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Glossary

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ACT Hide: The American College Testing Program test divided into four parts: English usage, mathematics usage, social science, and science reasoning. Score range is 1-36. National average is 21.
Admission Decisions Hide: Advanced Placement courses are considered college-level courses given in high school for possible college credit. National exams given in May are graded on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high).
A.P. Hide: Advanced Placement courses are considered college-level courses given in high school for possible college credit. National exams given in May are graded on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high).
B.A. Hide: Bachelor of Arts is the traditional degree awarded by a liberal arts college or university following the completion of a degree program. You may receive a B.A. in the humanities or the social and natural sciences.
B.S. Hide: Bachelor of Science is usually awarded at the completion of a vocationally-oriented program like business, nursing, or education.
Candidate’s Reply Date Hide: May 1 is the date by which a student must give all accepting colleges a definite "yes" or "no," and send a deposit to the final-choice college.
Common Application Hide: A universal application accepted by over 100 private colleges in lieu of their own applications. An applicant fills out one Common Application and then may mail photocopies to any of the colleges which subscribe to the service.
College Scholarship Service Hide: A clearing house for the Financial Aid Form. CSS evaluates each FAF, determines the family contribution, and forwards that analysis to the college Financial Aid Offices and scholarship programs designated by the applicant.
College Work-Study Program Hide: CWSP is a federal program, which allows students to pay some of their college expenses by working part time on campus. Eligibility is determined by FAFSA.
Deferred Entrance Hide: An admission plan, which allows an accepted student to postpone entrance to college for a year while retaining a guarantee of enrollment. During that year the student may work or travel but may not enroll at another college.
Degree Hide: There are three basic degrees: Associates Degree awarded by two-year colleges; Bachelors Degree awarded by four-year colleges and universities; Masters and other graduate degrees offered by universities.
Early Action Hide: An admission plan offered by some highly selective colleges which allows the most qualified students the comfort of a letter of acceptances in December. The student does not have to withdraw other applications and does not have to accept or refuse the EA offer of admission until May 1.
Early Action Single Choice Hide: An admission plan offered a very few highly selective colleges which is not binding, but which limits the applicant to apply "early" to only one school.
Early Admission Hide: An admission plan which allows a student to enter college at the end of the junior year in high school. Admission requirements are usually as stringent or more so than usual.
Early Decision Hide: A binding admission plan that requires an early application (typically October or November) and promises a reply by December or January. There are two types of ED plans: (1) Single Choice, in which the student is allowed to apply to only one college and (2) First Choice, in which the student may apply elsewhere but agrees to withdraw other applications if accepted by the ED school.
This plan is recommended only if the applicant is absolutely sure of his or her college choice. If accepted, the student is ethically obligated to attend if sufficient financial aid is offered.
Early Notification Hide: An admission plan which promised an early reply to and early application. The student is not obligated to attend, if accepted.
Enrollment Deposit/Matriculation Deposit Hide: This non-refundable deposit reserves your place in the entering freshman class. Send this in by the date specified in the admission materials (usually but not always May 1).
Liberal Arts Hide: An introduction to a wide variety of subjects including the social sciences, humanities, fine arts, and natural sciences. The liberal arts do not include such technical majors as engineering, business, allied health, or architecture.
Merit-based Financial Aid Hide: Financial aid, including scholarships, that is awarded based on a candidate’s merit (i.e., academic, special talent, competition) excluding athletic aid. May or may not take into consideration financial need of the candidate.
Need-based Financial Aid Hide: Aid offered by colleges and the federal government to bridge the gap between college costs and the family’s ability to pay as determined by the profile FFS, FAFSA, and/or the college Financial Aid Office. A typical aid package is divided into three parts: grant (gift money you do not pay back), loan, and work-study (campus job).
Need-blind Admission Hide: Students are admitted on the basis of academic and personal criteria, regardless of ability to pay. This does not include international students.
Need-conscious (Need-aware, need-sensitive) Admission Hide: Financial need might be a factor in the admission decision.
Pell Grants Hide: Federal grants (gift, not loan) designed to help students with college costs. Eligibility is determined by the FAFSA.
Preferential/differential Packaging Hide: The awarding of financial aid packages of differing attractiveness based upon the desirability of the candidates to the admitting institution.
PSAT/NMSQT Hide: Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. A shorter version of the SAT I given to sophomores and juniors in preparation for the SAT I. The PSAT is used to determine eligibility for National Merit Scholarships.
Rolling Admission Hide: An admission plan in which applications are evaluated very soon after they are completed in the Admission Office. The applicant can receive a decision very quickly but is not obligated to attend.
SAT Reasoning Test (SAT I) Hide: Scholastic Assessment Test. A test designed to measure a student’s verbal, mathematical aptitude and writing ability. The score range is 200-800 on each section. The national average is in the 500 range on each part.
SAT Subject Tests (SAT II) Hide: Formerly called Achievement Tests, these tests were developed by the College Board to measure a student’s knowledge or skills in a particular area and ability to apply that knowledge.
Scholarships Hide: Some colleges use the term "scholarship" to mean a grant, need-based aid which does not have to be repaid. Other colleges reserve the term "scholarship" for awards given for high academic achievement or special talent, regardless of demonstrated need.
Student Search Hide: A College Board service which allows the colleges to receive names of students who have taken the PSAT or SAT I and have indicated their willingness to receive mailings from colleges.
TOEFL Hide: Test of English as a Foreign Language. A verbal aptitude test for non-native speakers of English. http://www.ets.org/toefl
Waitlist Hide: A list of qualified students who may be offered admission by a college at a later date, if space becomes available. Wait-listed students should initially accept another offer of admission and discuss with the college counselor how to handle the wait-list situation.