A prospective student-athlete in his senior year realizes he will be short one core-course. Is it permissible for him to use the core-course taken from a preparatory school to satisfy NCAA requirements?

The correct answer is that it is false to suggest that a prospective student-athlete can use a core course taken from a preparatory school to meet NCAA requirements. The NCAA has specific guidelines regarding the courses that can be used to satisfy core-course requirements.

Generally, for a course to count towards the NCAA's initial-eligibility requirements, it must be taken at a high school that is accredited by a recognized agency. If the preparatory school does not hold this accreditation, the courses taken there will not satisfy the NCAA core-course requirements.

In cases where students find themselves short on core courses, it is essential for them to seek alternatives that meet these NCAA criteria to retain their eligibility for collegiate athletics. Simply enrolling in a preparatory school is not sufficient; the validity and recognition of the coursework by the NCAA are what ultimately determine whether the courses will count.