Taking AP tests without the class?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’m going to be a senior this year, and I feel like I haven’t taken enough APs. This year the max I could fit into my schedule while finishing up reqs was 3, bringing me to a grand total of 6 APs: Euro, Gov, English Lang, English Lit, Bio, and MacroEcon. I’m considering attempting to take an AP test on my own. I suck at math, love science, English, and history, and I took up to Latin 3 and did very well (although it was first semester sophomore year, and the grammar stuff confuses the crap out of me).




Which would be the easiest/best AP to try to learn on my own? I’ll be taking three APs (gov, Econ, and lit) during the school day second semester, so I’m not sure I want to try something like Chem or Physics, but at the same time, I want to be a bio major. Which remaining ap seems like the best choice to do on my own?

2

You’ve taken enough AP’s, especially if you are constrained by schedule limitations. Doing an AP on your own is impressive for nobody (except you) and the scores don’t come out until well after admission decisions have been made.

If you want to do something on your own to potentially get credit, or you have an interest in the subject, go for it. But then the decision of which subject is totally based on your own interests.

3

@skieurope although it may not help her get into a college she could receive college credit if she scores a 4 or 5. But its totally up to her.

4

@strikers10 Agreed, which I said in my original response.

5

“You’ve taken enough AP’s”

I agree. I don’t think that you should worry about it. 6 APs is pretty good.

Your senior year will be busy enough. You will have essentially an extra class which consists of “think about which universities to consider, visit universities, apply to universities, get replies from universities, visit again, consider financial implications, decide where to go, worry about this endlessly”. You don’t need to self-study for another AP in the middle of this. Do well in the classes that you are taking, study for the APs that you are taking, and best wishes.

6

Why do you want to take more AP tests?

If it is for admissions, then fret not…colleges are much more concerned about your grades in classes as opposed to the AP tests.

Why is that?

  1. Doing well in a class shows you can learn over the year and work hard over a period of time. That is what they want in college.
  2. Not all HS have many APs.
  3. Many people take AP tests senior year which is too late for admissions
  4. In your case, you would be self studying and take the AP test after you have gotten admitted. Saying you are self studying means absolutely nothing to admissions committee.

For example, Stanford says:
Students currently enrolled in AP courses are not required to submit AP scores as part of our admission process. AP scores that are reported are acknowledged but rarely play a significant role in the evaluation of an application. Grades earned over the course of a term, or a year, and evaluations from instructors who can comment on classroom engagement provide us with the most detailed insight into a student’s readiness for the academic rigors of Stanford.
http://admission.stanford.edu/basics/selection/prepare.html

In other words, AP test scores are not really used for admission.

If it is for college credit, then remember:

  1. Your grades in regular classes are more important
  2. Choose to self-study AP tests that you have a chance at. …e.g. Psychology or Economics.