Butternut

I'm hoping to take a couple of AP classes my next year- since I'm homeschooled, I'll be self studying. I was just wondering if anybody had any experiences, tips, or other wisdom they'd be willing to share.
Thanks.

thatonegirl

I self studied a number of APs. My advice: don't let anyone scare you out of it, if you think you have the capacity to learn on your own. I self-studied ten or so, including chem, eng. lang., physics b and got fives on all. It takes a lot of research to even begin studying, and you will always be wondering if you know the subject well enough, but you can do it! good luck!

huguenot

We did a ton of APs at home, and a few online. It is just as doable as any other homeschool class. Go for it!

There are tons of resources on the apcentral site at collegeboard.com. Your mom can sign up as an educator and access syllabuses, past essay questions and lots of help.

Do be aware, though, that to call it an AP class on your transcript, your mom (or dad :-) will have to go through the Course Audit process. It's annoying and takes a little time, but again, is very doable.

Don't forget, you'll need to sign up to take the exam at a local high school. Often private schools are more willing to work with homeschoolers, but I've got a great relationship with the public school guidance counselor here, too.

Hope you have a great experience!!

jml

My homeschooled daughter is self-studying for 3 APs this year. She did the same for 2 APs last year. The other daughter self-studied for 2 APs in a previous year.

You can do it!

Butternut

Thanks, everyone! Especially since I didn't know that to put them on your transcript you had to go through the course auditing.

huguenot

Don't be alarmed by the course audit. You just have to go through sign up, then submit a syllabus for approval. They have sample syllabuses to help you. It's a doable thing.

TigerQueen

Self-studying for APs is definitely possible. Last year I was not aware that my correspondence school was offering AP courses until half-way through the year. As a result I ended up being about half-way through the course by May. However, I self-studied for the rest of it and got a 5. I am also self-studying for Human Geography this year and I feel relatively confident.

officer

just get the text that AP,s are using and a test prep book? How do you handle prepping yourself for the DBQ essays and free-response essays?

Also, instead of going throught the audit process, I was thinking of putting "Advanced Honors" on our transcript with a little footnote saying, "Modeled after AP formatted class". And of course taking the exams to back this up. What do you think?

huguenot

We use an AP or college level text, a test prep book, any additional resources needed (like lab materials and online lab simulations for sciences, literature for English), and the apcentral website. For educators (which homeschoolers can register as), the apcentral website has lots of past DBQ and free response questions, along with scoring rubrics and examples so you can score your own practice questions. It's very helpful!

You can certainly just go the route of not using AP on the transcript, but although a bit of a hassle, the AP Course Audit is homeschool friendly. You will just need to submit a syllabus that covers everything they say you need. Once you register for the course audit, you can access lots of help like sample syllabi and checklists.

Liist

As a homeschool student, I made a large use of Florida Virtual School, as well as my own self study. It actually gives you a HUGE advantage because you get 14 hour days just to study the AP in the last 2 weeks.

caruiz93

im thinking of self studying a ffew AP courses.whats the difference between it giong on your transcript as an AP class or not.doe sit matter?and what does it affect?

lolcats4

Homeschoolers really do have an advantage when doing APs. I regrettably was only able to take one this year (Calc BC). I studied for four days, and think I pulled it off (a five that is).

Next semester I'm going to get my parents to do the audit, and I'm going to do a bunch more

Cardinal Fang

You don't have to do an audit to take the test. You just pay and take the test.

Liist

My district is paying for the tests for me. The main disadvantage is having other students staring at me and having friends that go to the school where I'm taking the exam asking "why the hell are you here?"

huguenot

In most states, there is also a grant that will pay for low income students to take the exam free - whether public, private or homeschool.

If you live in one of the few states that don't, there is still a college board fee reduction for low income students.