Why Self Study for AP Exams?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>I see that lots of people around here plan to study for AP exams. May I ask exactly why? The only two reasons that come to mind are:
1. to potentially earn credit for college
2. to potentially impress college admissions officers</p>

<p>I am just curious which factor is generally the prevailing one or if it is something else.</p>

<p>Also, I notice that naturally so, people intend to more often self study for the easier exams. For example, ones like Human Geography come up here more and more often. I also suspect that the vast majority of folks who do this sort of self-studying are ending up in our most elite universities, some of which may be less likely to award credit for some of these easier exams, and nothing short of a 5 when they do. </p>

<p>The only financial consideration that would make sense to me is someone who is very intelligent but is intending to go to their state school solely to save money (like a UC, a UT ...). Then I can imagine the APs getting accepted more readily and potentially securing sophomore standings upon entering. </p>

<p>From an admissions perspective, given that AP exam scores are self-reported in the college admissions process, do they hold much weight? And in particular, don't admissions officers know which exams are easier and thereby value them less?</p>

<p>I'm not trying to be a nay-sayer. I'm just curious what the rationale is. It strikes me like it could be a large time investment, potentially at the expense of studying for classes that make up your GPA, SAT and SAT subject tests, or substantial extracurricular involvement, any of which I'd imagine would hold notably more weight in the admissions process than a self-studied AP. Of course, if you've already nailed your standardized tests, are breezing through school, and are coasting through an Intel research project, for example.</p>

<p>I know the following path is rarely advocated, but I can imagine someone enrolled in honors US history or maybe honors biology self-studying for those exams because there might not be a substantial knowledge or skills gap. I don't have the sense though that is what people here are doing. It seems like on the other hand, people are saying why don't we just crack open Art History books from scratch to prepare for the Art History AP (or substitute another AP here for which the student is not enrolled in the honors level class and the AP is considered one of the easier exams).</p>

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<p>Some people self study because their schools don’t offer much.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the feedback animefan1998. Still, what is the motivation? The potential college credits or potential boost in college admissions? </p>

<p>Are you implying another reason of just sheer boredom with school classes? Like you really like psychology, are bummed that your school does not offer it, so you read so much psychology in your free time that you figure why not go for the AP?</p>

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<p>Hmm, I think it’s all of the above, but I’m not really sure.</p>

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<ol>
<li><p>I self-studied AP Calculus BC to meet a prerequisite I needed to take higher-level math classes senior year. My school doesn’t offer it (or Calculus AB either). </p></li>
<li><p>Universities outside the United States are not as holistic with their admissions, and many of them require American international applicants to submit AP test scores. </p></li>
<li><p>Desire to learn a subject and substantiate it in some way. </p></li>
<li><p>High school credit. My high school gave me an American Government credit (for regular government, which is a graduation requirement) after I passed the AP US Government test.</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>Plenty of good (private and public) schools accept AP credit. You can’t always predict it from the rankings. </p>

<p>I agree that people on here think self-studying APs is more impressive than it is, though. “I taught myself a college-level class” does sound pretty impressive on its face, and I think people think it adds more to their applications than it does. Taking an AP class is preferable to self-studying an AP test, and you’re not expected to take anything your school doesn’t offer.</p>

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<p>Your reasons make sense, though they also sound very specific to your case and not likely to apply to this self-study phenomena. </p>

<p>Basically, if there high school does not traditionally offer AP courses, I can understand that too. Home schooling, for example, is a clear case and point of such. </p>

<p>For me, I plan to study for the US History subject test for this May. I am not taking AP US but I probably shouldn’t have been so chicken. I was wondering whether I should hunker down, get some DBQ skills while I’m self-studying for the subject test, and also give the AP exam a try. Or whether it’s not worth it. </p>

<p>I do have an interest in Economics and my school does not offer AP Econ. I am currently a junior. I don’t think it’s realistic to study AP Econ for this May. I’m not sure there is a point in doing it for senior year if it won’t help for college admissions, and I don’t feel so compelled to secure the college credits before college. </p>

<p>Those are the two that would interest me. Otherawise, I’ll be taking a few APs in school senior year.</p>