<p>So I'm taking 5 aps right now, but I think I'm going to go through with self studying ap biology, ap psychology, and ap english literature. I guess I'm trying to prove to myself that I can do it, but can anyone speak to whether or not that would be impressive to schools?</p>
<p>Looking to apply to ivies and top states schools this fall</p>
<p>It’s seems over the top to me.</p>
<p>What selective colleges want very much to see is how well you do in the context of your school – and that means class interactions.</p>
<p>For two of your proposed AP self study courses (english literature and psychology) the class interactions are critical. Indeed I’d expect that such courses, where they are offered, have class projects, and for psychology the projects may span the school.</p>
<p>To really progress in biology you need a lab and lab projects. In a self study approach it’s hard to see how you would get around that.</p>
<p>Taking lots of APs rarely means that you’ll get to skip the introductory course in college, and especially in a selective college. In most cases you wouldn’t want to do that even if you could. The college level courses are a notch or two above AP courses.</p>
<p>My sense is that college admission committees at selective schools would give you a bit of credit for self study, but not a great deal. Also unless you get the AP grades for the self study course in the first semester they won’t even notice.</p>
<p>I would think that there are alternate uses of your time that would lead to a stronger application than self-study courses such as these.</p>
<p>APs are looked on favorably by admissions- IF you do well in them. If you think you can pull off high grades in those classes, go for it. You might or might not get any credit out of them (depending on how well the AP exam goes), but a rigorous course-load and a high GPA are always looked on favorably.</p>
<p>Do Psych now, and see how it works out. Wait on the rest.</p>
<p>However, if you are going for National AP scholar as a Junior (which I assume you are?), then look over the books and find exams you honestly feel are EASY! Put Env. Sci in place of Bio, and only try the English if you have a strong SAT CR section or SAT II - Lit.</p>
<p>If this is what you want, by all means go for it. Yes, it’s an impressive and noted award for a junior to hold. But, if you don’t care about it, then just start easy with Psych and go from there :)</p>
<p>Bad choice of self-study APs, I’d advice against it. Imo, it also depends on what AP’s you are currently taking, if they are generally known as easier ones, I would consider self-studying, otherwise I would suggest that you focus on your current APs.</p>
<p>Unless you attend an uncompetitive school with little to no APs, don’t worry about self-studying. You are expected to perform well in the context of your school. Of course, if you attend a crappy school, colleges need some sort of validation that you’ll succeed in college as well. You, however, are already taking a decently heavy courseload. Your AP scores, combined with SATs and SAT IIs, will indicate your intelligence and capability. No worries.</p>
<p>Ok after doing some research it seems like AP Bio might be a little hard to self study. I’m thinking I’ll just do lit and psychology, because those seem pretty straightforward.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips as well and yeah, probably better to spend my time refining other parts of my transcript/resume rather than busting balls for bio which i really don’t have any experience with.</p>
<p>In terms of making you stand out as an applicant, the difference between 5 APs and 7 is zilch. Do something with your spare time that feeds whatever your personal passions are. Do something with the time that you really love, so when you have to write an essay, you have something to say. Those poor admissions officers-how jaded they must be by applicants who try to stand out by taking more APs when they could have been learning a new skill, studying a language no one else speaks, becoming a certified instructor of something, working in a job that will provide a lifetime of reminders about why education is worth it…</p>
<p>Lit is anything but straightforward. It’s one of the most subjective tests out there–I would say Bio is actually a lot easier to just study.</p>
<p>Are you good at analyzing literature? Do you generally do well in your English classes?</p>
<p>M’s Mom is exactly right. Find something else to do with your time that actually matters to you.</p>
<p>Based on what I have observed at several very selective colleges self-study does not offer any advantages it can even hurt you chances. How do you self-study lit. The course is all about critical reading, writing and ‘discussion’. I suppose you will self-evaluate your written assignments and sit in your room in front of a mirror discussing the days assignment. By the way AP Bio. includes a lab.<br>
Admission officers spend a lot of time looking for applicants that understand the learning is a collaborative effort.</p>
<p>I’ll say it again: Don’t worry about self-studying. Use that time to get your SAT and SAT II scores as impressive as possible while focusing hard in the AP classes you *are *taking. You look more impressive focusing on the classes you do have and doing remarkably well in them than spreading yourself over every AP possible.</p>
<p>As it’s been said previously, just try to take as many AP courses as your school allows…Admit officers will take into account the courses that your schools allow.</p>
<p>Frankly though, I think you can self-study AP Literature…Yep, it’s totally subjective, so it’s not like a class would help you that much anyway. Basically: if you did well on your SAT reading part, you’ll probably do fine on the AP Literature (or Language).</p>
<p>AP Bio would be tough though, as everyone has told you.</p>
<p>Don’t kill yourself. Many colleges even say that they are not necessarily looking for the people who took the most APs, but rather kids who are sincerely passionate about learning beyond taking an AP test to prove that you can. It’s really over the top and may hurt you more than it can help you.</p>
<p>A friend of mine did that one year, he got 7 5s and 1 1 lol
Honestly, unless you are desperate for the college credit, theres is not point. Colleges do not place much emphasis on self-studied APs., sure its better than nothing, but the time-efficiency ratio is pretty bad in my opinion.</p>
<p>If next year is going to be your senior year, for goodness sakes, keep it light.