Application
An official record of a student’s academic history, including grades and courses taken.
Transcript
Financial assistance awarded based on academic, athletic, or artistic achievements
Scholarship
Financial Aid that is awarded based on an applicant's lack of ability to completely pay for their degree themself.
Grant
The standard admissions timeline with specific deadlines and decision dates. Often the last round of decisions released.
Regular Decision (RD)
Refers to the cost specifically associated with classes; typically the largest part of a school's COA
Tuition
Colleges that do not require standardized test scores as part of an application
Test-optional
The total estimated cost of attending a college, including tuition, room, board, books, and other expenses before financial aid.
Cost of Attendance/COA
A type of Financial Aid that must be paid back after the student is no longer in school. The interest is paid by the federal government while the applicant is still in school.
Subsidized Loan
The final day in which applicants admitted to universities have to make their enrollment decision. "National College Decision Day"
May 1
False: COA does not take into account Financial Aid that is awarded to applicants
A centralized platform used to apply to multiple colleges with one set of forms. The most commonly accepted method of applying to colleges.
The Common App
A type of Financial Aid that must be paid back after the student is no longer in school. Interest accrues while the student is enrolled.
Unsubsidized Loan
A government-sponsored form sent to colleges that is used to apply for federal, state, and institutional financial aid.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
A binding agreement where students apply early to one college and must attend if accepted.
Early Decision (ED)
This decision type means that your application was not necessarily accepted or rejected, but that you were put onto a list and may be granted admission later if there is ample space in the class.
Waitlist
A more in-depth financial aid application required by some colleges to determine eligibility for non-federal aid.
CSS Profile
A financial aid program that provides part-time jobs for students to earn money for college expenses. Money may be applied directly to the student's bill or paid out to the student.
Work-Study
A non-binding option where students apply early and receive an early admission decision.
Early Action (EA)
Admission practice in which admission officers do not consider standardized test scores in any way when reviewing applications
Test-Blind
A GPA calculation that does not take rigor of coursework into account (hint: this is what we have at Waterloo)
Unweighted GPA
This is the date that will FAFSA will open for your class
October 1
A formula-based index number calculated by FAFSA ranging from $–1500 to $999999. Where it falls within the range helps your school determine how much financial support you may need.
Student Aid Index (SAI)
Admissions practice in which colleges evaluate applications as they are received and release decisions continuously until spaces are filled.
Rolling Admission
The percentage of students who return to a given college after their first year
Retention Rate