Navigating the College Prep High School Curriculum

The journey to college begins long before filling out applications. It starts with the choices students make regarding their high school curriculum. Students who take college prep courses are generally more prepared for the responsibilities of higher education, and they are typically more likely to get into the colleges of their choice compared to students who never took such classes. That said, it can be confusing to navigate all the different high school course options. For example, students can often choose between standard courses, college prep courses, honors and AP or IB courses. How exactly can you know which classes to take? This article aims to clarify the different types of college prep curricula and how they prepare students for college.

Understanding the Core High School Curriculum

Strictly speaking, the standard high school curriculum is intended to prepare students for college. That is why students must take a minimum number of certain courses before they graduate. Typically, those classes include the following:

4 years of English
3 years of science
3 years of math
3 years of social studies
2-4 years of world language

Students who succeed in these classes at the high school level should be fairly well prepared for success at the college level. However, virtually every high school also offers more advanced versions of these classes, and the advanced classes generally offer a better level of college preparation for students. Since the standard classes are already de facto “college prep” courses, you can (somewhat ironically) better prepare for a university education by taking a more challenging curriculum.

The Benefits of an Advanced High School Curriculum

Because certain colleges are very selective, it can be beneficial (and can to some degree be considered required) for prospective students to go above and beyond when it comes to their high school education. When possible, it’s recommended to take the most challenging courses that are available. In particular, if you have some highly-selective colleges on your list, they will generally expect you to take the most challenging courses available to you.

The advanced high school curriculum typically includes:

Read also: The Legacy of St. Rita of Cascia

4 years of English
4 years of math
4 years of science
4 years of social studies
4 years of world language
Including Honors courses and AP classes depending on what your school offers.

Colleges have access to your School Profile, so admissions officers can understand what options were available, what you took advantage of, and what opportunities you left on the table. Often, the college will outline which courses are required vs which ones are simply recommended. By taking as many of the recommended courses as possible, you can improve your own college preparation while making yourself look like an ideal applicant to the institution.

College Prep High Schools: A Focused Approach

Sometimes, “college prep” doesn’t simply refer to a type of class or specialized curriculum. Instead, the term may be applied to an entire high school. While such high schools vary in their curricula and educational focus, all of them have something in common: they are intended to provide students with the best possible level of college preparation.

Some of these schools are a bit more rigorous than others. At one of the Gary Lighthouse Charter Schools, for example, researching colleges and applying for admission is a standard part of the curriculum. In fact, students can’t even receive their diplomas until they have been accepted by at least one college they apply to!

A more common type of college prep high school is one that allows students to earn college credits while in high school, like the Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College. These institutions are beneficial because they give students hands-on experience actually taking college classes, and students may be able to complete as much as half of their college coursework before receiving a high school diploma!

Programs to Increase Access to College

In addition to college prep courses and high schools, there are also various programs also referred to as “college prep” that students can take to better prepare them for college. As an added bonus, participation in such programs may provide the edge a student needs in order to gain admission to a competitive institution.

First of all, the federal government offers a number of programs designed particularly to assist students who would be considered nontraditional college applicants. For example:

Upward Bound (part of the Federal TRiO Programs) helps low-income students prepare for university by exposing them to a simulated college environment, complete with an extensive support system.
Talent Search, meanwhile, offers both low-income students and first-generation college students counseling services needed to achieve success in higher education.
The Student Support Services program offers a range of tutoring and academic advising services as well as career counseling and financial aid information to students who are low-income, first-generation, and/or disabled.
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (aka GEAR UP) provides similar tutoring, advising, and counseling services to low-income and minority students starting as early as 7th grade.

Such federal programs are available to prospective students regardless of where they live. However, be sure to research potential resources unique to your own state: for example, California’s EOP program is designed to help state residents who are low-income or otherwise educationally disadvantaged.

The Course Hierarchy: Honors, AP, and IB

In most high schools, there is effectively a kind of course hierarchy. Typically, higher level classes will be labeled as “Honors.” These are more challenging courses, and they offer prospective students some major advantages when it comes to applying to college. For one thing, these courses may offer college credit, which looks great on your applications and also prepares you for the rigors of a college curriculum. For another thing, these classes may boost GPA by offering more weighted credit than other courses, which can help with both college and scholarship applications.

The next “step up” in the hierarchy are the AP and IB courses. Typically, these are the most challenging courses a student can take, and they always end with a major exam. If students score high enough on an AP exam (typically, 4 out of 5 points), they can usually get college credit for the course they just completed.

Mississippi's College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC)

Mississippi's public universities will admit high school graduates under both a required and recommended College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC). The accompanying course list ensures uniformity of Mississippi high school courses being accepted in each category of the CPC across Mississippi's eight public institutions.

Read also: Phoenix Suns' New Center

The CPC Course listing Excel document will be added once the MS Department of Education has completed the MSIS updates for 2024-2025. Please reference the 2021-2022 MDE Secondary Course Manual IHL CPC section for questions about CPC approved courses.

Utilizing the Common App

To receive full credit for the college prep courses you have taken, it’s important to enter them into the Common App. While we always recommend you consult with your school counselor about the best way to approach your application, just to be sure, the instructions below should help you enter all of your classes into the App before you start applying to colleges.

Use “Advanced Placement”: for AP Calculus AB/AP Biology, etc.
Use “Dual Enrollment” for things like Community College courses
Use “Honors” for things like Honors English 11, Honors English 10
Use “College Prep” for all other English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language (e.g.

Strategic Course Selection

Sometimes, students struggle to pick the best classes to take because they face a unique dilemma: by definition, easier courses are going to be easier to complete, and that can help keep their GPA as high as possible. With that in mind, why would someone ever take more rigorous courses instead?

One practical answer that we touched on before is that more rigorous courses could offer benefits such as college credit or a weighted advantage for the overall GPA. Mostly, though, admissions offices simply prioritize more rigorous courses over easy ones.

Addressing Common Questions

Are college prep courses harder than Honors?
Depends on how you’re using the term “college prep”. With that caveat in mind, core college prep courses typically are a bit easier and go at a slower pace than honors classes.
What does the Common App consider “college prep courses”?
In the Common App, “College Prep” is typically used to refer to non-elective classes that are not otherwise labeled AP, IB, or Honors.

Alternative College Prep Options

The JMHS College Prep Diploma track offers an academically rigorous high school education. All courses in this challenging, nationally accredited college prep high school curriculum are self-paced and 100% online - with optional printed textbooks available. Academic guidance is provided by our highly trained academic advisors and state-certified teachers. The following courses are part of the College Prep Diploma track. You may earn up to 17 eligible transfer credits from your previous high school. That means you could graduate with up to $ in tuition savings! The following courses are available to students as electives. We will gladly consider any eligible transfer credits you may have from your previous high school.Cambridge AICE Courses The Cambridge AICE Diploma Program is currently available to FLVS Full Time students entering 9th or 10th grade for the 2024-25 school year. Learn more about the Cambridge AICE Diploma Program.

A Word of Caution: Universalizing College Prep

There is a national movement to universalize the high school curriculum so that all students graduate prepared for college. The present work evaluates a policy in Chicago that ended remedial classes and mandated college preparatory course work for all students. Based on an interrupted time-series cohort design with multiple comparisons, this study found that the policy reduced inequities in ninth grade course work by entering ability, race/ethnicity, and special education status. Although more students completed ninth grade with credits in algebra and English I, failure rates increased, grades slightly declined, test scores did not improve, and students were no more likely to enter college. In sum, few benefits resulted from universalizing college preparatory course work among freshmen, but dropout rates did not increase.

Beyond Academics: A Holistic Approach

A well-rounded college prep experience extends beyond academics. Consider the following:

Extracurricular Activities: Draft a list of your activities outside of school.
Mentorship: Mentorship can come in many forms. Developing these relationships will be key to your success.
Self-Advocacy: Self-advocacy is a key component to achieving your goals.
College Visits: Visiting colleges on your list may not always be possible.
Standardized Tests: Preparing for and taking standardized tests may be part of your college admissions process.
College Planning Discussions: Talk with your parent/guardian about your college plans.
Time Management: Look at your calendar, if you have one, or map out your weekly schedule.
GPA Awareness: Review your school’s GPA policies. Calculate your GPA based on your current grades.

tags: #college #prep #high #school #curriculum