<p>I have self-studied AP Environmental Science this year and plan on receiving a 4+/5- on the AP test. I do truly enjoy learning science and this was my primary motivation for learning environmental science. In addition, the material supplements my studies in Science Olympiad.</p>
<p>However, my main concern is one concept I’ve heard from ccers that colleges may view me self-studying an easier ap test as simply a means to pad my resum</p>
<p>lol. i honestly doubt they would look at it negatively. those ccers just sound jealous.</p>
<p>Self studying any AP is better than not self studying at all.</p>
<p>To me, self-studying presents several benefits not often talked about:</p>
<ol>
<li>Intellectual enrichment. Even cramming for an exam like enviro will still teach you interesting things about the environment.</li>
<li>Intellectual challenge. Whether you’re self-studying physics at all, or trying to get a 5 on comparative government in five days, self-studying certainly presents an intellectual hurdle to be jumped over. I felt great after hearing that I got a five on comp gov last year because I self-studied it.</li>
<li>Qualitative measure of academic discipline to colleges (if taken before senior year). Putting that you self-studied for an AP exam, and got a 5 to back it up, on your college application is undoubtedly very impressive. Likewise, at several scholarships that I interviewed for, the interviewers seemed blown away that I was able to do this. I don’t mean to include this as a testament to the magnitude of my own awesomeness, but rather as a tribute to the significance of independent study.</li>
</ol>