College Terms

A student’s decision to put off a college’s offer of admission to take a 1 year absence.

Credit for previously completed college-level work or verifying knowledge by taking AP exams

A form of financial aid based on need, funded by the government or nonprofit institutions

A class not required for your major or minor. These are courses you take for fun or interest

A form and process a student fills out to request consideration of special circumstances.

Enrolled in 12-15 credit hours in a semester (depending on the school)

An explanation of the financial aid a college will give a student (grants/scholarships)

Financial aid that is awarded based on a student’s ability to pay for college.

App in which a student submits an app. to a college by a date and receives a decision by 4/15

Your secondary field of study, often providing more of a specialization to support your major

A form that all students must fill out to be considered for federal financial aid.

A unit of measurement a course is worth, usually based on the number of 1 hour classes per week

Official academic record from the student’s school that shows courses, grades, and dates

A process where students apply to a school early, they are allowed to apply to other schools

The undergraduate degree offered by four-year universities. Usually requires 120 credit hours.

A job (typically on campus) that allows a student to earn money to help pay college costs.

A list of college applicants who haven’t been accepted or denied

Master’s Degree plus advanced graduate courses in specialized area. Requires 3-5 years post M.A

A course taken in preparation for another course.

A student who does not want to receive credit in a course may, stay in the class as a "visitor"

Proficiency exams given to students who want college credit. Not taken with a class.

A process of reviewing and making decisions on applications as they are received

Your main field of study in an undergraduate program, typically requiring 60 credit hours

A college student who supervises the other students living in a college dorm

An amount the student and student’s family are expected to contribute toward his/her education

A process that allows students to apply to 1 university with the promise to attend if accepted

General application for 517 colleges and universities throughout the United States and abroad