College Application Basics
These letters are written by teachers, counselors, or mentors to support a student's application.
What are recommendation letters?
FAFSA stands for this.
What is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
These scholarships are based on academic achievement, leadership, athletics, or talent are often called these.
What are merit-based scholarships?
What does both CUNY and SUNY stand for?
What is State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY)?
This written response helps colleges learn more about a student's experiences and personality.
What is a college essay (or personal statement)?
True or False: Students must pay a fee to submit the FAFSA.
What is False? The FAFSA is free to complete and submit.
This type of aid may be awarded based on FAFSA information and usually does not need to be repaid.
What is a federal grant?
SUNY and CUNY schools are known for offering this advantage compared to many private colleges.
What is lower tuition (especially for New York residents)?
This document highlights a student's courses, grades, and GPA.
What is a transcript?
True or False: You must know where you are going to college before completing the FAFSA.
What is False? Students can list multiple colleges on the FAFSA.
Receiving several scholarships from different organizations is sometimes called this.
What is scholarship stacking?
What is the largest SUNY and CUNY (points for just getting one)
What is University at Buffalo and Hunter College?
This common application platform allows students to apply to multiple colleges with one application.
What is the Common App?
This federal office uses FAFSA information to determine eligibility for federal student aid programs.
What is the U.S. Department of Education?
This financial aid term describes the difference between the cost of attendance and what a family can reasonably contribute.
What is financial need?
This famous CUNY college in Manhattan was the first free public institution of higher education in the United States.
What is City College of New York?
Applying by this deadline often results in an earlier admissions decision but usually requires attending if accepted.
What is Early Decision?
Students and contributors use this account to access and sign the FAFSA electronically.
What is an FSA ID?
This document colleges send after a student is admitted explains the grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study they may receive.
What is a financial aid award letter (or financial aid offer)?
This scholarship program can help eligible New York students attend SUNY and CUNY colleges tuition-free.
What is the Excelsior Scholarship?