I Graduated High School but Don’t Have the Right College Prerequisite. What Now?

You can graduate from high school and still be missing a course you need for college.

Each college program has its own admission requirements. You may need a certain English, Math, Biology or Chemistry course. If you did not take that course in high school, took a different course level, or do not have the required grade, you may need to upgrade before you can enter the program.

The good news is that you may only need to complete the specific course you are missing. You do not necessarily need to return to high school or complete another diploma.

Can I still go to college if I’m missing a prerequisite?

Yes. You can still work toward college, but you will need to meet the admission requirements for the program you want to enter.

Graduating from high school means you completed the requirements for your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). A college program can have additional requirements.

For example, a program may require:

• Grade 12 College-Level English;
• a certain Grade 11 or Grade 12 Math course;
• Grade 11 Biology; or
• Grade 12 Chemistry

If one of those courses is not on your transcript, you may need to complete it to meet your college program’s admission requirements.

The first step is to find out exactly what your program requires.

Why can I graduate high school and still be missing a college prerequisite?

Your high school courses were based on the choices you made at the time. Your plans may have changed since then.

Maybe you chose courses for one career path and now want to study something different. You may have finished high school without taking chemistry because you did not expect to enter a health or science program.

You can also run into this problem if:

• you took a different level of the required subject
• you never took the required subject
• the college program asks for a specific Grade 11 or Grade 12 course, or
• you have the course, but your grade does not meet the program’s requirement

This does not mean you need to start your education over. You need to identify the gap between your transcript and the admission requirements for the program you want.

How do I find out which college prerequisite I’m missing?

Start with the admission requirements for the exact college program you want to attend.

Do not assume that every college program requires the same Grade 12 courses. Requirements can change depending on the program.

Check the admission requirements for your program

Find the program page and look for its admission requirements.

Pay attention to:

• required subjects
• course codes
• the grade level of each course, and
• any minimum grades listed

For example, seeing “Grade 12 English” is useful, but a course code such as ENG4C gives you more information about the exact level required.

Compare the requirements with your high school transcript

Next, compare the program requirements with the courses you already completed.

You may find that you are missing only one course.

You may also find that you took the subject but not at the level your college program requires. Write down each requirement you are missing so you have a clear list before you look at upgrading options.

Confirm anything you’re unsure about

If your existing course looks similar to the requirement but you are not sure whether it counts, confirm with the admissions team at the college you plan to attend. Durham College Academic Upgrading can then help you find the appropriate upgrading course.

It is worth confirming before you spend a semester taking a course you may not need.

Do I need to go back to high school to get the course?

You don’t necessarily need to go back to high school to get the course you need. 

Academic Upgrading gives adults another way to complete courses needed for college admission. At Durham College, students can take individual Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) courses to meet specific college program requirements. You do not have to complete the full ACE Certificate if you only need one or two courses. 

This can be useful if you already have your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and simply need to fill a gap in your transcript.

Do I need the full ACE Certificate?

No, not if your goal is only to complete a specific prerequisite.

At Durham College students can take individual ACE courses to meet college program admission requirements. The full ACE Certificate is available for students who need a broader high school equivalency pathway, but it is not required just to take an individual course. 

Which college prerequisites can I upgrade at Durham College?

Durham College Academic Upgrading currently offers several courses that have Ontario high school course equivalents.

 

The right course depends on where you want to go next.

For example, if your target program requires ENG4C, ACE Communications may help you meet that requirement. If it requires SCH4C, you would look at ACE Chemistry.

Check your target program’s requirements first. Then make sure the Academic Upgrading course you plan to take matches the prerequisite you need.

What if I already have the course but my grade isn’t high enough?

Start by checking the minimum grade required by your college program.

Having the right course does not always mean that you meet the admission requirement. 

A program may require a minimum grade in that subject. If a minimum grade is required for your program, the highest mark of either high school or an Academic Upgrading course at Durham College will count towards your GPA calculation. 

How long does it take to complete a missing prerequisite?

A Durham College Academic Upgrading course generally runs for one 14-week semester.

If you only need one course, you may be able to complete your upgrading in a single semester. If you need several prerequisites, you may need more time depending on how many courses you take at once, and what your schedule allows. 

Durham College currently starts its main in-person Academic Upgrading classes three times each year: January, May and September.

If you have a target date for starting college, work backwards from that date.

For example, if you want to begin your college program next September, check:

• when applications are due
• which prerequisites you need
• when your upgrading course is available, and
• when your final upgrading grade will be ready

Starting this process early gives you more options. If you need help, connect with the Academic Upgrading team or admissions. 

What should I do if I’m missing a college prerequisite?

You can break the process into four steps.

1. Choose the college program you want: You’ll need a destination college and program before you can build the right upgrading plan.
2. Check the program’s admission requirements: Look for the required subjects, course codes and minimum grades.
3. Compare those requirements with your transcript: Find the exact course or courses you are missing.
4. Find the matching Academic Upgrading course and confirm your plan: Before enrolling, make sure the course you plan to take will meet the admission requirement for your intended program.

If you discover that you are missing more than one prerequisite, you can build a course plan around all of the requirements you still need.

How do I start Academic Upgrading at Durham College?

Durham College Academic Upgrading is a free program for adults 18 and older who want to improve their skills or prepare for post-secondary education. Main Academic Upgrading courses are offered in-person at the Oshawa campus. 

Getting started involves a few steps.

Apply to Academic Upgrading

Complete the Academic Upgrading application form to begin the registration process.

Complete a short online assessment

After applying, you will complete a short online assessment. Durham uses it to understand your current academic level and help place you in the appropriate courses. 

Attend your one-on-one orientation

You will then meet with an Academic Upgrading staff member to review the program, available resources and support services.

After that, you complete your registration paperwork and prepare to start classes.

While you are registered, Durham College Student Advisors can also provide academic guidance, help with college applications and support you as you plan your next step. 

Next Step

If you already know which college program you want to take, start by checking its admission requirements. Then compare those requirements with your high school transcript.

If something is missing, Durham College Academic Upgrading can help you identify the right upgrading course and build a plan for your next step.

 Explore Academic Upgrading at Durham College