How do I add courses to the Common App education section?

You add courses in the Education section under your high school entry, specifically in the Current or Most Recent Year Courses area if the colleges on your list require it. On the Common App, this section usually appears after you enter your school information, counselor, and GPA details. Not every college asks for courses, so you may only see it if at least one of your selected schools requires or uses that information.

To enter them, go to Education, open the High School section, and look for a Courses and Grades or Current/Most Recent Year Courses subsection. If it appears, you’ll list the classes you are taking now, usually by subject area such as English, math, science, social studies, world language, and electives. Use the course names as they appear on your transcript or official school schedule, so write AP Biology instead of just Biology if that is the official title.

You generally do not need to add every class you have ever taken unless a specific college requires a full Courses and Grades section. For most students, Common App is asking for your current senior-year schedule or most recent courses, not a complete four-year history. If a college does want all courses and grades, the application will open a more detailed section with grade-by-grade entry.

Be accurate and consistent with your transcript. Include semester or year-long courses as your school labels them, and do not combine separate classes into one line unless your transcript does. If your school uses trimester or block scheduling, follow the format your transcript uses as closely as possible.

If you do not see any place to enter courses, that usually means none of your added colleges require that section. In that case, your transcript sent by your counselor will usually provide the official course list. The safest rule is simple: enter courses only where the Common App specifically prompts you, and match your school’s official course titles exactly.