My school hasn't offered AP courses until this coming school year, will that hurt me?

Question

My high school hasn't had AP courses until this coming school year. I will be a senior this year too. I will take AP Literature, AP Physics and possibly AP Calculus. Would a kid who has taken all AP courses throughout high school stand a better chance than me? Although I haven't taken any AP's up until this year, I have still taken the hardest classes available.

Hardest classes available w/ no AP's = AP classes all through HS??

Answer 1

No, a student who has taken all AP coursework stand a better chance than you.  Colleges and Universities look at someone who is well-rounded, as opposed to being uber-scholar.

Answer 2

At the elite schools, the quality of a student's high school is a factor.  The number of AP classes will affect the quality -- so someone who tool all AP classes but was similar in other ways would have an advantage.

Once you get past the Elite schools, it shouldn't have much of an effect.  Schools will certainly look favorably at the fact that you took the hardest classes.  

Other factors are more important, though.  Beyond grades and test scores, the best way to stand out is by writing a killer admissions essay.