Perhaps, but prior posts refer to taking AP courses not for the credit but for “the merit”. AP scores on college applications are self-reported - and incomplete, as student’s won’t have taken AP tests yet for senior year courses. Official AP transcripts aren’t sent in until you’ve committed to a school. The adcoms will see your transcript showing what AP courses you’ve taken in school and what your grades are. Having taken a couple more admittedly “easier” AP tests outside of school is not going to make that much difference, especially if you’re hoping for merit scholarship money.
Posters are wondering what you’re looking to achieve to understand if you’re using your time as effectively as possible. If your goal is to achieve the AP scholar award because others have and it’s important to you, then go for it. If you’re looking for ways to distinguish your college application from others or to earn merit dollars, this might not be the best plan.
"Demonstrates intelligence ". Well for very selective schools, besides intelligence, they want evidence of good judgment. Packing yourself with academic trophies without regard to other pursuits is not great judgment
I self-studied several APs (hum geo, macro, micro) because i wanted to learn more about public health (hum geo with demographics, urban planning, etc) and health economics (macro, micro), which are my intended career areas. In my apps i listed in the additional information section that I self studied these APs for the aforementioned reasons, and because my high school did not offer opportunities to learn about these things, but I still wanted to learn them. Do y’all still think HYP reps would not see this positively?
In the first place, don’t hijack another person’s thread; it’s just rude to the original poster. If you really have a burning question, you should start your own discussion.
In the second place, neither question is substantially different from the one originally posed, so the answer will not be different. For international students, no college expects AP tests if the school does not offer them, so taking them for that reason is not valid. As others have mentioned, if you want to self study an AP because you have a thirst for knowledge, and the school does not offer the class, go for it. If you want to rack up potential college credits, ditto.If you’re doing it to impress colleges, they won’t be impressed. Similarly, an AP award is meaningful only to the student, and maybe the parents and teachers.
So will colleges “look down” on self studying? Probably not. Will they think that doing so shows initiative? Doubtful. Remember too, that if self studying detracts from EC’s or any other part of your application, it will not help you in admissions. No college is looking to fill a class with academic drones that only like to study.
