Self-Studying Advice. Please, take me seriously and give me advice. Now.

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>So my school has that policy that says you must take three years of science at the Pre-AP level (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) and then choose one of those classes as your science AP in your senior year. I talked to my counselor, and she told me that I would have to take credit by exam if I wanted to advance, but she only presumed I'd self study for Chemistry and just move on to the Pre-AP physics class. I do want to take all 3 science APs, but to do that, I must self study for Chemistry and Physics. Thankfully, the grades I get by doing credit-by-exam do not count towards my G.P.A., so I'm going to give it a chance (I have to have a 90 on the exams to pass).
So...</p>

<p>Can you recommend the best books I can study from? Remember, I'm focusing on Chemistry and Physics. </p>

<p>Websites (not online classes) would be appreciated also.</p>

2

<p>Why is this necessary you could get into Stanford without doing this? I'm a freshman too but I think you're a little too intense. Its kind of a turn off to colleges.</p>

3

<p>This isn't a matter of getting into Stanford. I'm just not being challenged enough. The Pre-AP classes here are super easy and I'd like to do something more worthwhile with my time. I'd rather make a B in an AP class than a 100 in a Pre-AP class, especially if it didn't take that much studying, because I had a really good Biology teacher in 7th grade.</p>

4

<p>If you have any chemistry or physics questions (mostly chemistry)...you can PM me or something over the summer....I may help you out if I'm in a good mood.</p>

5

<p>Zumdahl and Chang textbooks are both good for chemistry, but then again, they're at the AP level. If you're going pre-AP, I'm going to suggest just using the sparknotes SAT II study guides...but even then, the chemistry material may be a tad more advanced than pre-AP (though the physics is quite simple). The thing about pre-AP is that there's no set curriculum - it differs widely by school, and some are little more than glorified regular courses, so if you can get a syllabus of the exam material it would be extremely helpful. Also, before you take the exam, make SURE you know what formulas will be available and which ones you're expected to memorize, and whether or not you'll have a periodic table and a calculator available.</p>

<p>Good chem website (though it skips kinetics and thermo...I have notes, though, if you can't find a better resource): <a href="http://www.chemtutor.com/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.chemtutor.com/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Anyway, why wouldn't people take you seriously? I think it's admirable and you'll get so far ahead - I didn't have the option to skip cousres by exam, so I'm tripling up on AP sciences junior year instead, which is going to be interesting....</p>

6

<p>These are supossed to be good for physics</p>

<p>Conceptual Physics, Physics: Principles and Problems, and Holt Physics.</p>

7

<p>Could you look into taking a class or two at a local university or community college? It's probably a little less stressful than studying yourself, and I'm sure it would prepare you very well for an AP test.</p>

8

<p>Thanks so much for your feedback. And kudos to you, silentsailor. I will definitely use your advice.</p>

<p>LisaG, I already thought of doing that. Only problem is that the nearest community college is an hour away and my parents have other priorities. </p>

<p>Is it possible that I can get these aforementioned books at a regular bookstore, such as Borders or Barnes and Nobles? And how much do they cost?</p>

9

<p>Texts tend to be on the expensive side of things - easily $100 a pop if you buy them new, if not more so - so do some shopping around before you decide and definitely buy used (I mean, you're getting the same content - I got a fantastic $160 calc text online for fifteen bucks). I don't think they're generally available at B&N. Try a university bookstore; if that's not an option, Amazon works just as well.</p>

10

<p>Thanks. I've been with my dad on so many of his outings when it comes to buying books for his schooling. He usually goes to his university bookstore and he usually spends about $500 (given by the government) on three books. Last time we went to a "vintage" bookstore, he bought a used psychology textbook for $72. And it was dirtied with profanities. </p>

<p>I think I'll opt for Amazon.</p>

11

<p>overstock can be cheaper
then again, you are a freshman. go watch powerpuff girls</p>

12

<p>Aren't you a freshman as well? I remember your post about taking the SAT early...</p>

13

<p>why don't you check out my public profile? my homepage?</p>

14

<p>I did. You made a thread stating that you were a HS freshman. I seriousy doubt you are George Bush (in response to what I saw as your homepage).</p>

15

<p>are you a stalker? that's creepy</p>

16

<p>Omg, you're a freshman too?</p>

<p>At first I thought you were a freshman. Then I thought you were an 8th grader. And then a sophomore. And I was pretty sure of it too.</p>

17

<p>I'll be a sophomore this fall, Shravas. But in the meantime, I'm still a freshman.</p>

18

<p>which means, you suck</p>

19

<p>Well, I thought you were a rising junior.</p>

<p>Cause its said that you'd be in Palo Alto in 2009. And I thought "2009, that's when freshman graduate, so she's obviously older than a freshman. So she must be a sophomore."</p>

20

<p>No. I graduate May of 2009. If I do get into Stanford (which will be a miracle, but I think I can do it), I'll first arrive in the fall of 2009. So that makes sense. I can see why you thought what you thought, though.</p>