My school doesn’t offer some AP courses I’m interested in: AP Psychology, US Gov, and Comparative Gov. How hard would it be to self-study for these exams and get a 4 or a 5 on them? I plan to take college level psychology junior year (next year) and college level political science in my senior year as well.
Also, would it look good to colleges if I did good on these exams when I didn’t actually take the courses?
AP Psych would be pretty easy.
I know that there was a lot of discussion and teacher interaction in my kid’s AP US Govt class that would make it better to actually take the class.
The consensus opinion is that self-studying for an AP exam for which you have not taken the AP class will not impress colleges and is not a constructive use of your time. Does your school offer dual enrollment options at nearby community colleges? If so, this would be a much better plan.
I would do it. It shows that you have academic drive 
If you are taking a college level (DE) class in the topic it would be repetitive. The only reason to take the AP test is if your college wouldn’t take the transfer credits but would take AP and you can pass it with little studying.
I think it’s okay to self study if you are taking the course, but it doesn’t naturally lead to the exam. Or if you have proficiency in a FL your school doesn’t offer and you want to place out of FL.
To self study in lieu of taking the course isn’t, imho, a great way to spend your time. I don’t think most AOs are that impressed either.
Admissions would prefer to see the academic drive through actual results in actual classes.
They literally will not care. Doing do does not impress them.
That said,if your college-level courses don’t transfer (and if you’re targeting private colleges or OOS publics, odds are that they will not), then it may be worth taking the AP exam the year you are taking the college-level course. Now if you’re taking poli sci as a senior, then admissions will never see your AP scores,but like I said, they really don’t matter for admissions.
And all 3 exams are amongst the easiest, IMO.
I wouldn’t say it’s not worthwhile. It may give you college credits. It may help with admissions to UK unis (if you get 5’s).
In general, try to get out of the mindset of impressing colleges or anyone and focus on more tangible goals.
I would disregard the people who are saying it is not worthwhile or that it won’t impress colleges. I think they are very, very much mistaken. Colleges are impressed by 5s on AP exams when people take the corresponding course. They should be at least as impressed if you get a 5 without taking the course. It also shows academic drive. I think it is a good idea, but the end goal should be 5s. Consider whether you can effectively self-study for 3 APs and still get 5s.
Also, these are considered less difficult tests, so self-studying for these would not be as impressive as self-studying for a more difficult AP. Something to keep in mind. If you have more questions, feel free to ask me.
They’re not. They want you to show your hard work through your coursework in school.
When I was going through the admissions process a few years ago, I went to an Exploring College Options event, which had reps from Harvard, Stanford, Penn, Duke, and Georgetown, among others. During the Q&A, someone asked, “What do you think of applicants who self-study for additional AP’s over and above the AP classes they take?” One rep responded, “Please don’t do that. We’re not impressed by that.” The other reps all nodded.
As noted, the 3 exams are among the least difficult, if not the least difficult, of the APs. We’re not talking self studying Physics E&M here. If all these students know how relatively easy these exams are to self study, you can be sure AOs know this as well.