ADMISSION READY
Most common option for 4-year colleges and universities. Students must submit ALL their application materials by a specific date, usually in January of your senior year
What is an Application Deadline?
The federal government’s instrument for calculating need-based aid. You complete this online application every year you plan to attend college/trade school.
What is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
The number and percentage of students returning for the sophomore year.
What is a Retention Rate?
This test is given during the school year at test centers. This tests English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning. The score is the average of all four tests; the maximum score is 36.
What is American College Testing (ACT)?
A campus located in a major/large city area where a substantial number of students commute to/from the school.
What is an Urban Campus?
There is no deadline for filing a college application. This concept is used most often by state universities. Responses are received within three to four weeks. If admitted, a student is not required to confirm, in most cases, until May 1. Out-of-state residents applying to state universities should apply as early as possible.
What is Rolling Admissions?
Term used by colleges to identify their comprehensive college cost, which often includes tuition, fees, room & board, transportation, books, supplies & personal expenses. Also referred to as sticker price because it doesn't include any of the financial aid a student may receive.
What is the Cost of Attendance?
This phrase refers to sororities and fraternities.
What is Greek Life?
Reasoning Test — Also known as “board scores” because the test was developed by the College Board. This test concentrates on verbal, mathematical reasoning, and writing abilities and is given throughout the academic year at test centers. The maximum combined score for the three sections is 2400.
What is the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)?
The term is used to describe how well a college/professional program matches a student's academic, social, and financial needs, as well as their career goals.
What is College Fit?
An admissions decision. You’re in! You are being offered a place to the college to which you applied. Your high school will receive notification, too.
What is Admitted?
This is the way colleges and universities deliver their news about student eligibility for financial aid or grants. The most common packages include Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, and Work Study.
What is a Financial Aid Award Letter or Package?
A year, semester, or an intensive experience that combines coursework and considerable interaction between the student and the local culture.
What is Study Abroad?
National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test — This test, given in October, duplicates the kinds of questions asked on the SAT but is shorter and takes less time. Taken in 10th or 11th grade, the test also acts as a qualifying instrument for the National Merit Scholarship Awards Program.
What is the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT)?
Some students enjoy large lecture halls, while others need a small classroom with regular interaction & discussion. Whatever style is best for the student is what they should be looking for in a college.
Typically, larger colleges are known for large lectures (100+ students per class) & small colleges are known for smaller classes (under 30 students per class), but this is not always the case.
What is Class Size?
Students can use these to take standardized tests (like the ACT or SAT) for free! All juniors & seniors should check with their school counselors to see if they are eligible - P.S. Most CI students receive fee waivers!
What is a Fee Waiver?
More “free” money, these awards are based on excellence in academics, leadership, volunteerism, athletic ability, and other areas. You can receive these awards from a college or university, a community organization, or an individual. They are not based on financial need.
What is a Merit-Based Scholarship?
This is an experience-based opportunity, whereby a student receives credit for a supervised work experience related to his or her major.
What is an Internship?
This is a way of calculating a student’s overall grade average - not just their grades that semester. Most often, grades are calculated on a 4 point scale with 4 being equal to an A.
What is Cumulative GPA?
These campuses are typically located NEAR a big city but are not IN the big city. They often look like the "typical college campus" where students can live on or off campus and a lot of activities occur on-campus.
What is a Suburban Campus?
The official, permanent record of the courses a student has taken, grades earned, honors earned, etc. Students can get an official copy of this from their school counselor.
What is a Transcript?
Summary sent to families after completing their FAFSA to confirm the information they submitted. It should be checked for accuracy, additional to-dos & make changes as needed. Colleges that the family selected on the FAFSA and state agencies that award need-based aid use this in determining the student’s financial aid.
What is a Student Aid Report (SAR)?
The concentration or focus of a number of credit hours in a specific subject resulting in a degree.
What is a Major?
An individual who assists an instructor or professor with teaching duties. At many universities, these are qualified graduate students employed by the university who help a professor conduct lab or study groups, grade papers, or prepare lectures.
What is a Teaching Assistant (TA)?
This term is used to refer to students who are the first person in their immediate family to attend college. Some institutions offer special mentoring programs, student groups, SCHOLARSHIPS, and extra support/guidance just for these students.
What is a First Generation College Student?