Is there any purpose in self-studying AP classes?

<p>I was planning on studying AP Physics, and AP Biology, but my friend who got accepted into Penn told me there is no point in self studying AP classes, as colleges don't look at the scores you get on AP tests.
They only look at the courses you take during high school, not self-studied courses.
Is this true? Also, is it a bad idea to self study sciences like these? I could take AP Bio, AP Chem, and AP Ohysics, but I would have to drop classes.
The only classes I could think about dropping are AP French and AP Computer Science, but I lovr French and want to take four years of language, and the AP Computer Science program at our school is amazing. We're taught by Microsoft employees, and learn a great deal more than we would learn in a normal APCS class.</p>

<p>The credits</p>

<p>…Yes…but, many colleges limit the number of credits they accept.
Is there any point beyond the credit? Does self studying a core class look worse than taking it as a class? </p>

<p>Please verify or disprove what my friend claimed; I’d like to know.</p>

<p>'Does no one know? Do colleges care about AP scores? I usually ask this forum for advice on college and high school but it’s because you don’t know or you think this is a stupid question…</p>

<p>The credit you get is a pretty important point in itself. I never had problems with limits on credits used. I started off as a sophomore in college due to AP credits, allowing me to sign up for classes earlier than others which is a huge plus.</p>

<p>It depends on what colleges you are applying to. Some schools look highly upon high AP exam scores (4s and 5s) regardless of if you actually took the class. On the other hand some refuse to look at AP exam scores until you are admitted. As for the credits, some schools cap the number of credits you can earn, some don’t. It really varies by school. That being said I personally would not self-study two AP science classes, it seems like too much.</p>

<p>If your school doesn’t have the classes you self-study I imagine it would show initiative.</p>

<p>Is it better to take AP French and AP Comp Sci over the other two AP Sciences?
Would taking a language all four years look more well rounded?</p>

<p>A language all four years is always strongly recommended. As for what is easy to self-study it varies by person and prior knowledge. I was in the process of self-studying art history and found it extremely easy because I have taken art history before (I ended up stopping due to time though). Look at this thread though, you will find it helpful…
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/369861-self-studying-aps-improving-your-app.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/369861-self-studying-aps-improving-your-app.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The college credit of course. But self-studying isn’t easy for all subjects, so be cautious. And look at the AP credit policy for the schools you’re looking at ahead of time. My sisters friend took a load of AP’s and got into his 1st choice school, only to realize they wouldn’t give him credits for them.</p>

<p>That sounds pretty difficult but similar to what I want to do.
Based on the other threads you’ve made about how busy you’re going to be in senior year, not sure if it’s the greatest idea.
AP Biology is just a lot of memorization, and AP Physics B isn’t too difficult of a self-study…but AP Chem might be difficult.</p>