<p>I am going to be a junior and planning to self-study AP Psychology and Macroeconomics (perhaps Microeconomics as well). Please give me some advice, if you can. </p>
<p>ALso, what do you think about AP English? Are they self-studyable? I was thinking AP ENglish Language 'cuz AP English LIterature just seems more complicated and requiring extensive readership and knowledge in literature...</p>
<p>Just how self-studyable are AP Subjects? ANy "easy" subjects? (What about AP COmp Sci? I took intro to Java class for a year)</p>
<p>Psych is easy - use Barron's.
Human Geography is easy.
Comp Sci... Most people have trouble with it. If you just get programming, then definitely go for it. Otherwise, it would take too much effort.
Stats is supposed to be easy if you're good at math and applying formulas.
Environmental Science is easy if you don't use Barron's (look at the average rating on Amazon... I didn't :).
Bio isn't bad if you had a solid, comprehensive survey course and/or did well on the SAT II.</p>
<p>Wow... you know a lot about AP's. Thank you!</p>
<p>Just one more thing:
What prep books would you recommend (for the subjects which you didn't mention the RIGHT books for)?
And wouldn't the colleges know if I take the "easy" exams instead of the important ones like US History, US Govn't, Physics, etc.? Environmental Science, Art History, music theory... they seem a little bit far-fetched (maybe it's just me!)</p>
<p>Barrons is the bible for Psychology, I read it for two weeks and got a 5.<br>
Environmental Science is pretty easy. If you have access to Millard's 12th edition textbook and read it thoroughly, you should have no problem passing. I heard REA released a book, but i never took a look at it.
Macroecomonics is very easy also. I slept through that class all year, learning everything through osmosis from my teachers lectures. I heard the REA book is good also.</p>
<p>If you're taking extra exams for AP awards, they don't really care. You took initiative and succeeded; good for you. You don't have to report your grades unless they were stellar.</p>
<p>If you're taking extra exams to help in admission, you may as well not bother. Or maybe concentrate on a couple that are relevant to your field of interest and do really well on them. That's why I self studied Enviro and Bio this past year, but I'm going to do another one next year just for the award.</p>
<p>In summary: AP's are only good for showing interest in a field, getting awards, and getting credit. Not for admission in general.</p>
<p>Enviro... you pretty much don't need any review book, if you've half a brain in your head and sort of care about the environment anyway. I have to back that suggestion of not using barron's... I realized a few days before the exam that my usual plan of making the glossary into flashcards was failing because i was only on "d". I did the whole course in a few weeks, though: your best bet is to do a few practice tests just to get a feel for the question format and such. Also, the curve is mindblowing.
Econs would both be pretty simple, though I took the course.
Psych is the ultimate self-study course because it's just memorization and recitation, so it's not even as though you're missing out on much class discussion. Barron's did work marvelously for this. Try reading a chapter or two every night before you go to bed; I found that I woke up in the morning able to recite everything I've ever wanted to know about Erikson or Freud.<br>
Bio was a tricky self-study for me, simply because I'd had the worst freshman-year bio teacher ever. Also, I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of material and the differences between review books. This one I ended up getting some help from a really cool teacher, who held intensive review sessions while I took copious notes. This is a class I'd have liked to be able to actually take. Also, I took it this year, so I don't know if I got the 5.<br>
US history would also be an easy self-study, especially if you have to take any sort of local American history course, though I suppose I might be somewhat biased by the fact that my APUS course totally sucked. It's also a very easy exam though, as is World History to a lesser extent.
Physics B is also pretty do-able, at least the first half of the course ( I was in the class for the second semester). It does help, again, to have a teacher for this one that can answer the occasional question.
Good luck!</p>
<p>Comp Sci A is easy if you just "get" programming. Most kids don't, and have to study a lot for the exam. I happen to just understand it (though it might have to do with the fact that I learned the basic aspects of C back in sixth grade for fun), so I just studied things like errors that aren't logically based at all. I got a 5.</p>
<p>Comp Sci AB was supposedly very difficult this year. My super duper smart friend got a 4.</p>
<p>Thank you! YOur comments are really helpful.
Not to be obnoxious or anything, but one more question about AP Psych: What about the 5 Steps to 5 series from McGraw-Hill? And I read the Amazon reviews and PR seemed as good as Barrons?</p>
<p>I haven't taken Psych, but I know tons of people - plus people on CC - who've self studied it and they all use and recommend Barron's. It sounds like a safe bet, but if anyone has used any other books, please talk about your experience and whether you'd recommend it or not.</p>