Distinguishing Features
Where students live near their classes. Often referred to as dorms or residences.
What is On-Campus Housing?
Convenience, Safety, Jobs (Intl Students), Direct billing, Social life...
With this type of admission option, applicants apply early, find out early, but is non-binding.
What is Early Action
This option lets you pick which SAT scores you send to schools, by individual test dates, but not test sections.
What is Score Choice
This type of academic program may be offered to conditionally-admitted students who have not met the English language proficiency or need additional support to assure success at the university level.
What are Bridge Programs (ESL, Summer or Year Long). These programs may have multiple names.
This includes tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies, transportation and personal expenses.
What is Cost of Attendance (COA)
This type of university is usually fairly large and consists of different departments often called 'colleges'.
Ex. Univ. of Illinois has the College of Law, College of Engineering, College of Business, College of Agriculture.
What are Research Universities
With this type of admissions option, students apply early to their first-choice college, and if accepted they must attend.
What is Early Decision
8 main options
This standardized test is often required of international students to show their proficiency in English.
What is TOEFL OR IELTS
International students are able to work up to 20 hours here in their first year of college.
What is On-Campus / Orientation Days
This is a policy by which a college or university does not consider the financial needs of the applicant when determining admissibility. Most schools use this for US citizens.
What is Need-Blind
This type of curriculum has a set plan of study that includes mandatory courses in different subjects that all students must take in order to graduate.
Ex. Columbia University
What is Core Curriculum
Benefits/Drawbacks
The degree to which you show a college that you are sincerely interested in coming to their school. Not used in the admissions process at all schools.
Demonstrated Interest (DI)
how is it measured*Applying ED, Interview, Tour, Optional Essay, Contacting Admissions Rep, Answering/opening emails
These One-hour-long exams measure how well a student knows a particular subject area and their ability to apply that knowledge. These tests are not connected to specific textbooks or teaching methods.
What are SAT Subject Tests
English, Math, Sciences, Foreign Language
This form is issued to international students (once they have committed to attend a particular college) and is necessary for them to apply for their Visa and pay their SEVIS Fee.
What is the I-20
The amount of money a family is expected to contribute to their student’s education. This amount is determined through information submitted on financial aid forms.
What is Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
In this type of curriculum, students do not have to meet course requirements - either in the form of specific, mandatory courses or distribution requirements - in order to graduate.
Ex. Brown University
What is an Open Curriculum
This term refers to an applicant who has one or more immediate family member attending or graduated from the college or university to which he or she is applying.
What is Legacy
This testing policy allows applicants to submit various combinations of standardized test scores to support their application.
What is a Flexible Testing Policy
Ex. NYU
This form is required for international students to show proof of financial support.
What is the Declaration of Finances
Includes an official bank letter showing enough funds to pay for the entire cost of your program (tuition, room and board, cost of living expenses, etc.) for one year (varies from college to college).
This is a policy by which a college or university takes into consideration the financial needs of the applicant when determining admissibility.
What is Need Aware/ Need Sensitive
Most colleges/universities use this policy when considering non-US citizens.
This type of Educational Institution emphasizes undergraduate education (as opposed to producing research). Students generally pick one course of study to focus on, while also taking courses in other diverse subjects.
What are Liberal Arts Colleges
A student is initially denied. But later are given an option with an 'assured' admissions as a transfer student, if they meet certain requirements.
What is a Transfer Option
This testing policy offers students the option of whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores. The rules vary from college to college.
What is Test Optional
This option allows international students in F-1 immigration status to stay in the US and work for a certain period of time. Often used the year following graduation from college.
What is Optional Practical Training (OPT)
12 months/+24 month extension for STEM majors
Funds/aid that is available to all student applicants where eligibility is based on factors other than financial need.
What is Merit-Based Aid
*based on factors such as academic performance in high school, leadership involvement or a specific talent.