Hey folks, when inputting my classes on the Common App, I saw the 'college prep' designation and got a bit confused. Does this refer to any class that prepares you for college, or is it a specific type of course? Insight would be much appreciated!
Hey there! I'm glad you brought this up—it's a question that can trip up a lot of students. In the context of the Common App, 'college prep' is typically used to describe a standard level high school course that provides you with the basic skills and knowledge foundation for college.
These classes are generally considered to be a notch below Honors or AP/IB courses in terms of difficulty and depth. For example, if your school offers a regular U.S. History class alongside an AP U.S. History class, the former would likely be designated as 'college prep.'
So, if your classes don't fall into specific categories like Honors, AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment, you'd most likely classify them as college prep. This helps colleges understand the rigor of your coursework within the context of what's offered at your high school. Hope this clarifies things for you! Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck with your application!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.