College Admissions 101
This is a written piece where students tell colleges about themselves, their story, and their goals.
What is a college essay or personal statement?
This is money for college that does NOT have to be repaid.
What is Scholarships & Grants?
This document lists all high school classes, grades, credits, and GPA.
What is a transcript?
This is the document that shows your grades, GPA, and classes taken throughout high school.
What is a Transcript?
Located in Athens, this university is Ohio’s oldest and has a strong journalism and communications program.
What is Ohio University?
These are letters written by teachers, counselors, or mentors that support a student’s application.
What is a letter of recommendation?
This type of financial aid is often given based on grades, talents, or achievements
What is merit-scholarships?
This type of GPA gives extra weight to honors, AP, or IB classes.
What is a weighted GPA?
This is the application used by many colleges to apply to multiple schools at once.
What is the Common App?
This Ivy League school in Cambridge, Massachusetts is the oldest institution of higher education in the U.S.
What is Harvard University?
This college admissions option lets students apply early and receive an admission decision sooner, but they are not required to commit if accepted.
What is Early Action?
What does FAFSA stand for?
This type of GPA does NOT give extra points for harder classes and is usually on a standard 4.0 scale.
What is an unweighted GPA?
This is a type of financial aid that must be repaid, usually with interest.
What is a student loan?
This historically Black university in Washington, D.C. is known as “The Mecca” and has produced leaders like Vice President Kamala Harris.
What is Howard University?
This type of application deadline usually gives students their decision early but requires a commitment if accepted.
What is Early Decision?
This form of financial aid may include work opportunities on or off campus to help students earn money for college expenses.
What is work-study?
This standardized test is widely used for college admissions and includes English, Math, Reading, and Science sections.
What is the ACT?
This is a college admissions factor that includes clubs, sports, volunteering, and leadership experience.
What is are extracurricular activities?
This university in South Bend, Indiana is known for its Golden Dome and Fighting Irish nickname.
What is the University of Notre Dame?
This type of admissions review looks at the whole student—not just grades and test scores, but also experiences, essays, and background.
What is a holistic admissions?
This federal grant is awarded to undergraduate students with significant financial need and does not have to be repaid
What is the Pell Grant?
This test is another major college admissions exam that focuses on Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.
This is the official document that explains how much college will cost after financial aid is applied.
What is a Financial aid award letter?
This private research university in Baltimore is known for its strong programs in medicine and public health.
What is John Hopkins University?