College Prerequisites

If you have above average or exceptional GPA and other test scores, be sure to mention them in your correspondence (preferably an email).

Your “deficiencies” may be offset by your strengths.

You can explain your missing credentials in your applications, but it’s not suggested to do this in an essay. Here’s where you can use the “Additional Information” section of applications or a separate unsolicited email.

Other factors you can use to bolster your case:

You can make a strong appeal if you believe that you didn’t get good counseling at school and was not advised to take certain classes.

It’s a common fact that a lot of high school guidance counselors case loads might not afford them the opportunity to give each student adequate attention, or they had limited information to selective colleges which didn’t a student enough information to make appropriate course choices.

You didn’t get much support at home (e.g., your parents didn’t attend college or simply weren’t involved in your educational decisions).

Offering to make up missing classes over the summer may encourage a college to offer you a “conditional” acceptance.

Final note:

Finally, it’s common that high school classes that students have been told are “required” by colleges are really just “recommended.” So your deficiencies may end up being more easily offset by your strengths than you suspect.