Ohhh, what to do!

<p>OK. So heres the deal. My school has ZERO APs and I'm looking to self study. I'm looking at self studying 2-3 APs, to show initiative for college apps and to save some $$, and was wondering which of these would be easiest. </p>

<p>Govt and Politics: US
Govt and Politics: Comparitive
English Lit
Psych (I took a college level Psych class through the local community college)
Human Geography</p>

<p>What does one need to know for the exams? How much time will I need to prepare? </p>

<p>Thanks for any help!!!</p>

<p>English Lit would be the hardest. Psych and Human Geo would be the easiest, and the Government ones are somewhere in between. </p>

<p>For Psych, get Barron's and start studying it at a relaxed rate about two months before the exam. Earlier, if you're usually busy. I don't know about a prep book for geo, but I'm sure it would take the same amount of time as Psych.</p>

<p>Get the PR book for US Govt and Politics. Get the Ethel Wood book for Comparative. Start studying now if you don't have time, and later if you do.</p>

<p>As for Lit, I really have no idea. As far as I know, you need to have a lot of writing talent to be able to get good marks on it. All of the language APs tend to be pretty hard.</p>

<p>so the lit is more composition oriented that reading comp oriented?</p>

<p>Well I imagine that it should be equally divided, but reading comp isn't really something you can work on. You can't really go from being terrible at it to being great. If you enjoy English, and if you find that you're a talented writer, take the exam, but I wouldn't recommend it. It's kind of a risk.</p>

<p>If I did poorly would I have to report the score?</p>

<p>An AP score report includes results for all AP exams taken. You don't have to report a bad English score. But if you got a 5 in Psych, Human Geo and US government, and a 2 in English lit, your score report would show all scores. It would definitely hurt you if you're a potential English major. Good luck!</p>

<p>Not a potential English major, social sciences major. Thanks for the help! I'm thinking I'll take psych and US Gvt and Comparative Gvt and if I'm ambitious, human geo. what is human geo about, Im taking another dual enrollment class and the local comm. college in anthropology would the curricula be similar.</p>

<p>You have the option of striking a score or withholding a grade from your AP report. It won't hurt you with the admissions process. Many ivy-league colleges and other top colleges have stated that they don't take AP scores into consideration when accepting their students. I don't know how much of that is true, but you can ask anyone on the chances thread. </p>

<p><a href="http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_rep.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_rep.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>What grade are you in?
If you are worried about gettin a bad score, then take the AP's that you might not do so well on at the end of senior year, so by that time you will have already been accepted to your colleges, and it would be just to try to get college credit.</p>

<p>I'm in 11th. What review books do you recommend for the US gvt, comp gvt, and psych? And when should I start preparing?</p>

<p>Psych: Definitely Barron's.</p>

<p>Comp. gov't: The Ethel Wood book. You don't really have much of a choice with the comp. gov't exam, so Ethel Wood is byfar the best.</p>

<p>US gov't: I don't know this from experience, but I heard many people say that the PR book is undoubtedly the best.</p>

<p>should I start as soon as I buy the books?</p>

<p>Since you're doing three exams, I think you should.</p>

<p>I think rockermcr is my hero and honorary guidance councilor!</p>

<p>LOL.. Rockermcr is my hero, too; he helped me a lot when I had trouble finding a school to take the AP Exams at. He rocks!</p>

<p>I know how stressful all of this can be, so I like to help others who are having trouble!</p>

<p>I've been trying to contact an AP coordinator at a school near me for the past month and a half (I must have left at least 900 messages on her answering machine) and she finally called me back and told me that she would allow me to take an exam at her school. SO relieving!!!!</p>

<p>This is probably a really dumb question, but the review books for APs include a few practice tests, right?</p>

<p>Depends on the review book, but most do. The Ethel Wood Comp. gov't book and the Barron's Psychology book each have 2 practice tests. I'm pretty sure PR US gov't does too.</p>

<p>Thanks! No I just gotta convince my mom that $50.00 in review books and $100 in test fees is worth it!</p>

<p>If you plan on taking 3 exams, it will cost $249 ($83 per exam)....</p>

<p>just a side note, most colleges (that i know of) dont give credit for the comp gov't (they usually give elective credit). so if you think you know where you want to go, just check if they accept the AP credit, or otherwise your hardwork would go down the drain.</p>