Financial Aid
Common Application
College Vocabulary
RIT Trivia
100

What is a student loan?

This a loan, which assists for the payment of college, and can be payed off once the student graduates from college.

100

What is the Common App?

The Common App is an online program, created to allow students to apply to colleges with a single digital application, which is excepted by over 900 colleges and universities. 

100

What is a dorm?

A dorm (dormitory), is a building or hall that is on campus housing for students, typically required for freshman.

100

How does RIT connect some of its buildings? (Hint: very helpful in the winter!)

Tunnels! There are tunnels that connect most buildings on dorm side of campus and a few of the buildings on academic side.

200

What is FASFA?

FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is a form required from all students seeking need-based financial aid. The FAFSA collects family income and other financial information and is completed and filed by the student or their family.

200

Is the Common App free?

Creating your profile is free, however sending it to colleges is not. The application fee varies by school, although there are ways to get the fee waived due to financial need. 

200

What is a college Major?

This is the subject you elect to study in college as your primary focus.

200

How many coffee shops are on RITs campus?

There are 5!

300

When can you apply to scholarships?

Year round! Scholarships can appear throughout the year, ask your financial advisory to help keep you up to date about opportunities.

300

Is the Common App the required platform for applying to schools?

No, each school will also have individual applications or use other online programs. Check with your potential school to see what applications they accept.

300

What is office hours?

The time that academic ad visors, professors, and other administrators to discuss questions, home works or tests. 

300

In what building will you find Admissions, the Financial Aide office, and the Veteran Services on RITs campus?

The Bausch and Lomb Center, located behind the magic building.

400

How does FASFA determine how much financial aide you'll be awarded.

FASFA determines the amount of aide you will receive based off you the last two years tax returns that you filed, and (if you are still being claimed as a dependent) your parent/guardians tax returns.
400

When can you start working on your common app?

Every year, the new application opens of August 1st for the following school year.

400

What is a RA and what is their role?

A RA is a Resident Assistant, who lives in the dorms. They are trained to assist with mental health problems, substance abuse, conflict resolution, etc. They plan floor events and are there to assist in your transition.

400

How many students attend RIT?

There are approximately 18,500 students enrolled at RIT full-time!

500

What is the difference between grants, student loans and scholarships?

Grants and scholarships are free monetary awards: they do not need to be repaid. Grants may be offered without service requirements, while scholarships are awarded based on merit, talent, major, ethnicity etc. Loans need to be repaid, with interest.

500

Is the Personal Essay required?

Not all schools require a personal essay, while others will require both a personal essay as well as supplemental writings. Common App will organize the colleges and let you know what each school requires.

500

What are credits?

Credits are the amount that each course is "worth", usually based off of the amount of time you spend in that class each week.
500

What is the female to male ratio of RITs student population?

30:70 (female:male)