<p>Me again. </p>
<p>Oasis made an incredible thread that is stickied in this forum but I'll post a link just in case you missed it (despite the fact that you claim you have been browsing the forum): <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/369861-self-studying-aps-improving-your-app.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ap-tests-preparation/369861-self-studying-aps-improving-your-app.html</a></p>
<p>Read it all if you havn't already. </p>
<p>Now, basically for your questions on the books, if you're going to be spending hundreds of dollars on all of those exams, I think opting for an extra four bucks or so on the cliffs AP would be worth it. Also, try to make sure you are getting as mint condition of a review book as possible- that .39 cent one is most likely a used copy and could be ripped, torn, damaged, etc. Just be careful. </p>
<p>As for your econ books, again, get the most expensive and newest versions possible. Try to get the new versions and not a used copy just to be on the safe side. Even a brand new version in stores (say, your local Barnes and Noble) doesn't cost THAT much and if you plan to take all those AP exams I could assume that you are quite loaded anyway. Just try to get the most current, most expensive, most mint versions of all of those books as you possibly can and dont worry about money (unless you're living on the streets or something). </p>
<p>To answer your final question: --So for any self studier, is it necessary to actually read the textbook or would the prep books suffice? (Instead of reading the textbook, can you just get stuff from coursenotes. org or something xDDD) --</p>
<p>It honestly depends on the exam, your interest, your level of intution and how you learn. First off, the exam. Most people on this site could get a 5 on Psych or HUG JUST by reading the prep book. NO ONE on this site or any other person for that matter (except MAYBE born genius') can get a 5 self studying AP Calc BC with just a review book (hell, I doubt even a natural born genius could get a 3 on Calc BC with just a review book). </p>
<p>Judging by the exams your taking, I'd say you have a good shot at acing all of them with just the review books. HOWEVER it does very much depend on what kind of a learner you are. </p>
<p>For instance, I started to self study APUS GOV and it barely made any sense at first. I was able to process most through intuition but I couldn't connect it all together and I CERTAINLY could not write an essay about it all. However, after I bought and began reading the textbook, it made more sense. So really, I'd reccomend getting the review books, reading them and see how you do in terms of absorbing the information. If you feel that you are understanding the info then you dont need a textbook, however if it seems perplexing or if you can't connect it all together then you should get a text book. </p>
<p>I dont know what kind of learner you are, but judging from your ambition I'm positive you can get a 5 on psych and the econs with just a review book. Bio, I'm not so sure. Most people could get a 5 with just cliffs and you could be one of them but it all depends. So, try out cliffs for a week or so and do some review questions or something or just accurately judge yourself on how well you handle the material. It's all up to you. </p>
<p>However, MOST people are able to ace the easy exams with memorizing the prep books and beasting the essays with pure BS and terms mixed together. I'm sure you will do fine. </p>
<p>GOOD LUCK ONCE AGAIN! And don't be afraid to ask any more questions. I'm not the expert but I like to work together with people on here about these things. It helps.</p>