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I've heard varying definitions of it. What's your definition?

By Pinkheart (Pinkheart) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 04:06 pm: Edit

I think it's when you persue something on your own, without a teacher nagging you or teaching.. immersing yourself into something you study, independently.

By Macramequeen (Macramequeen) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 08:31 pm: Edit

im confused. is it an actual class called independent study? or does it just mean studying on your own time and somehow getting it confirmed on your transcript?

By Iplayoboe (Iplayoboe) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 08:55 pm: Edit

for it to be on your transcript, it usually has to be during class time. I had a whole block of independent study last year, but my coucelor labeled it "Special Topics in Music"
if you study outside of school and take the school final, some schools will list that on your transcript as well.
If your school doesnt list it on your transcript, it can be listed in the "outside of school activities / hobbies" section of your applications, especially if you plan to take the IB or AP exam equivalent , even the SAT II subject test could be used to show how well your independent study work went.

By Esmeralda1 (Esmeralda1) on Friday, September 24, 2004 - 08:58 pm: Edit

Independent study can mean a bunch of things:

1.An independent project, which is noted on your transcript and can be done instead of a class. You decide on a subject and ask a teacher to be your mentor, and they help you figure out a schedule, goals, etc. They make sure you're on the right track, but basically, you're on your own.

2. Buying AP review books, textbooks, etc and preparing for an AP or IB exam, which you then take. You don't get credit in high school (usually) but if you do well on the exam you can place out of classes in college.

3. Actually studying on your own time for no reward other than your intellectual fulfillment. There are many many ways of doing this. For instance, I studied French this summer on my own, because I haven't had time to take any courses and am really interested in the language

By Sraid7777 (Sraid7777) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 06:49 pm: Edit

...and how much do colleges actually carea bout them? I know it's nto worth IS something you're not interested in, but do universities take it seriously..?

By Celebrian23 (Celebrian23) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 08:30 pm: Edit

well my school basically defines it as this:

Learning the material through your own means, but you must periodically meet with a teacher (they act as an advisor) and it must be during class time, as in an actual period in your schedule, you can't just take the book home and study if you want it on your transcript

By Celebrian23 (Celebrian23) on Sunday, September 26, 2004 - 08:34 pm: Edit

at my school, couselors warn us many colleges won't even adknowledge it, so most people take it becuase they're really interested in something, not just to take an ap class, like someone took it and it was called women in literature or women studies or something to that effect, a few geniuses take a high level math or science that way, but mostly it's good art students who can't fit it into their schedule, for example, painting 3 only meets 4th period, and all 3 ap langauges offered at my school meet that period, so a student might take ind. study so that they can continue art

By Esmeralda1 (Esmeralda1) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 01:56 pm: Edit

I think if you study something on your own as part of a wider interest, that shows your commitment. Like if you are really into biology, and you do independent tudy of pollution in a local river and in the end present your results to authorities and try to change the pollution laws (one of my frineds did this and she mentioned it on college apps)

If it's not a serious thing like that, it will probably not pull a lot of weight with colleges.