ADMIT

A student is offered admissions to a college or a university to which the student has applied.

 

ADMIT/DENY

A student is offered admission to an institution, but defined financial aid.

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AA (ASSOCIATE OF ARTS)

A 2-year community college degree. Also offered by some 4-year colleges.

 

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Breaks the school year into one of the following: semesters (two terms of 17-18 weeks; quarters (three terms of 11 weeks); trimesters (two terms of 15 weeks, third term optional).

Semester: Two terms of 17-18 weeks (varies by college)

Quarters: Three terms of 11 weeks (fourth term optional) (varies by college)

Trimester: Two terms of 15 weeks (third term optional) (varies by college)

 

ACCREDITATION

The recognition by an outside agency that a school maintains a high standard that enable students to qualify for admission to other accredited institutions.

 

ACT (American College Test)

A four-year college admission test covering English, reading, science reasoning and mathematics.

 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

A set of rules established by each college for a student to be accepted.

 

AP

Advanced Placement: these are college-level courses offered by Gateway and endorsed by the College Board. After an AP course is completed, students generally take AP exams, which are scored on a 1-5 scale (5 being the highest possible score.) Colleges may offer either credit or advanced standing to any student who has received a recommended AP exam score, which is usually 3 or higher.

 

AUDIT

To attend a class for the purpose of reviewing the information. No tests, grades, or credits are given.

 

AWARD LETTER

A letter sent by a college/university notifying a student of the financial package being offered. Students have the opportunity to accept or decline all or part of the offer.

 

ADVANCED STANDING

Admission status when a student has completed more than 12 college credits.

 

"A-G" COURSES

Refers to the list of subjects required for admission by the University of California:

 

A. U.S. History, 2 years

B. English, 4 years

C. Mathematics, 3 years

D. Laboratory Science, 2 years

E. Foreign Language, 2 years

F. Visual & Performing Arts, 1 year

G. Elective, 1 year

 

AP (ADVANCED PLACEMENT)

A system by which college freshmen may bypass entry-level courses by proving that they have already taken the equivalent in high school. Credit is awarded if a student earns a certain grade on an AP exam taken in high school.

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B.A. (BACHELOR OF ARTS) OR B.S. (BACHELOR OF SCIENCE)

A 4-year college degree.

 

BRANCH CAMPUS

A small campus connected to, or part of, a large institution. Generally, students spend the first two years at a branch campus and then transfer to the main campus to complete a baccalaureate degree. A branch campus provides students with a smaller and more personal environment which can help the student mature personally and academically before moving to a larger atmosphere.

 

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CAMPUS BASED PROGRAMS

The title commonly applied to the primary student financial aid programs administered by institutions of postsecondary education. These programs include the College Work-Study Program, the Perkins Loan, and the Educational Opportunity Grant Program.

 

CANDIDATES REPLY DATA AGREEMET (CRDA)

Sponsored by the College Board, this agreement establishes a common date, May 1, that is the earliest time a subscribing college may require an accepted applicant to commit to whether he or she plans to attend.

 

CEEB (College-level Examination Program)

A company which provides college testing, such as SAT I, SAT Subject Test, TOEFL, PSAT, etc, ETS (Educational Testing Service) is the testing division.

 

CLASS RANK

A student’s standing as compared with that of the other members of the class, based on grade point average.

 

CAL GRANTS

Grant aid for students attending college in California. Available to students with financial need as they continue their education at a college or vocational school. This type uses financial need and GPA to award grants at varying levels. Forms and details are available at the California Student Aid Commission.

 

COLLEGE CATALOG

A book published by the college describing requirements for admission, degrees, services and course descriptions.

 

COLLEGE- LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP)

Administered by the College Board, this program offers a series of subject examinations for college applicants who have gained knowledge in such nontraditional way as independent reading, on the job training, or correspondence courses.

 

COLLEGE-PREPARATORY SUBJECTS

A term used to describe subjects required for admission to or recommend as preparation for college. It is usually understood to mean subjects from the fields of English, History, and Social Studies, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Science and the Arts.

 

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP SERVICES(CSS)

A service of the College Board that assists postsecondary institutions, state scholarship programs and other organizations in the equitable distribution of student financial aid funds by measuring a family’s financial strength and analyzing its ability to contribute to college costs. CSS provides the Profile Form with which students may apply for nonfederal aid at some private colleges.

 

Common Application

A standard application form accepted by many colleges. A student completes one application form and submits it online or mails duplicates to subscriber colleges. Many colleges require individual application supplements. Learn more about the Common Application here.

 

COMPREHENSIVE FEES

Cost of education, including tuition, room and board, fees, textbooks, etc.

 

COURSE LOAD

The number of course credit hours a student is enrolled in each semester. Twelve credit hours is a minimum to be considered a full-time student. The average course load per semester is fifteen credit hours.

 

CREDIT HOURS

The number of hours per week that courses meet are counted as equivalent credits for financial aid and to determine a student’s status as full-time or part-time. Upon successful completion of a course, credit hours are applied to graduation requirements.

 

CREDIT

A way of referring to the number of credits which are earned in a course. Also known as semester hours, unit hours, quarter hours or units. Approximately 64 credits are needed for an AA degree, and 124 credits for a BA degree for schools on a semester calendar. If a class meets three hours per week, it is usually a 3-credit course. A full-time student at college usually attends 5 classes and earns 15 credits per semester.

 

CSU (CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITIES)

The 23 public state campuses

 

CUMULATIVE RECORD OR PERMANENT RECORD CARD

The complete record of all courses and grades earned. Your transcript is a copy of your cumulative record or permanent record card.

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DEFERRAL

This is an admission decision which may be received if a student has applied under an Early Decision or Early Action plan. A deferral means that the applicant has not yet been admitted or denied, the application will be placed in the regular round for another review, and an admission decision will be rendered in March or April.

 

DEMONSTRATED INTEREST

Because colleges and universities are concerned about their applicant yield, many pay close attention to an applicant’s level of interest, or how interested a student appears to be in the particular college or university. In addition ot campus visits, students can use the following to express their interest: 1. Email, 2, Thank you letter 3, Regional events

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EARLY ACTION

Under this plan, highly qualified candidates who apply early may receive offers of admission by mid-December. Unlike the Early Decision Plan, the Early Action Plan does not allow an institution to request an applicant to make a prior commitment to matriculate, indicate college preferences, or make any response to an offer of admission until the traditional May 1 candidate’s reply date.

 

EARLY DECISION

A student applies to an institution early in the senior year and requests an early notification of his/her admission status. It is a contract between the student and the institution. If the student is accepted, he/she is obligated to attend the institution.

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EARLY EVALUATION PROCEDURE

A plan under which applicants to some Ivy League institutions (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale) and M.I.T. receive between November 1 and February 15 an evaluation of their chances for acceptance. Categories used are likely, possible, unlikely, and insufficient evidence for evaluation. Final notification is make on a common date in April.

 

EXPECTED FMILY CONTRIBUTION (EFC)

The amount a student and his/her spouse of family is expected to pay toward costs of school based on their income and assets.

 

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FAFSA (FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID)

This is the form required to apply for financial aid by the University of California and the California State University along with the California Student Aid Commission Grade Verification Form. These forms are free and available in the counseling office in November. The Federal Student Aid Program highly recommends all families to complete the FAFSA online.

 

FEE

A sum of money that must be paid for a variety of things in college, such as for admission, registration, graduation, health services, etc.

 

FEE WAIVER

A form available to students having a family income that meets the U.S. Department of Labor definition of low income. The Fee Waiver Form is submitted instead of money when applying for college testing or admission.

 

FINANCIAL AID

Money from a variety of sources, (grants, loan, scholarship, work study) that helps pay for college costs. The “package” of funds is determined by family financial need and the availability of funds. Families may begin the financial aid process in January of the student's senior year.

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FINANCIAL NEED

The difference between the cost of education and what the family or the applicant can reasonably be expected to contribute.

 

FULL-TIME STUDENT

A college student who generally takes a minimum of either 12 units per quarter or 12 units per semester.

 

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GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Courses selected from several divisions required for a college degree. These are completed the first two years of college. The second two years involve coursework in major and minor areas.

 

GPA (GRADE POINT AVERAGE)

A student’s average grade, computed on a four point scale. An A counts as 4; B is 3; a C is 2; a D is 1, and an F is 0. Each student has several GPAs; one for the semester, one cumulative GPA that includes previous semesters, and a state GPA. Honors or AP courses earn one extra grade point.

 

GRANTS

Payments made to students by various organizations, including CAL Grants from the State of California. Grants do not have to be paid back.

 

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HONORS COURSES

Some high schools offer honors courses with advanced content as a complement or alternative to AP courses. Honors courses should be specified as such on the transcript.

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IMPACTED PROGRAM

A college degree program, such as computer science, that may be temporarily closed to new students due to heavy enrollment or may require supplementary screening of student records.

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M.A. (MASTER OF ARTS) OR M.S. (MASTER OF SCIENCE)

A college degree usually requiring one or two years work beyond the BA.

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MAJOR

The main area of study in college, usually requiring about one year in a planned series of courses during the 4 year program.

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MINOR

Approximately 18 credits in an academic area outside major department.

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NEED ANALYSIS FORM (FAFSA)

The basic form students need to submit to be considered for all types of aid such as institutional, state, private, and federal. Students should check with state and institutional agencies to determine if additional forms are needed.

 

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PELL GRANT

Financial aid from the Federal Government available to students with financial need to be used at many types of colleges and vocational schools. Apply in January of the senior year.

 

Ph. D. (DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY)

A degree earned by work completed beyond the masters of arts or masters of science.

 

PREREQUISITES

Courses, test scores, and/or grade level that must be completed before taking a specific courses.

 

PRIVATE COLLEGE

A school which is not supported by state taxes. (Public colleges are supported by tuition fees, taxes, and other state funds).

 

PROFILE

The high school profile is a prepared by the high school and should accompany each student’s transcript when it is sent to a college or university. The profile should describe both the school as a whole and the particular graduating calss. The profile may also include a grade grid, or other reporting tool, which information about the current graduating class’s performance over the first six semesters of high school.

 

PERSONAL STATEMENT/ESSAY

Many colleges and universities require a personal statement as part of their applications. Students should take particular care with the essay, as it is an opportunity to showcase their writing ability. If a question is provided, students should make sure that their essay answers the question completely. If no question is provided, students can use brief biographical essay, or may use the essay questions on the Common Application as a guide. Students may want to supplement their essay by including a graded paper from an English or History/Social Studies class.

In addition to a personal statement, many colleges will also ask students to answer a question now being referred to as the “The “Why Here? Question” These types of questions require not only that the student explain his or her possible course of study, but also to detail why the student and his or her plans fit well with the particular college. While the description of the student can be used for various applications, research is required to make the “Why here?” part of the answer specific to each college.

 

PSAT/NMSQT (PRELIMINARY SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST/NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP QUALIFYING TEST)

A shortened version of the SAT offered in October for high school sophomores and juniors. The scores are helpful in all college admission planning and/or qualifying for National Merit and other scholarships.

 

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QUALIFIED ACCEPTANCE

Occasionally an institution postpones action on an application and will suggest that the applicant pursue a particular course in its summer session. Upon satisfactory completion of this course, the college agrees to accept the student for its regular degree programs at the beginning of the first or second semester.

 

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REGULAR DECISION

A plan in which institutions review most of their applications before notifying the majority of candidates of their admission. In this process, colleges set a deadline for completing applications and will respond to completed applications by a specified date. If you are applying for financial aid, you will follow aid application deadlines set by the school. You may apply to other colleges. You will not be required to make a decision regarding enrolling before May 1.

 

ROLLING ADMISSIONS

This means that a college gives an admissions decision as soon as possible after an application is completed and does not specify a notification deadline. Usually, it is wise to apply early to such colleges, since applications are normally not accepted after the admissions quota has been reached.

 

ROTC

Many colleges have units of the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps that offer two and four year programs of military training culminating in an officer’s commission. In some colleges credit for the courses can be applied toward a degree. ROTC scholarships are available which pay for full college costs.

 

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SAT REASONING TEST

A college admission exam measuring verbal and math reasoning.

 

SAT SUBJECT TESTS

One hour exams offered in 18 different subjects. Writing, Math and one other test are required by UC schools.

 

SCHOLARSHIPS

Gifts of money awarded for achievement, skills, talents and/or financial need. Most scholarships are awarded to high school seniors in the spring semester and usually range from $25 to several hundred dollars. Students do not necessarily need to have an "A" grade point average to apply.

 

SIR (STATEMENT OF INTENT TO REGISTER)

This is the form that must be returned to the college of your choice by a specified date, usually at the beginning of May. It confirms your intent to register at the college and reserves a spot for you.

 

SUMMER SESSION

College summer school. Open entry (not “formal” admission) makes it possible for students to take classes at almost any campus and then transfer it to the “home” campus towards their degree. Students who plan to continue in the fall must file for fall admission.

 

SUPER SCORES

Some colleges and universities create what have come to be known as “super scores,” where a composite of the highest test score in each section, regardless of date, is created. Many colleges, even those with policies of super scoring SAT, do not publish those policies.

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TRANSCRIPT

A copy of your official record of grades and courses from time of entrance to the end of the latest semester.

 

TRANSFER COURSES

College courses giving credit which may be transferred to another college.

 

TRANSFER STUDENTS

College students who transfer from one college to another, usually at the end of sophomore year. Changing colleges during the junior or senior year, when the student is completing major requirements, is not recommended.

 

TUITION

A fee that is paid for instruction in a school, college, or university.

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UC (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA)

The10-campus system includes Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. The ninth, and newest campus, is UC Merced. The tenth campus, San Francisco, is devoted to the health sciences and is for graduate study only.

 

UNDERGRADUATE

College student who has not yet received a bachelor’s degree.

 

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WAITING LIST

In addition to accepting and rejecting applicants, many colleges place students on a waiting list for admission. As accepted applicants decide to attend other colleges, the school will offer their places to students on the waiting list.

 

WEIGHTED GPA

High school honors classes are given a extra point when computing the grade point average. An A counts as 5; B is 4; and C is 3. D’s and F’s in honors courses are not given extra points. Note: Only certain classes are given the honors point for the UC and CSU systems. UC and CSU grade point averages are calculated with the college counselor during 1st semester of the student's senior year.

 

WORK STUDY

A federally funded program that makes part-time jobs available to students with financial need.

 

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YIELD

The percentage of accepted students who matriculate. Generally, the higher the yield, the more competitive the institution.