<p>Awesome post Oasis but I do have a few questions:
I’m a senior right now and I have so far taken 3 AP classes(my school offers only 4). Would you recommend that I should take 2-3more AP classes to improve my application? I feared by that time my application would due, colleges wouldn’t have time to see my full transcript. But please understand that I’m not taking them just for the sake of my application. I was planning on taking French (fluent), Environmental Science (deeply interested), Psychology(interested too) and Physics(ace that class). </p>
<p>Moreover, what books do you recommend? And how does your schedule works in order to manage to study all of them?</p>
<p>Glad to hear that. I took the SAT II for WH in June, before I took the course, and I just reread my 9th grade modern history notes to prepare, and did fine. I knew most of the stuff from AP Art History actually (one of the most important African pieces we studied even showed up on the test). I was wondering how it would compare to the test, since the class, so far, seems to be, well, basically a joke, and I was wondering if I would need extra preparation.</p>
<p>I’m planning on self-studying for both AP Econ exams, as well as US Gov. I’m taking APUSH right now, and took a university level Econ course this summer, so I should have substantial background in all three subjects. </p>
<p>I just wanted to confirm, is Princeton Review the prep book of choice for both exams? I was considering Princeton Review and Barron’s but I’ll probably only get one.</p>
<p>Joe the Plumber, I have taken Macroeconomics and US Gov AP tests. I got a 5 on Econ and a 4 on Gov (but I had a horrible teacher and class). I used Princeton Review for Econ and CliffsAP for Gov. I would recommend both of them. A warning though, whatever you do do not use CliffsAP for Econ. It is FULL of mistakes, and these mistakes aren’t minor ones, but major ones. If you have a good history background and enjoy it, then Gov and USH shouldn’t be much of a problem (I hated history, took the AP test, and got a lousy 2). Also, having taken a college Econ course, you should be perfectly fine with AP. Good Luck!</p>
<p>I’m taking 6 AP’s with the supplemental class (Art History, APUSH, Statistics, English Language, Psychology, and Human Geo), but I want to beocme a national merit scholar by the end of my junior year to boost my transcript, so the thought of self studying for exams has interested me. I need to take 8 exams, because my sophomore year I took the World History Exam and only made a 3 after minimal studying.</p>
<p>My question is, how easy is it to Self-Study for Biology along with EnvSci and be able to score high? I’ve heard the exams are easy, yet I’ve also heard they are difficult if you haven’t had the lab experience. If I do self study for these, when should I start?</p>
<p>1BrightSide, well, the thing is with Bio and EnvSci is that it’s basically a bunch of memorization. I guess the labs may help, but I don’t know if they are all that important. Out of any sciences to self-study, those would be the two I would recommend. It’s all up to you though. 6 APs during the year is a lot (I should know, that’s how many I’m taking), but it is manageable. It’s your decision. Good Luck!</p>
<p>AP Computer Science can be self-studied for; that’s basically what I did in my class, my teacher didn’t directly teach me any of the concepts, (not that he couldn’t, I just didn’t need him) I just used our text book (towards the beginning of the year) and online resources + the case study. If you like computers and have internet access you could probably self-study it and get a solid 4 or 5. Taking it in a class environment is a lot more fun however.</p>
<p>So, is it basically discouraged for me to be doing self-studying if my high school already offers around 17 out of the 35 AP’s together? I don’t really want to say discouraged but… actually I should say, not as recommended since my high school is already developed in that area? It wouldn’t boost up my college apps by senior year? I’d like to have my question answered please… </p>
<p>vnumbers?!, I would discourage it. If your school already has a decent AP base then I do not think self-studying would boost your app. I honestly don’t think that self-studying would boost anyone’s app. If you have an AP test that you really really want to do, but it is not offered at the school, then go for it. Otherwise, don’t self-study, it’s not worth it.</p>
<p>^ I don’t know what kind of school you attend, but at mine the 17 APs offered on paper are almost impossible to take in practice. We only have six classes a day, and there are scheduling conflicts between many of the APs I would like to take in school.</p>
<p>oasis-
your post was very helpful and insightful! thanks for being so informative!
i just have 1 question-</p>
<p>i am currently a junior at a top high school in the us, and i am taking the most rigorous courseload that my school offers. althought they offer many ap’s, we are only allowed to take 1 as a sophomore (i took euro and got a 5) and only 4 as a junior (i am taking us, chem, psych, and ap lang), in addtion to 2 honors classes. So by the end of this year, i would only have 5 ap’s. though this is a lot for my school, i saw that you recommend have 8 by the end of your junior year so you can acheive national scholar. Do you think its that important considering my current coursework rigor to self study for 3 more exams just to acheive this status, keeping in mind that it means i will have to take 7 ap exams this may (an awful lot!). i know i’m a bright kid, but im not sure im a machine. And if you do recommend it, what 3 would you recommend i self study for in addition to the ones i am currentyl taking or have taken. thanks so much.</p>
<p>ElephantMan,
You don’t have to have eight by the end of your junior year. I didn’t. You are taking the most rigorous schedule at your school, and that is enough to be recognized. Don’t worry about getting that many.</p>
<p>Can someone tell me how easy and how hard these exams are to self-study for?
Biology
Comparitive gov and Politics
MicroEconomics
Environmental Science
European History</p>
<p>I’m thinking about self-studying for AP Gov with just the Cliffs book.
I’ve heard that AP Gov is fairly easy to self study…</p>
<p>I just want to know when I should begin studying for it?
I kind of want to start in the summer, then around April or so, I go back and review again…</p>
<p>Or, I guess I could take AP Gov and AP Euro at the same time?
Would that be too much?</p>
<p>By the way, here’s what I’m planning on taking next year (just the APs):</p>
<p>AP…
English 3.
Bio.
Calc (haven’t decided which one yet; BC takes up two hours a day… so eh.)
Gov/Euro (can’t decide on which; both might be too heavy of a workload?)</p>
<p>I need some suggestions on how to study the mass load I have going on this year.
Im taking Macroecon, Lit, Env Sci, Human Geo, and Art in school and the exam in May.
And Im self studying Psych, Micro and Comp Gov.
The Art exam doesnt matter its just art work anyways - but time consuming throughout the year. I took AP Psych last year but only got a 3 on the exam so Im retaking this year, so I have prior knowledge concerning the material.
Comp Gov I know nothing about. <em>this I need help on the most</em></p>
<p>How might you suggest that I divide my time up to the courses- I really want 5’s.
And what material is consistantly on those exams? Where do I even begin on Comp Gov?</p>