<p>Hi, I just finished my sophomore year, unfortunately without taking any AP classes, due to an extremely limited selection at my school.</p>
<p>I'm taking AP Chem and APUSH next year, and planning to self study for AP Psych and AP Music Theory (which, incidentally, I also need books for the latter two; anyone have recommendations?)</p>
<p>Is it in any way reasonable to self-study for 6 APs and somehow hope to manage an average of 4 for all of them?</p>
<p>If so, which APs should I try for?</p>
<p>Senior year, I'll be doing:
Physics C: Mechanics
Calc BC
US Gov
English Lit/Comp
Spanish Language</p>
<p>But to be able to put National AP Scholar on your resume, it'd have to be all done by Junior year, correct?</p>
<p>Yes, to put National AP Scholar on your resume you would have to have the requirements completed by the end of junior year. </p>
<p>Self-studying 6 APs will definitely be hard work. You will need to create a schedule and actually stick to it, which is generally the hardest thing to do. If you need four more, I would suggest AP Environmental Science, AP Human Geography, AP Calc AB (you will be taking BC senior year, correct?), and the last one should be chosen based on your own interests.</p>
<p>I suggested AP enviro and AP human geography because they, along with AP Psychology, are the easiest self-studies in my opinion. These would require little time and effort for a 4 (when compared to other classes, that is). Now, for your last one, it would help to know what you LIKE to study: if you are an English/Science/Math/Art/History person, then you should study AP English Lang/Biology/Statistics/Studio Art/ World History, European History, or Art History. <strong>Note that the history APs are probably harder to self-study because there is so much information, so if you choose one of those, you need to start self-studying early</strong></p>
<p>As far as book recommendations go…</p>
<p>AP Music Theory- No Idea
AP US History- Amsco and Crash Course
AP Calc AB- PR/Arco
AP Psych- PR/Barrons
AP Chem- PR
AP Human Geography- PR/Barrons
AP Environmental Science- PR/Barrons/smartypants guide to environmental science
AP English Lang- Cliffs and lots of essay practice
AP Biology- definitely Cliffnotes
AP Statistics- Barrons
AP Studio Art- No idea
AP World History- PR for a brief review, Barrons for complete review
AP European History- Modern European History
AP Art History- the annotated mona lisa</p>
<p>Good luck :)</p>
<p>To get AP National Scholar on your college apps, yes you would have to have it done by the end of junior year. But, I don’t think that the recognition itself is THAT big a deal for colleges.</p>
<p>As for self-studying… AP Psych seems to be doable with Barrons. I don’t know a book for Music Theory, but the listening/singing sections might be difficult for that.</p>
<p>I think self-studying 6 exams would not be worth it, especially if it’s just for the award, but the next easiest exams (in addition to Psych and Music Theory) would probably be:</p>
<p>AP Enviro, AP Human Geo, AP Stats, AP US Govmt.</p>
<p>Again, I don’t think it would be worth it, but those are the exams I would try self-studying.</p>
<p>AP Scholar Awards don’t mean much to colleges. It looks like you’ll be in good shape if you want to go for it.</p>
<p>AP Music Theory: Barron’s. In reality, it’s the only book available (outside of textbooks), but it’s a good book with good explanations.</p>
<p>If you are self-studying such a high number of subjects, don’t you think that you increase your risk of scoring below a four? That would dash your AP National Scholar ( I think the national award requires no score below a four, not a four average, which would allow threes if averaged with fives) hopes. You will need to take eight tests at the end of junior year. I agree with the above posters that AP Scholar awards are not too important for admissions. </p>
<p>No school will penalize you for what your school doesn’t offer.</p>
<p>To self study APs in which you would otherwise have no interest simply for the sake of National AP scholar is worth neither your time, effort, nor money. It’s a daft idea.</p>
<p>^^And fairly transparent.</p>
<p>Plus schools are interested in your transcript much more than your AP scores. Self studying 6 will not be a benefit if you don’t have the classes to show the GPA support.</p>
<p>I think many people underestimate the difficulty of self-studying music theory. If you’re going to do it, start over the summer. I tried two months before and realized after two weeks that it was futile. It’s going to be difficult, but if you really want AP scholar, go for it. Then again, you can always take humangeo, psych, and envi sci 
And I agree with an0maly, you have to maintain good grades in your classes as well.</p>
<p>“…scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.”
OP would have eight for his/her plan. My daughter only took eight, which is why the no score under four was stuck in my head.</p>
<p>OP, why are you even considering this? What exactly do you hope to gain?</p>
<p>If your school has a limited number of AP classes available, then that is the context in which your school record will be judged. Adcoms will not be particularly impressed by your self-studying 6 exams (quite frankly, it smacks a little of desperation, as if you don’t have any other accomplishments and need to beef up your credentials) and the likelihood of your getting all 4’s and 5’s on those exams (plus the 2 you are taking in school) is very small.</p>
<p>As a National AP Scholar after junior year, I can tell you I don’t think it was that important. In retrospect, I’m not even sure if I included it in my app (though the self-reported AP scores probably gave the adcoms an idea).</p>
<p>However, if you want to go for it, then more power to you. I’d recommend self-studying the semester long courses and the short exams (US Govt, Comparative Govt, Macro, Micro, Human Geography, and Environmental Science).</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice, everyone. I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>I’d mostly be doing it for the award; be nice to have, and I wouldn’t mind getting some possible credit for college general ed later down the road, but it’s not a huge deal or anything to me, I guess.</p>
<p>As far as in the context of my school, I’m taking the most rigorous courses available, so I think I should be alright there?</p>