Types Applications
Some colleges offer a separate application on their website that only applies to their institution
What is Direct to the Institution?
A standardized test administered by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the preliminary SAT.
What is the PSAT/NMSQT?
Some schools review an application as soon as it is complete rather than waiting for specific deadlines.
What is Rolling Admissions?
It is responsible for giving a high-level overview of the school's demographics, curricular and co-curricular opportunities, grading systems, and post-graduate outcomes
What is a school profile?
A college applicant with a relative—usually a parent or grandparent—who graduated from the same college where they are applying.
What is a Legacy?
An easy and affordable way to apply to HBCUs.
What is the Common Black College Application?
A test that is used to assess a student's proficiency in math, reading, and writing.
What is the ACCUPLACER?
Typically the latest deadline you can apply to a college.
What is Regular Decision?
Is a short document typically written by a teacher, counselor, or mentor highlighting your strengths and potential contributions to a school.
What are Letters of Recommendation (LORs)?
Permits students to wait until May 1 to choose, without penalty, among offers of admission/financial aid.
When is National Decision Day?
Similar to the Common App only a few colleges participate.
What is the Universal Application?
A standardized test that aims to measure students' knowledge of math, reading, and writing. (Total score 1600)
What is the SAT?
Only a few highly selective universities have a restrictive early action or single-choice early action option.
What is Restrictive Early Action?
It will list information like a student's transcripts and ratings, as well as your school's GPA reporting and curriculum
What is the Common App School Report?
Any program offering opportunity for superior students to enrich their educational experience through independent, advanced, or accelerated study.
What are Honors Programs?
A centralized platform that allows students to build and organize a portfolio of their work across all four years of high school.
What is the Coalition Application?
A standardized test that covers four academic skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and scientific reasoning (Total score of 36).
What is the ACT?
An option to apply earlier to get an admission decision earlier that is not binding.
What is Early Action?
Waiving your right to review your recommendation letters indicates to your recommenders that you will not read what they have written.
What is a FERPA waiver?
An online application created and maintained by the College Board that allows college students to apply for non-federal financial aid.
What is the CSS Financial Aid Profile?
Created in 1975 as an undergraduate college admissions application allowing students to complete one application and send multiple copies to any member (Over 1,000 colleges).
What is the Common Application?
May review your application with or without standardized test scores for admissions.
What is Test Optional?
An option to submit an application to your first-choice college that is binding.
What is Early Decision?
A copy of your high school grades, which includes your credits and WGPA/UGPA.
What is a transcript?
A form completed by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid.
What is the FAFSA?