Making the Grade
ACT
What is A standardized college admission test. It features four main sections: English, math, reading and science — and an optional essay section?
ED/Early Decision
What is An option to submit an application to your first-choice college before the regular deadline?
When you apply early decision, you get an admission decision earlier than usual. Early decision plans are binding. You agree to enroll in the college immediately if admitted and offered a financial aid package that meets your needs. Some colleges have an early decision option called ED II, which has a later application deadline than their regular ED plan
Waiting list
What is the list of applicants who may be admitted to a college if space becomes available?
Colleges wait to hear if all the students they accepted decide to attend. If students don’t enroll and there are empty spots, a college may fill them with students who are on the waiting list.
Common Application/ Common app
What is a standard application form accepted by all colleges that are members of the Common Application association?
You can fill out this application once and submit it to any one — or several — of the nearly 700 colleges that accept it
4,313
A. What is the total number of degree-granting colleges in the US?
B. What is the number of 4-year degree-granting colleges?
A.
SAT
What is The College Board’s standardized college admission test. It features three main sections: math, reading and writing, which includes a written essay?
EA/Early Action
What is an option to submit your applications before the regular deadlines?
When you apply early action, you get admission decisions from colleges earlier than usual. Early action plans are not binding, which means that you do not have to enroll in a college if you are accepted early action. Some colleges have an early action option called EA II, which has a later application deadline than their regular EA plan.
Undergrad/ Undergraduate
What is a college student who is working toward an associate or a bachelor's degree?
Transcript
What is the official record of your course work at a school or college?
Your high school transcript is usually required for college admission and for some financial aid packages.
1,485
A. What is the number of 4-year degree-granting institutions?
B. What is the number of 2-year degree-granting institutions?
B.
There are 2,828 4-year degree-granting colleges in the US.
SAT Subject Test
What is Hour-long, content-based college admission tests that allow you to showcase achievement in specific subject areas: English, history, math, science and languages?
Some colleges use Subject Tests to place students into the appropriate courses as well as in admission decisions. Based on your performance on the test(s), you could potentially fulfill basic requirements or earn credit for introductory-level courses.
Need-Blind Admission
What is A policy of making admission decisions without considering the financial circumstances of applicants?
Colleges that use this policy may not offer enough financial aid to meet a student’s full need
Transfer Student
What is a student who enrolls in a college after having attended another college?
Universal College Application
What is a standard application form accepted by all colleges that are Universal College Application members?
You can fill out this application once and submit it to any one — or several — of the more than 3,044 colleges that accept it.
750
A. What is the number of private 4-year colleges?
B. What is the number of public 4-year colleges?
B.
There are 2,078 PRIVATE 4-year colleges in the US.
Weighted Grade Point Average (GPA)
What is A grade point average that’s calculated using a system that assigns a higher point value to grades in more-difficult classes?
For example, some high schools assign the value of 5.0 (instead of the standard 4.0) for an A earned in an AP class.
Rolling Admission
What is an admission policy of considering each application as soon as all required information (such as high school records and test scores) has been received, rather than setting an application deadline and reviewing applications in a batch?
Colleges that use a rolling admission policy usually notify applicants of admission decisions quickly.
Deferred Admission
What is permission from a college that has accepted you to postpone enrolling in the college?
The postponement is usually for up to one year.
Class Rank
What is a measurement of how your academic achievement compares with that of other students in your grade?
This number is usually determined by using a weighted GPA that takes into account both your grades and the difficulty of the courses you’ve taken.
4,313
A. How many colleges in the US grant degrees?
B. How many colleges in the US DON'T grant degrees?
A.
Admission Test
What is also known as college entrance exams, these are tests designed to measure students’ skills and help colleges evaluate how ready students are for college-level work?
What is the SAT and ACT?
Open Admission
What is a policy of accepting any high school graduate, no matter what his or her grades are, until all spaces in the incoming class are filled?
Almost all two-year community colleges have an open-admission policy. However, a college with a general open-admission policy may have admission requirements for certain programs.
Candidate Reply Date Agreement/ CRDA
What is an agreement many colleges follow that gives applicants until May 1 to accept or decline offers of admission?
This agreement gives students time to get responses from most of the colleges they have applied to before deciding on one.
Coalition Application
What is a standard application form accepted by members of the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success?
You can use this application to apply to any of the more than 90 colleges and universities that are members of the Coalition.
6,502
What is the total number of US colleges (degree and non-degree granting)?