<p>Hi. I know this sounds overly ambitious and maybe even dumb, but I feel like I'm not taking enough APs. I'm a junior and I'm taking: AP Lang, AP US History, AP Stats, and AP Physics B. I feel behind because everyone else (not everyone, but other kids who want to get into the same colleges I do) is taking more. </p>
<p>My plan is to self-study: AP Environmental, AP Psych, AP Human Geo, AP US Gov and Politics. </p>
<p>This will also make me eligible for the National AP Scholars award (since I took AP World last year). Is this dumb or should I do it? Thank you.</p>
<p>Very doable, and those are self-studiable for sure. Gonna take some real work, but I know plenty of kids who have done just that.</p>
<p>If you think college is all about APs, you’re wrong. But go ahead.
The kind of college you get into won’t matter in the end. The type of college you go to just shows how well you did in high school. If you ace everything in college but do mediocre in high school, it hardly makes a difference to your future boss.
That’s being said, focus on where your passions lie. Are you seriously telling me you want to self study 4 APs because they are easy? Are you planning on using Human Geography or Environmental Science in college? I wouldn’t focus on number of APs and instead focus on actually having a life and focusing on what makes you a suitable candidate for these colleges outside GPA. I’ve heard of absurd things on CC but who self studies 4 pointless APs on top of 4 others? That’s just silly.</p>
<p>^ You obviously haven’t been on CC long enough :)</p>
<p>@OP Here’s a trick:
-Before the deadline for the payment of the AP exams, start studying for the AP tests that you want to self-study
-Pick the ones that you have an easier time going through and change or take out ones that you have difficulty with
-If it seems boring at first, don’t worry; once you’ve paid for the test, the urge to study comes more readily</p>
<p>From a junior taking 5 AP classes and self-studying 3 more.</p>
<p>Thank you for all the answers, everyone. Aerobug, I know it sounds dumb, but I actually am interested in those topics slightly; also, it’s impressive to colleges and that matters to me right now. TechnoMusic, THANKS for the awesome advice and encouragement!</p>
<p>Wait, but isn’t that a bit sporadic? Don’t you want to do the best on the number of Ap classes you already have before you go off and take more?
I’m a junior taking 4 ap tests this year (bio, chem, comp, self study computer science) and I’ve been a bit worried that I won’t get 5’s in ones I can get them in because I would be too devoted on my self studying. Legit concern, or should I just study my butt off? Lol</p>
<p>Admissions officers care about course rigor (along with grades, test scores, ECs, character). I think self studying 4 APs will impress no one and I have to wonder why you would do this. Focus on what you school offers and do well on those–quality over quantity.</p>
<p>Colleges look at the rigor of your schedule, but its like a competition where that’s only one area you can win points in. You’d get full points by self-studying 1 or 2 AP’s, doing 4 more just detracts from your ecs and life. No one expects 8 AP’s in one year. Try taking a couple classes at your local college which I’m sure are easier than APs and you’ll still get the same GPA boost. Don’t kill yourself. Your courage is commendable, but don’t be silly. Challenge yourself without killing yourself.</p>