if you can do APs by yourself, do it anyway, the more the better.
I'm now a junior, and taking AP physics c, calculus ab, us history ap, chemistry ab. and i'm self learning ap economics, ap government, and probably ap statistics.
that's not hard, i think the only thing is to buy a test prep book, actually about 400 pages long with some practise test!
learning with such a book is quite easier than using 1000 pages long text books and interminal homeworks. that's true!
so if you try, you will find out how easier is a AP test than finishing a AP course!</p>