Hi I’m considering self-studying for easier aps like APES or AP comparative gov. I’m curious how colleges look at self studying. I’m doing this because me school has a limit of APs to take, and I’d be at 6 by the end of junior year, and 8 gets you a higher merit. Do they see me as an overachiever and think less of me or see the effort and commend me for doing so?
They don’t care much. If your high school offers those classes, actually taking them will look a lot better than self-studying. If your school doesn’t offer them, you’re not expected to take them and (from an admissions perspective) you’d be better off studying for the SAT, working on your extracurriculars, etc. In most cases, the only reason to self-study is for college credit.
Many of the “easy to self study” AP tests are known to college admissions readers as such, and are less likely to be given subject credit in college.
Where do you come up with the idea that “8 gets you higher merit”? Are you talking about getting the AP National Scholar designation? Because if that’s what you mean, that doesn’t carry much if any weight with admissions committees of highly selective schools. Also you would have to have the eight scores by the time you apply, so senior year AP’s wouldn’t count. As a general rule, I think you’re better off spending your time as @halcyonheather suggested, studying for a higher SAT score, working on EC’s, working on essays, and most of all keeping up your GPA.
well I’m honestly not taking APs for college credit and more for the merit. so self studying is pointless unless you want college credit?
The general consensus with seasoned CC posters is that ad officers aren’t impressed, especially at top colleges. There are reasons to do it though, and impressing colleges isn’t one of them. Some reasons have already been mentioned. However, if the school doesn’t offer it and it is a subject you are truly interested in, there is no reason not to self study, (not at the expense of tests and homework though.)
It’s never going to look bad to report fours and fives on college applications. Home schooled students can benefit from self studying too, as it can provide proof of rigor. My D self studied AP psych as a junior (not offered at school) and got a five. Some say it’s an easy AP. That didn’t matter to her. She is most likely going to major in psych and it didn’t hurt her application. I think in her case, it was more reinforcement of her interest in psychology. Bottom line, have a valid reason for doing it.
You should only considering self studying AP based on your ability and potential college credit. Don’t use it a way to impress adcom. Most schools do not even look at your AP scores for admission.
I’m still unclear on what you mean by “for the merit”? Are you hoping to get a merit scholarship? Are you thinking of self studying just for self edification? Or are you hoping to impress admissions committees?
Colleges give merit aid to lure in students with top SAT/ACT scores and high GPAs. As suggested already, spend your time prepping for the ACT/SAT and keeping your grades up.
I was at an info session with HYP and UVA. Self studied APs was asked during the Q&A. The Yale rep said they look down upon it – and the other reps nodded in agreement. They don’t feel the students they want are those that are simply arming themselves with more and more and more APs vs. doing other constructive things.
For less stringent schools, getting college credit for a high AP score might be worth it
Did your D use the text book or just a test prep book for AP Psych self study? thx.
@nw2this she used the text book and two prep guides.
I have no problem with self studying AP.s as long as it’s not done under the mistaken impression that it will boost admission chances at HYPSM or other top colleges. I heard the same message from the college reps as did @T26E4. Also many top schools will only give you credit for 4’s and 5’s in hard science and math AP’s, not English or social science ones. Foreign language AP’s can help you satisfy foreign language requirements, although often subject tests can do the same. My D is an economics major and found it useful to have 5’s in AP Psychology and AP Statistics because those satisfied perquisites in certain classes such as Behavioral Economics (she didn’t self study those AP’s but I assume that self study AP scores would’ve worked to satisfy prerequisites). Her LAC gave her credit for a maximum of 2 AP’s but others can be considered for prerequisite purposes.
When I say “for the merit”, I’m talking about the national ap scholar award. Three people got it at my school last year, and they had to have self-studied
@Corinthian , yes, that is another valid reason. Even at very selective colleges students can place out of Intro level courses if they get fours and fives on AP tests. So you might not get credit, but placing out can be very useful, especially if a student wants to double major.
Let’s clairfy this a bit too, as I have heard many times in the past from @skieurope and others. Do they look down on it, or rather simply are not impressed by it? There is a difference. There are some legitimate reasons for self-studying and they would be aware of that. I can’t believe that an app would be actively dinged for having a couple of self-studied APs. Surely it’s more a case of “everything in moderation.” If a student is self-studying a bunch of random APs offers at school, and already has many AP classes at school, I could see that being a ding.
What benefit do you expect from achieving national AP scholar status?
well it demonstrates effort and intelligence doesn’t it?
@Lindagaf here is my original report from June 2014 about what I heard:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/17364801/#Comment_17364801. I took it to be in the context of the applicant who takes available AP’s at his/her school but then piles on extra self study AP’s under some mistaken impression that “whoever has the most AP’s wins.” The panelists wanted to discourage that as a strategy to gain admission.
Good question from @InigoMontoya about what the OP hopes to get by achieving the National AP Scholar award. It’s a nice certificate but not something that is going to carry weight with admissions committees. Also you’d have to achieve it by the end of junior year to even be able to list it on your applications. I suppose it’s a nice award to receive in those senior year honors ceremonies that most high schools probably have.
I am an international student (and so we do not have APs at our school), but the AP curriculum and advantages in some colleges made me want to study for them and pass the exams, and so I started self-studying 2 of them. Do you think HYP are going to look down on me for this?