Financial Aid
The financial aid application for federal aid.
FAFSA
UMass Boston, Fitchburg State, Mass College of Art and Design, and Westfield State are examples of this type of college.
Public colleges and universities.
A course you have to take before another course (ie. Calculus 101 or English 101)
Prerequisite course (often shortened to prereq)
The application that most 4-year colleges use.
The Common Application
An official document that shows a list of a student’s classes and the grades they received.
Transcript
You don't have to pay back this type of financial aid.
Grants and scholarships
Boston University, University of Miami, Stanford, Reed, Smith are all examples of this type of college
Private colleges
A document professors give out on the first day of classes that outlines the course content, expectations, required books and materials, assignments, and deadlines.
Syllabus
January 1st and 15th
Common regular decision deadlines for four-year schools.
A degree given by a college or university to someone who has successfully finished their undergraduate education.
Bachelor's Degree
October 1st.
When the FAFSA opens each year.
Howard, Morehouse, Spelman, and Florida A&M are examples of this type of college.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Time professors set aside each week to meet with students and help with class material and assignments (you should go to do well in your classes!)
Office hours
When you apply early and make a binding agreement with the college that you will attend if you are accepted (as long as you can afford it). If you get accepted this way you have to withdraw all of your other applications.
Early decision.
A program to ease the transition to college. Can be a summer, semester or year program.
Bridge program
You have to pay back this type of financial aid.
Loans
Bunkerhill, Roxbury, and MassBay are examples of these types of colleges
Community colleges
If you live off campus you are referred to as this kind of student.
Commuter student
You sometimes have to write these along with your main personal statement when applying to certain colleges.
Supplmental essays.
When colleges do not consider test scores in their admissions they have this policy
Test-blind policy
The document that each college sends out that outlines how much financial aid you received from their institution.
Financial aid offer
This type of college awards associate's degrees and certificates.
community college
A secondary course of study, usually 4-6 courses
Minor
The money you pay to the college you have decided to go to in order to hold your spot. Must be paid by May 1st.
Deposit
The average of a student's final term grades in all years of high school.
GPA