I am very very interested in AP economy.
BUt My school recently removed all e.con classes except consumer e.con ;-(
So I’m considering about self studying Ap macro economics.
BUt I don’t even know where to begin.
But I heard some of guys are actually doing it!
Can you share your wisdom plz?
<p>If I were you I would only do this if you had some previous success with some type of independent study -- such as a college course taken & passed easily at a community college, etc. You should obtain several AP prep books in that subject area, if they're available. I would enroll in a Macro course at a community college AND study the AP prep books, taking all the practice exams. If you do beautifully in the college course work AND ace the tests in the AP books, then you may feel confident to register for the actual AP exam. </p>
<p>However, here's a warning: A "3" or lower in an AP exam that has not been accompanied by an AP course in a high school is not worth much in the admissions process. (If the study & the attempt is just for your own pleasure & challenge, because you're interested, you could explain that on your app, I guess.) What adcoms want to see is the actual course work in h.s. A great grade in an AP course + a passing score on the exam will be viewed much more favorably than just a barely passing exam score without the h.s. course.</p>
<p>We know someone who attempted an AP exam (in her area of strength!) without the course work. She was sure she had "5'ed" the exam. She got a "3," because she had no guidance. And as to credits, few colleges now accept anything less than a "4" when it comes to recognizing a substitute to a freshman requirement, or when it comes to placement in a class.</p>
<p>epiphany, what do you think about my two "5"s on two self-studied AP exams without coursework? what do you think adcoms would see from these two "5"s?</p>
<p>my son has successfully taken a boatload of AP exams w/o coursework (including both econ exams). Just get a couple of review books (he liked Barron's for econ, but also used Princeton Review). Read every page twice, do every sample test. Look things up in a textbook when you need extra explanation. This will take a fraction of the time you would spend in a class. If your goal is a 5 on the exam, you're much better off self-studying than taking a course that does not exactly coincide with the AP curriculum. Frankly, if you are not sufficiently organized and self motivated to successfully self-study for an AP exam, you're going to have problems in college where no one cares whether or not you attend class and your entire grade hinges on a midterm and final. At least with AP exams you can skip the test w/o penalty if you haven't covered all the material.</p>
<p>One option for self-studying is to google on the course you want. Many high schools post their course outlines on the web. A few even post homework assignments. You can follow along with the course on your own. Be sure to find which texts the various schools use. Texts are more complete than review books. You can pick up used texts, often for under $10, on the web. </p>
<p>Another option is to check MIT's openware site and follow along with their courses.</p>
<ul>
<li>Ellen</li>
</ul>
<p>I personally self studied AP Calc, Physics, US His, and Chem last year. I think 5s on self-studied APs will be impressive to an extent. Adcoms weigh 5 differently depends on the subject. AP Econ is not particularly a hard AP. Do it if you are really interested AND have all straight As in your current high school classes.
Agree with EllenF on the outline thing... It was very helpful to me to have a formal outline (apcentral.collegeboard.com also gives the syllabus). And Exam Prep Books were critical to me.....</p>
<p>violetjune, Your original post left out the important background that you had already successfully taken 2 AP exams after self-study. You also said that you "didn't know where to begin." A person could never have known from that post that you had already done something similar twice. Frankly, without more information, the assumption would be rather that you had never done this before. </p>
<p>So, yes, by all means, if you feel confident, attempt a 3rd exam & perhaps take some advice from the other repliers here.</p>
<p>Do you see how important it is to include background information? I say this not to lecture you about misleading the reader on a casual discussion board. I say it only because so often this habit translates also to under-reporting, or assumptions about the reader's knowledge, on the college app. itself. It has happened on CC that deferred applicants, for example, have later admitted that they should have been more explicit or forthcoming about some aspect of their coursework or e.c.'s. </p>
<p>A friend of mine only happened to notice that her D had neglected to state on an app. the <em>reason</em> for an award she had received. That reason is one of the traits the colleges scream they like to see in an applicant. </p>
<p>Please assume nothing about what the adcoms know. Do not assume, for example, that if they see the 2 previous "5's," on AP Exams, but no h.s. coursework completed, that they will know that you self-studied. Perhaps they would wonder if a h.s. teacher was kind enough to omit the course grade because it was a "B" or "C."</p>
<p>It's very important to have at least one adult (parent, other relative, teacher, counselor) review your app before you send it in. Adults know what other adults are looking for.</p>
<p>is there a advantage to self-study an AP senior year? Colleges won't see it until after admissions.</p>
<p>It was Fran95 who said that he took two successful self-studying AP classes.</p>
<p>I have never done such thing for myself.</p>
<p>But frankly I am encouraged by this post.</p>
<p>I thinkg I am going to talk with my couselor about this project.</p>
<p>Along with my Fed-challenge this will be a great opportunity for me!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the guides!</p>
<p>You guys showed me that this is possible and people have done!</p>
<p>I am going to try my best and give it a shot!</p>
<p>ps: I am a junior, so I got about one semester to prepare for it. However, I
know some basics ;-)</p>
<p>If you are self-studying for an AP exam, be sure to let your guidance office know soon. The tests have to be ordered by schools well in advance of the test dates.</p>