A study explored similarities and differences among communication apprehensive (CA) and underprepared college students enrolled in speech classes in order to determine whether the two groups required different instructional activities. Subjects were freshmen through senior students enrolled in basic speech courses. Academic achievement was determined through student scores on the American College Test (ACT) and grade point averages (GPA). Each subject also completed a measure of communication apprehension. Results showed that CA students shared several traits with underprepared students, including the need for structure, low tolerance for ambiguity, and dogmatism. They also shared negative factors derived from rural settings and minority group backgrounds. Females appeared to be linked with communication apprehension as well as a lack of preparation, and both CA and underprepared groups had lower than average GPAs and ACT scores. The findings suggest that the two groups require different instructional approaches, with special sections for CA students being established within the speech communication department and instruction for the underprepared student given over to college developmental programs. (FL)