Hi, I'm starting 9th grade after this summer. I applied for my high school's MUN travel conference team and got in. I think they're doing WUMUNS. I have zero experience whatsoever in Mock UN so any tips before the official meetings start?
I'm starting freshman year in two months and I want to know, straight up, everything I can do to maximize my chances of the best possible college. That being said, my school doesn't offer many APs (just started the program last year actually) and while I know colleges can and do acknowledge that, my school does offer a comical amount of IBs, which is bad for me, because I really don't want to do them but colleges will see that there's a ton of rigor I didn't capitalize on. And besides, I can't start IBs till junior year.
I also missed out on the only AP I could take as a freshman, AP Human Geography (weird course selection forced my hand) and now I really want to make up for that, and, if I get a chance, do AP Psych (school doesn't offer it at all). I've heard differing opinions, either that studying single AP exams is not useful at all or that it shows some sense of drive for education, still, the general consensus is that it will not live up to a real, full length AP course.
That's why I'm asking, is self studying APs worth it at all? I do have some level of passion for these subjects, but not enough to warrant taking two AP exams freshman year for something admissions will brush off entirely. I'm wondering if creating a "narrative" on my application with the courses I take would have any benefit either (dead locked on law since forever, if that helps).
If they really don't matter, would taking courses from an outside, online provider be any more impressive. How would I even go about signing up for that? Same with taking college courses while in 9th grade.
If I can take AP HuG and/or Psych, I'll still try to keep my GPA and ECs up, so pretend that's not a problem.
TL;DR: I want to self study AP courses I couldn't fit into my schedule/my school doesn't offer. Is there any to frame it that would have a not insignificant impact on my applications? If not, would taking it online/as a college course help any more? And how would I sign up for that (now or in future grades)?