I live outside the US, and my school doesn’t offer AP or any type of honors courses, so in 10th grade I self studied AP bio and Environmental science and got fives in both. I was wondering if it makes the applications look better (maybe it would show dedication to study something not offered at your school or even in your country), or worse (since I didn’t take any courses, and it’s only two subjects).
Neutral. No college expects its applicants to take AP exams if the AP class is not offered, and no college will ding a student because an AP class is not offered. Transcripts are viewed in the context of what the HS offers. Every US AO is well aware that AP classes are not common outside the US and Canada.
Having said that, no AO will be impressed by an applicant solely based upon self studying for an exam.