Your College Glossary

As your son or daughter prepares for a whole new world at college, you need to prepare for a whole new world of college-related words and terms. Here are some you'll be hearing a lot in the coming years.

Accreditation: Recognition by a regional or national association that an institution has met certain educational standards.

ACT:A college entrance exam that assesses high school students' ability to complete college-level work in English, math, reading and science.

Advanced Placement (AP) Course: College-level course offered during high school with the potential to earn college credits.

Associate's Degree: Degree awarded by a two-year institution, such as a community college.

Bachelor's Degree: Degree awarded by a four-year institution.

Class Rank: Where students stand academically compared to each other.

Common Application: A standard application form accepted by many colleges as an alternative to their own application form.

Cost-of-Attendance (COA): The total cost of attending college, including books, fees, room and board, supplies, transportation, tuition and miscellaneous personal expenses.

Early Action (EA): A program that gives students who apply for admission early a decision in a few months, with no obligation to enroll if admitted.

Early Decision (ED): Similar to Early Action, except that if accepted the student must agree to attend and withdraw all other applications.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC): The amount a family can reasonably be expected to pay for one year of college, calculated on earnings, assets, savings and other factors. Your EFC is used to calculate your demonstrated need, or amount of need-based federal financial aid for which you qualify.

Financial Aid: Money provided to a student and/or his or her family to help pay for college. The financial aid package typically includes a combination of aid (grants, student loans, scholarships and work-study).

529 Savings Plans: An investment plan that gives families a federal tax-free way to save money for college.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): A required financial information form for anyone seeking financial aid.

Grade Point Average (GPA): An academic rating calculated by assigning a point value to each letter grade.

Grant: Money that does not require repayment, awarded based on certain criteria.

Greek System: Fraternities and sororities on campus.

HIPAA: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which protects the privacy of medical records.

Honors Course: Similar to AP, courses taught at a higher level than traditional high school courses.

Humanities: Courses on human culture, including philosophy, foreign language, religion and literature.

Independent Study: Program or courses that allow a student to earn credit through self-designed coursework.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program: The highest level, most difficult type of honors courses a high school student can take.

Letter of Recommendation: Endorsement by high school faculty and staff required by most colleges.

Liberal Arts: A course of study that includes humanities, social science, natural sciences, mathematics, foreign languages and fine arts.

Major: Area of academic concentration.

Merit-Based Financial Aid: Money awarded based on academic excellence or other criteria instead of financial need.

Minor: Area of academic concentration requiring fewer courses than a major.

Need-Based Financial Aid: Money awarded based solely on ability to pay.

Open Admissions: A policy, usually limited to two-year state schools, under which students are admitted regardless of academic qualifications.

Need-Blind Admissions: Admissions made without taking into account a student's ability to pay.

PSAT/NMSQT: A standardized test given junior year whose scores are qualifiers for a National Merit Scholarship.

Registrar: College official who registers students, collects fees, keeps records, maintains files and handles transcripts.

Regular Admissions: Standard admissions process in which students apply midway through senior year and are notified of the college's decision in the spring.

Rolling Admissions: Process by which colleges consider applications upon receipt of all required credentials and notify applicants as decisions are made.

SAT: A college entrance exam that measures the overall academic skills needed for success in college.

SAT Subject Tests: College entrance exams that measure achievement in specific subject areas.

Scholarship: Money that does not require repayment, often awarded based on special talents or academic achievement.

Semester: One of two equal terms of study.

Student (Stafford) Loans: Low-interest federal loans, either subsidized or unsubsidized based on demonstrated need.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): An exam for students whose principal language is not English.

Transcript: Official record of a student's coursework at a school or college.

Trimester: One of three equal terms of study.

Tuition Tax Credits: Tuition expenditures that can be deducted from a federal income tax bill.

Undergraduate: A college student working towards a bachelor's degree.

Wait List: A list of applicants who will be next in line for consideration if admitted students decide not to attend.

Work-Study: A federally funded program of student jobs, usually on campus, often part of a financial aid package.

Source:
http://www.collegeboard.com/parents/plan/getting-ready/26304.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/printable/college_planning_glossary.html