<p>So I self studied Psych and didn’t take the class because A)teacher sucked B)schedule/grade wouldn’t allow it C)it was only a semester class non AP level. So okay I took the test and now I hear people’s daily slide crap about me taking it (and they make it so obvious with the noises and looks at each other-students and teachers). I guess since this is such a rare thing (only 3 kids including me have done it). They all think I failed, which would make me even madder if I didn’t think I failed to. lol :P</p>
<p>So how does your school react to self study kids?</p>
<p>My school is accommodating, so no one would really bother someone about self studying something. But they might gossip to others about it…</p>
<p>I think it’s great that you self studied! I’m not sure they think you failed. I think they want to think you failed (and want you to to think that they think you failed), because they are envious, but don’t want to be.</p>
<p>I’m guessing my school is really shocked. Every other student at my school is taking 1 AP exam (the only class currently offered at my school or the occassional self-studiers in the regular Calculus class), while I’m taking 5 exams.</p>
<p>I say, good for you! It really shows motivation, I’m sure students and teachers would think you were crazy at my school. I don’t personally know anyone who’s done it, but I’m sure they think that you have to have the class in order to take the AP test, or else you’d fail. </p>
<p>I would consider self studying for AP psych, but my school doesn’t offer the AP version.</p>
<p>At my school, people only care if you self-study one of the “harder” APs, especially physics and maybe calculus. Self-studying something like Psych or APES is pretty much a “meh”. We have 14 people taking both Physics Cs this year and we don’t have a class for either one; it’s actually more common than self-studying Gov or Euro. So I would say that self-studying is pretty established here among some of the top students.</p>
<p>I think it’s great you self-studied! Schools probably frown on it because it skews teacher’s stats (how many of their AP students pass exams). Every educator likes to be needed (and you’re showing they aren’t)</p>
<p>My school tends to be fairly indifferent to it, and the kids who do self-study are generally overachievers who also have a reputation of being the best in their class. The school itself offers every class except for the languages and psych (honors/IB), music theory (regular class), comparative government, Macro/Micro, human geography, and Euro (this year only, not enough students taking it). We also have kids who take an “independent study” period when they can’t fit the AP class into their schedule. </p>
<p>Overall, the school doesn’t particularly care, as self-studiers tend to boost the school’s averages. We have a lot of driven students, but half of the AP teachers are incompetent (one teacher had his class watching the olympics last year, another would let his students randomly leave, etc.). There are generally a couple kids who do some each year (we have a junior taking 13 exams this year), and so it’s expected. </p>
<p>Of course, 10% of the student body is Asian, and my parents moved to the neighborhood we live in because the school (public suburban HS) is one of the best in the area. So I think it depends on what kind of area you live in and what the norm is for your school; for my school, there are always kids who do it, so it’s something of an aspiration–obviously, that’s not always the case.</p>
<p>We sign-up online now and there is nothing stopping us (or even discouraging) from self-studying. Except that I have to deal with the awkwardness of taking an AP test by myself. When I finish the multiple choice the proctor and I will just be sitting there for 20 minutes waiting…</p>
<p>Most people at my school don’t self-study APs; I am the only one I know of that did that this year for any AP test, but people thought that was really cool and a lot of work, impressed people I guess, idk.</p>
<p>Ever since I started self-studying psych everyone was like, “wow you’re going to fail,” or “you don’t even have a teacher how are you going to learn the course,” or “that’s not even POSSIBLE to ‘self-study’ an AP COURSE.” I know a couple of people who self studied APUSH in my grade, and one who self studied AP Calc AB in my grade. Other than that, no self-studies. Throughout my school however there are about 6-7 people selfing psych because it has the reputation for being the easiest.</p>
<p>And we don’t really need to anyway considering we offer all but a few of the APs.</p>
<p>My dtr 14’ will be taking AP psych in the fall though her school is against sophomores taking any AP’s… she goes to an inner city magnet school where very few students take AP’s…this whole AP world is VERY new to us and she now is considering self studying possibly AP biology or US history. My question is… which books, websites, study aids does she need in order to self study… my guess is that there are books that I can pick up for her to study from… if any of you have any suggestions, by all means, let me know! I would appreciate it greatly… </p>
<p>My 2nd question is… when/if one gets a low score on an AP test, can that test be re-taken without detriment? and should it be retaken? </p>
<p>I’ve only self-studied classes not offered. For European history, my World History supported me (he was the teacher for it until it was cancelled).</p>
i was forever alone</p>