I wish that I started thinking about taking an online class earlier. However, now that it’s my senior year, I’m stuck with a lot of schedule conflicts that really limit the classes I can take. I’m wondering if I should take AP Psychology or AP Chemistry online, or just not take either and focus on college applications my senior year.
I’m really interested in majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology at Emory, so I’m leaning towards AP Psychology. However, I only recently decided this, and I still have some research to do into the subject. Also, I know that AP Chemistry would look much more impressive on college apps. Can anyone who’s taken either of these classes online (or anybody in general) please provide me with some advice on which path I should consider?
What are the other classes that you’re planning to take?
I’m already enrolled to take AP Biology, AP Lang, AP Calc BC, AP Gov/Micro, Orchestra, and Latin 4. At first I wanted to take AP Gov/Micro online, but it wouldn’t allow me to take either AP Psych or AP Chem anyway because of schedule conflicts. It would be impossible for me to take AP Chem at school unless I gave up AP Bio or Latin 4.
So you would like to add another AP to the 4 you are enrolled in already?
If this is what you are thinking, I say don’t do it. Four APs is enough. Plus to take a lab course online is not easy. You will have to arrange your own labs and this will be a timesink. Then, think of your AP exam week–to take five exams with the potential of some back to back and/or on consecutive days, will be harrowing. Do yourself a favor and don’t make your senior a death march. What you have planned will be challenge enough.
^^^^ Exactly. Your schedule is full right now. And, frankly, why would you look to add another online class when there is a fair chance that your regular schedule will end up being online anyway due to the pandemic? Come the fall term, you might be looking for any chance at all to get away from your laptop.
I’ve heard that AP Psych is one of the easier APs to study for, and I know that I won’t have any work for my electives. In fact, one reason that I stacked up on APs this year was because I had a lot of extra time last year. I also feel like I’d be more motivated to do independent work on it since it interests me.
However, I do want to try experiencing learning psych online before I decide to enroll in the class to make sure it’s what I want to do. Does anybody know any websites or resources where I can learn a similar course load to an AP Psych class?
Khan Academy (KhanAcademyDOTorg) has free online classes. They do not currently offer AP Psych, but check the list anyway and see if something looks good too.
Coursera (CourseraDOTorg) also has a number of free online classes on psychology, so look through that list and see what you think.
Self-studying APs does not help you with admissions. They don’t look at your AP test scores for admissions…seniors who take APs don’t get the scores back until after they are admitted.
It is okay to take college courses in college. Take Psych as a freshman.
Also realize that doing well in your HS courses is vastly more important than self studying…also would you have time to do ECs if you are self studying?
I think taking the class online would still show up as a grade on my transcript since it’s the official virtual school for my state, but I’m not 100% sure. I’m in several clubs, so overloading on classes is definitely a big concern for me. However, I know my school offers less classes per day than most other schools do, so a lot of people I know take classes online.