College

Glossary of Terms

Alumni Interview: An alumni interview is a casual conversation with a graduate of the college or university you’re applying to. It’s a chance for them to learn more about you and for you to ask questions about their school experience. It’s not super formal, but it can give the school extra insight into your personality and interests. Plus, it’s a great way to hear firsthand what life at the school is like!
Articulation Agreement: An articulation agreement is a gaurentee between schools that credits from classes completed at one school will be accepted when a student transfers to another school. It’s a smooth way to continue your education without losing progress!
Athletic Recruitment: Athletic recruitment is the process where college or university sports teams persue high school athletes that they hope will join their program. Coaches look for talented athletes who can compete at the college level and offer them spots on the team, often with scholarship incentives. If you’re a strong athlete, this can be a great way to get into college while pursuing your sport!
Campus Tour: A campus tour is your chance to explore a college or university in person! You’ll walk around the campus, check out classrooms, dorms, and other important facilities, and get a real feel for student life. Plus, you can ask questions and hear insights from tour guides or current students. It’s the perfect way to see if a school feels like home!
Coalition Application: The Coalition Application is an online application platform that allows you to apply to multiple colleges or universities with one form. It helps streamline the application process by letting you submit your personal info, essays, and recommendations to any number of their 170+ member schools at once. It’s designed to make applying easier, especially for students who might need extra support along the way!”
College Fair: A college fair is an event where representatives from multiple colleges and universities come together in one location to share information about their programs, admissions, scholarships, and more. It’s a great chance for students and parents to explore options, ask questions, and plan for the future—all in one place!
Common Application (Common App): The CommonApp is an online application that lets you apply to multiple colleges and universities with just one form. Instead of filling out separate applications for each school, you can complete one application, share your grades, essays, and recommendations, and send it to all the schools you’re interested in. It makes applying to multiple schools faster and easier!
Cost of Attendance (COA): Cost of Attendance (COA) is the total estimated cost of attending a college or university for one year. It includes costs such as tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. Understanding a school’s COA helps you plan your budget and figure out how much financial aid you might need.
CSS Profile: The CSS Profile is a financial aid application used by many colleges and universities to award non-federal aid, like institutional grants and scholarships. It provides a more detailed look at your family’s finances than the FAFSA. While there’s a fee to submit it, fee waivers are available for eligible students. Be sure to check if your school requires it and submit it by their deadline!
Deferral: A deferral is when a college or university delays your admission to a later semester or year instead of the one you applied for. This could happen if you request to start later or if the school asks you to wait due to space limitations. It means you’re still accepted but will begin your studies at a future date. It’s a great option if you know you want to attend a school but don’t think you’re quite ready to start right away!
Demonstrated Interest: Demonstrated interest is a way to show a college or university that you’re genuinely excited about the idea of attending. This can include things like visiting campus, attending virtual events, emailing admissions officers, or even following the school on social media. Some colleges pay attention to these actions to see how serious you are about applying, so it’s a good way to stand out and let them know they’re one of your top choices!
Direct Admission: Direct Admission is a program offered through the CommonApp where a school offers you a spot without requiring you to go through the full application process. It’s often based on your grades or test scores, and it makes getting into college super simple and stress-free. You’re guaranteed a spot upfront—no extra steps needed!
Dual Enrollment: Dual Enrollment lets high school students take college courses while still in high school. You earn both high school and college credit at the same time, which can save you money and help you get ahead in your college journey. It’s a great way to challenge yourself and explore college-level learning early!
Early Action (EA): Early Action is an application option that lets you apply early to a college or university and get your decision sooner—without having to commit right away. Unlike Early Decision, it’s not binding, so you can still explore other options before making your final choice. It’s perfect if you’re excited about a school but want to keep your options open!
Early Decision (ED): Early Decision is an application option for students who are fully decided about their top-choice college or university. You apply early (usually in the fall) and agree to attend if you’re accepted. It’s binding, so if you’re admitted, you have to withdraw your applications from other schools. It’s a great option if you’ve found your dream college and are ready to commit!
EFC (Expected Family Contribution): Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the amount of money a college expects your family to contribute toward your education costs for one year. It’s calculated based on the financial information you provide in applications like the FAFSA or CSS Profile. Schools use your EFC to determine how much financial aid you’re eligible to receive.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a form that students in the U.S. fill out to apply for financial aid for college. It determines your eligibility for federal grants, loans, and work-study programs, as well as aid from some states and schools. Completing the FAFSA is a key step in making college more affordable, so be sure to submit it on time each year!
First-Generation Student: A first-generation student is someone whose parents or guardians did not complete a four-year college degree. Being the first in your family to attend college is a significant achievement, and many schools offer resources to support first-generation students in their academic and personal success.
Gap Year: A gap year is when a student takes a break of about a year between finishing high school and starting college. It’s a chance to travel, work, volunteer, or explore personal interests before diving into college life. It can be a great way to gain experience and clarity towards your future goals!
Graduation Rate: Graduation rate at a college or university is the percentage of students who finish their degree within a set time, usually four years. A high graduation rate means that most students succeed in completing their studies and getting their degree. It’s a great indicator of the support and resources a school offers to help students reach their goals!
Holistic Review: Holistic review is how colleges or universities look at all parts of you when reviewing your application. Instead of focusing on just grades or test scores, they also consider your extracurriculars, essays, recommendations, and personal background. It’s their way of understanding who you are beyond the numbers and what you’d bring to their campus community!
Honors College: An Honors College is a special program within a university for high-achieving students. It offers extra perks like smaller classes, special research opportunities, and a close-knit community. Think of it as a more personalized and enriched college experience, often with added scholarships or unique housing options!
Information Session: An information Session is a casual event where you can learn all about a college or university straight from their admissions team. They’ll share details about programs, scholarships, campus life, and what they’re looking for in applicants. It’s a great chance to ask questions and get insider tips to help you with your college search!
Institutional Priorities: Institutional priorities are the specific goals a college or university focuses on when shaping its incoming class. These might include increasing diversity, growing certain programs, recruiting athletes, or meeting financial aid targets. Admissions decisions are often guided by how well applicants align with these goals!
Legacy Applicant: A legacy applicant is someone applying to a college or university where a close family member—like a parent or grandparent—attended. Some schools consider legacy status as a factor in admissions, though it’s not a guarantee. It’s a way for schools to honor their long-standing connections with alumni!
Merit Aid: Merit aid is a type of financial award given by colleges based on your achievements, such as academic performance, talents, leadership, or extracurricular involvement, rather than financial need. It’s often in the form of scholarships and can help reduce the cost of school significantly. Be sure to research schools that offer strong merit aid programs if you think you might qualify!
National Letter of Intent (NLI): A National Letter of Intent (NLI) is a formal agreement that you sign to commit to playing a sport at a specific college or university. It’s usually part of the athletic recruitment process, where you promise to attend that school in exchange for a scholarship or spot on the team. Signing the NLI is a big step in making your college athletic dreams official and there’s usally a small event or photo opporunity involved!
Need-Aware Admissions: Need-aware admissions means colleges consider your financial situation when reviewing your application. This policy helps schools manage their financial aid budgets, but it can impact decisions for students needing significant financial assistance. It’s a good idea to check how a need-aware school balances financial need with academic qualifications.
Need-Blind Admissions: Need-blind admissions means colleges review your application without considering your financial situation. It ensures your ability to pay doesn’t affect their decision, focusing instead on your achievements and potential.
Net Price Calculator: A Net Price Calculator is an online tool many colleges and universities provide to estimate how much you’ll pay for school after financial aid like scholarships and grants. It helps you understand the total cost, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, based on your family’s finances. The estimate is a helpful starting point, though final costs may vary.
Open Curriculum: A college or university with open curriculum gives students more freedom to choose their courses. Instead of following a set list of required classes, you can pick what interests you and shape your own academic path. It’s perfect for students who want flexibility and the chance to explore different subjects!
Personal Statement: A personal statement is brief essay where you share your information about yourself such as your background, experiences, and goals with a school. It’s your chance to explain who you are, what matters to you, and why you’d be a great fit for the school. It helps colleges and universities get to know you and see what makes you unique!
Pre-Read: A pre-read is when a college or university’s admissions team takes a quick look at your application before you officially apply, often to give you an idea of how competitive you are. Pre-reads are most often used on students who are athletic recruits. It’s not a final decision, but it can help you (and coaches!) understand your chances and whether you’re on track with the application process.
Priority Deadline: A priority deadline is an earlier application deadline for college or university that gives you the best chance for admission, scholarships, or financial aid. While you can usually still apply after this date, applying by the priority deadline ensures you’re considered for everything the college has to offer. It’s a great way to maximize your opportunities!
Recommendation Letter: A recommendation letter is a letter written by someone who knows you well—like a teacher, counselor, or mentor—to share more about your strengths, character, and potential. It’s a way for schools to hear about you from someone else who can highlight your achievements and what makes you stand out!
Regular Decision (RD): Regular Decision is the standard college or university application process with a later deadline, usually in the winter. It gives you more time to work on your application and explore your options. Decisions typically come out in the spring, and you’ll usually have until May to decide where to go. It’s perfect if you want a bit more time to weigh your choices!
Residency Requirements: Residency requirements at a college or university are rules about where you need to live and for how long to qualify for certain benefits, like in-state tuition. For public schools, this usually means proving you’ve lived in the state for a certain amount of time. It’s an important factor to check if you’re planning to save on tuition costs as a local student!
Resident Assistant (RA): A resident assistant (RA) is a student leader who lives in the dorms to support and guide other students. They help build a sense of community, organize fun events, and are there to assist with questions or challenges. Think of them as a friendly resource and role model in your residence hall!
Restrictive Early Action (REA): Restrictive Early Action is a college or university application option that lets you apply early and get a decision sooner, like Early Action, but with one catch—you usually can’t apply early to other private schools. It’s non-binding, so you don’t have to commit if you’re accepted, but it’s designed for students who are especially serious about that school being one of their top choices!
Retention Rate: Retention rate at a college or university is the percentage of students who return to the same college for their second year. A high retention rate usually means students are happy with their experience, find the support they need, and are enjoying campus life!
Rolling Admissions: Rolling Admissions is a flexible application process for college or university where schools review applications as they come in and send decisions out on a rolling basis—no waiting for a specific deadline. The sooner you apply, the sooner you’ll hear back. Just don’t wait too long, as spots can fill up quickly!
Room and Board: Room and board refers to the cost of housing and food while you’re at a college or university. It includes your dorm or apartment cost and the meal plans offered by the school. This is an important part of the total cost of attendance, alongside tuition and fees.
Scholarship Displacement: Scholarship displacement happens when a college or university reduces your financial aid because you received a new scholarship from somehwere else. The school might take away some of the need-based aid it originally offered to keep the total aid package the same, even though you got extra funding. This can impact the overall amount of money you receive to help pay for college.
Superscoring: Superscoring is when a college or university takes the best scores from different sections of your SAT or ACT across multiple test dates to create your highest possible composite score. It’s their way of giving you credit for your best performances, which can help make your application even stronger!
Supplemental Essays: Supplemental essays are extra essays that some schools ask for in addition to your main application essay. These essays give you a chance to show more about who you are, why you’re interested in that specific school, or how you’ll fit into their community. They help colleges get to know you better beyond your grades and test scores!
Test-Blind: Test-blind means a college or university won’t consider SAT or ACT scores at all, even if you submit them. Instead, they focus on other parts of your application, like your grades, essays, and extracurriculars. It’s a great option if standardized tests aren’t your strong suit!
Test-Optional: Test-optional means a college or univeristy lets you decide whether or not to submit your SAT or ACT scores with your application. If you think your scores help your application, you can include them, but if not, it’s totally okay to leave them out!
Undecided Major: An undecided major means you haven’t picked a specific field of study yet when starting college—and that’s totally okay! It gives you time to explore different subjects, discover your interests, and figure out what you’re passionate about before committing to a major.
Virtual Visit: A virtual visit lets you explore a college or university from the comfort of home–It’s an online session where you can hear from admissions staff, learn about programs, scholarships, and campus life, and even ask questions—all without needing to travel!
Waitlist: A waitlist is a list of applicants to a college or university who may be offered admission if spots open up after the initial round of acceptances. Being waitlisted means the school likes your application but can’t guarantee a spot yet. Many schools admit applicants from the waitlist each year, so don’t lose hope if you land on one!
Yield: Yield is the percentage of students who choose to enroll at a certain college or university after being offered admission. It shows how many admitted students say “yes” and commit to attending. A higher yield often means the school is a top choice for many applicants!

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