Money, money, money
College Jargon
Numbers
The Application
The Basics
100
This money is "given" to students but students are obligated to start paying it back 6 months after you graduate.
What are loans?
100
The words that refer to the entire student population, not just the "head" of the class.
What is the student body?
100
Scholastic Aptitude Test
What is the SAT?
100
This is the most important aspect of the college application, even more important than test scores.
What is your academic record or student high school courses and grades.
100
The official record of your course work at high school or college. It lists all the courses taken and grades earned. Colleges usually require one with the application.
What is a transcript?
200
This is the government application that determines a student's eligibility for financial aid.
What is FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid?
200
This refers to sports that are played for fun (not at the varsity level) at college.
What are club sports or intramural sports?
200
36
What is a perfect ACT score?
200
This is the important part of the application where the applicant's "voice" can be heard, theoretically.
What is the essay or personal statement?
200
This is where students will live when on campus.
What is a residence hall?
300
The position held on campus by a student in a residence hall to monitor student behavior and plan activities. Oftentimes the student will be compensated with room and board for the work s/he does supporting students on his or her wing.
What is an RA or resident assistant?
300
This is usually the hub of campus activity. Usually there is a cafeteria there and many student activities take place there.
What is the student union?
300
This acronym is a numeric representation of your grades over your years of high school (colleges will look at this when reviewing your application).
What is GPA (Grade Point Average)?
300
Some selective colleges will ask to see the scores of these one-hour tests in addition to other standardized testing.
What is a SAT Subject test (also accept SAT 2).
300
This is when colleges review applications as they are submitted and make admissions decisions on a first-come, first-serve basis.
What is Rolling Admission?
400
This financial aid allows you to work on campus and earn wages to help pay for college expenses.
What is Work Study?
400
A student is neither admitted nor rejected, but placed on this. The student may or may not come off it.
What is a waitlist?
400
This is the average score on the SAT sub-sections.
What is 500?
400
This online college application is accepted by over 500 colleges and universities.
What is the Common Application?
400
This binding admission decision is for students who really know where they want to attend without waiting to hear about financial aid.
What is Early Decision?
500
This is the actual amount that a student pays for college: tuition and fees, room and board minus any grants or scholarship money.
What is the Net Price?
500
The job one might have at college that helps prepare for a future career... usually, unpaid.
What is an internship?
500
The 3 scores on an AP test that colleges are most likely to give college credit for.
What is a 3, 4 or 5?
500
This is sent to the colleges to explain what the high school is like, including what percentage of students go on to study at 4 year colleges.
What is a profile?
500
When a college waits to make a decision on your application. Usually the college asks to see more information like your first semester senior grades.
What is deferred or post-poned?