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@Bawb
6 answers, 15 votes
 • 4 years ago •
Admissions Advice

Is it beneficial to self-study APs or should I just stick to my school's curriculum?
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My school puts a limit on how many APs we are allowed to take(for example, we are not allowed to do double of one subject), but I am interested in taking more history APs. Is it a good idea to self-study for extra APs or is it better to just take what my school allows? Some people have said that it isn't a good idea to self-study because it means nothing to colleges (regarding course rigor), but how does it look to self study if you get a 5 on the AP exam? Basically, I'm just wondering if there is any point to self studying to take an AP History exam? Will it benefit me in anyway? Thanks!

courserigour
AP
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@DebaterMAX
905 answers, 734 votes
 • 4 years ago

So if you self study it will likely not count as rigor. But on the exam if you get a certain score usually a 4 sometimes a 3 (scale 1-5 in case you didn’t know). If you get the score you get college credit at basically all schools expect a few obscure schools and some of the ivies (ivies use AP for advanced classes/programs)

So in essence you’d be getting dirt cheap tuition for approx 3 hours per test. If the school pays for the test you get free tuition for a class just by taking a test.

So I’d advise self studying especially if the ap course is major related.

Hope this helps and comment if you need clarification.

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[🎤 AUTHOR]@Bawb4 years ago [edited]

Thanks! Do you think self-studying is a good idea if I want to make room for a lower level class instead of taking the AP?(I'll self-study for it though.) At my school they offer Con Law, but it's honors level and I would have to take it instead of an AP History. Would it be a good idea to take Con Law Honors and self study the AP or should I just not take Con Law? I am interested in law and it's the only kind of law related course that my school offers, but would an AP be better?

@DebaterMAX4 years ago

So Con Law is honors so that definitely is okay to sub especially as it is major related. Also what AP history class are you doing AP US AP World AP Europe etc? Also is honors weighted and what does con law mean? So I’d say yes in regards to self study a AP Us history class just make sure to practice DBQs

[🎤 AUTHOR]@Bawb4 years ago

It's constitutional law honors and it's weighted higher than a regular class, but lower than AP and by the time I graduate I would have taken AP World, APUSH, AP Comparative Government and I want to self study AP macro or micro.

@DebaterMAX4 years ago [edited]

Ah I could figure out what con law stood for. For self studying a AP Economics whether macro or micro is possible but it’s one of the tougher AP tests. But definitely self study for the AP history test. So AP economic is personal preference IMO Best of luck!

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@DebaterMAX
905 answers, 734 votes
 • 4 years ago[edited]

Sorry I somehow double posted my answer. Please forget this was an answer.

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