When I studied for the PE, I did not take a class. I read through the entirety of the structural sections of the Civil Engineering Reference Manual (CERM) and worked through all of the example problems in the structural sections. I tabbed the heck out of the CERM. I found the PPI practice questions to be slightly more difficult than the test. So if you can work through those without issue, the test should be no problem. I studied every morning for 1 hour for about 2-3 months, and I was over prepared.
The morning seemed very easy to me. I believe I finished about 2 hours early in the morning and 1.5 hours early in the afternoon. Focus on the problems you know first and then go back. I think I skipped the first 5 problems because I was so nervous and then went back to them.
If you put in the effort, you can pass.
If I may (and to all others who took Civil: Structural depth):
Would you recommend this strategy (no online classes, just book study) for someone who wants to take PE Civil: Structural depth but who does not have an undergrad education in civil engineering? I found the SE too difficult to pass, though I feel like I did well.
PPI2Pass has ~700-1000 dollars worth of prep book material that I would like to use, but I am not sure if another ~1100 or so on breadth and depth classes (from AEI if that matters) is worthwhile. I took School of PE for the SE-vert and felt that I got a lot more out of the SERM and working problems, relative to the online class (barely used the notes from that online class on the exam).
My main concern is with the civil breadth section, as that would be mostly new info to me. The structural depth section isn't as large of a concern.
Thank you for your time and input.