Terms

ACT (American College Test) is required by certain colleges, especially those in the Midwest.  The ACT gives subscores in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning.  There is a fee.

A-G courses:  Refers to the list of subjects required for admission by the University of California.

AP (Advanced Placement) tests are given in May for college level courses taken at the high school during school time.  College credit and grades can be earned for acceptable scores.  It is the college or university who determines how AP scores will be used.  There is a fee for the tests.  Students who are eligible for a reduction in fees should see the counselor.

Associate of Arts /Associate of Science:  A degree or certificate awarded upon satisfactory completion of a two-year course of study or community college.

Bachelor of Arts:  A degree awarded by a college or university upon satisfactory completion of a four-year course of study in the humanities, social sciences, and related studies.

Bachelor of Science:  A college or university degree which indicates the student has studied one or more subjects in depth (typically in the sciences-engineering, business, computers, etc.) but has not been required to take many courses outside the field of concentration.

Calendar:  The system by which an institution divides its year into shorter periods for instruction and awarding credit. The most common calendars are those based on semesters, trimesters, and quarters.

Candidates Reply Date Agreement:  A college subscribing to this agreement will not require any applicant offered admission as a freshman to notify it of his/her decision to attend (or to accept an offer of financial aid) before May 1. The purpose of the agreement is to give applicants time to hear from all of the colleges they have applied to before they have to make a commitment to any one of them.

Class Rank:  A student's approximate position in his/her graduating class, figured according to his/her grade average. It may be stated as a particular position, such as 2nd decile (top 20 %) in a class of 350 students, or as some fraction of the class that he/she ranks in, such as the top one-third (3rd decile) or the top one-fifth (2nd decile) of the class.

College Board:  Company which provides college entrance testings, such as SAT and SAT 2, TOEFL, PSAT. Educational Testing Services (ETS) is the testing division.

College Scholarship Service (CSS):  An activity of the College Board that provides colleges and scholarship agencies with an estimate of the amount of money an applicant's family might reasonably be expected to pay toward his/her college expenses.  This estimate is based on information that the family has given about its income and assets and is sent to the colleges and agencies designated by the family.  It is used by the colleges and scholarship agencies in determining how much financial aid, if any, an applicant will need in order to meet the full costs of attending particular colleges.

Community College:  Two-year institutions of higher learning that provide vocational training and academic curricula.  Admission is open to all students who have graduated from an accredited high school, or passed the California High School Proficiency Exam, or are 18 years old or older.  Community colleges award AA/AS degrees and certificates.  SAT and ACT tests are not required, but English and math placement tests are required for entering freshmen.

Credits, Units, or Hours:  What is earned in a college course.  Approximately 64 credits are needed for an AA degree, and 124 total 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.

CSS/Financial Aid Profile:  A financial aid service from the College Scholarship Service of The College Board required by some colleges.  Registration forms will be available in the counseling office.  After registration, students will receive a customized profile application packet that they complete and return to CSS for processing and distribution to appropriate colleges and scholarship programs.  Not all colleges require this form.  Students should contact Financial Aid offices at all schools to which they plan to apply to determine what forms are necessary.

Early  Action:  Many colleges offer Early Action, which differs from Early Decision because students are not committed to enrollment.  They have until the customary reply date to indicate their intention, i.e., May 1.   Students may apply under Early Action to as many colleges as they choose, with the exception of certain Ivy League colleges that allow only one Early Action application.

Early Decision:  Some students are so sure of their college choice early in the senior year that they apply for what is known as an Early Decision.  Students electing this plan usually agree to withdraw any other application they may have submitted, if the first choice college informs them that they have been accepted for Early Decision.  This is a binding agreement to attend if accepted.  Such may occur as early as November of the senior year.  Depending on the date of notification and deadlines of other colleges of interest, students sometimes do not need to submit any other application when applying to their first choice school through the Early Decision program.

Early Evaluation:  Some colleges inform students of their chances on a rating scale of Possible, Likely, Unlikely before some final decision is made. These evaluations are usually made after January 1. Such decisions are not irrevocable, and nor do they commit a student in any way.

ELM (Entry Level Mathematics Exam) is required by the California State Universities.  The ELM tests for entry level mathematics skills that CSU expects entering students to have acquired in three years of rigorous college preparatory mathematics coursework.  The test must be taken prior to placement in appropriate university mathematics coursework.  Students are exempt if they score 3 or higher on an AP mathematics test, score 560 or above on the SAT or SAT II mathematics test, or score 24 or above on the ACT mathematics test.

EPT (English Placement Test) is required by the California State Universities and can be taken at any campus.  The EPT is designed to assess the level of analytical reading and writing skills of students entering the CSU system.  The test has no effect on admissions decisions.  Students are exempt from the EPT if they earn a score of 550 or higher on the verbal section of the SAT, a score of 680 or higher on the SAT II Writing Test, a score of 25 or higher on the ACT English Usage Test, or a score of 3 or higher on an AP English test.  The test must be taken before a student can register for a university level English class.

Fee Waiver:  A form available to students having a family income less than approximately $30,000 per year.  The Fee Waiver Form is submitted instead of money when applying for college testing or admission.

Financial Aid:  Money which may be derived from a variety of sources (grants, loans, scholarships, work study), which helps pay for college costs. The "package" of funds is determined by family financial need and the availability of funds.

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

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):  Information is requested about income and assets of both parents and students to determine eligibility for federal student aid.  All students applying for financial aid must complete this form.  New forms are available in the Guidance Office each fall.

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.

Grade Point Average:  A system used by many colleges for evaluating the overall scholastic performance of students.  It is found by first determining the number of grade points a student has earned in each course he/she completed and then by dividing the sum of all his grade points by the number of points or hours of course work he/she carried.  His/her grade points for a course are found by multiplying the number of points or hours given for the course by his/her grade in the course.

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

Honors Program:  Any special program for strong academic students, usually offering the opportunity for educational enrichment, independent study, acceleration, or some combination of these.  Consult with individual colleges to determine your eligibility.

Impacted Programs:  A college degree program, such as computer science, which may be temporarily closed to new students due to heavy enrollment or may require supplementary screening of student records for selection of the strongest candidates

Liberal Arts College:  Four-year institution which emphasizes programs of broad undergraduate education.  Professional training may be available but is not stressed.

Lower Division:  Refers to courses usually completed in the first two years of college.

Major:  The main area of study in college, usually requiring about one-two years in a planned series of courses during the four- year program.

Military School:  Federal military academies prepare officers for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Merchant Marines. These institutions (U.S. Army Academy in West Point, NY; U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD; Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY) require recommendation and appointment by members of Congress. The Coast Guard Academy, private and state supported military institutes, however, operates on a college application basis. They all offer degree programs in engineering and technology with concentration in various aspects of military science.

Minor:  Lesser degree of specialization in a field of study.

Need Aware Admission:  College includes the ability to pay as a factor in their decision to admit or not admit the applicant.

Need Blind Admission:  College makes admission decision to admit or not admit an applicant without regard to the applicant’s ability to pay.

Nursing School:  There are three kinds of nursing education.  At schools affiliated with hospitals, students receive R.N. degrees upon completion of their training. At schools affiliated with four-year colleges, students receive both a B.S. degree and a R.N. and have possibilities of entering the field of nursing administration.  At schools associated with two-year colleges, students receive both an A.S. degree and an R.N.

Official Transcript:  Colleges will only accept a transcript that bears the high school seal and is mailed directly from the high school to the college.

Open Admissions:  The policy of a college to admit high school graduates and other adults generally without regard to conventional academic qualifications, such as high school subjects, high school marks, and admissions test scores.  Thus, virtually everyone who applies is accepted.

Pell Grants:  A federally sponsored and administered program that provides grants based on need to undergraduate students. See section on financial aid.

Perkins Loan:  A federally funded program, that provides loans of up to $3,000 for the first two years and up to $15,000 for the total undergraduate program.  Repayment need not begin until you complete your education and any military service or service with the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps.  Repayment terms are favorable, and repayment may be partially or wholly waived if you go into certain kinds of employment.

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

PSAT/NMSQT:  The PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a practice test that helps students prepare for the SAT.  It is offered in October for high school juniors. Although colleges may not see a student's PSAT/NMSQT score, a student .who does very well on this test and who meets many other academic performance criterion may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Private College:  A school which is not supported by state taxes.  Also referred to as an independent college.

Quarter:  A period of about 11 weeks, four of which comprise an academic year. In colleges following the quarter calendar, a student makes normal progress by attending three quarters each year.  In some colleges a student can accelerate his/her program by attending all four quarters in one or more years.

Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC):  Reserve Officers' Training Corps program conducted by certain colleges in cooperation with the United States Air Force, Army, and Navy. Local recruiting offices can supply detailed information about these programs, as can the participating colleges.

Resume:  Used by counselors and teachers when they write letters of recommendation and sent to colleges as part of the application packet.   Have a copy available (along with a copy of your transcript) during college interviews.  Should include name, address, social security number, high school activities, accomplishments, and interests inside and outside of school.

Rolling Admissions:  Some colleges indicate decisions whenever they believe students credentials are complete.  These decisions are made at any time during the year, usually by February. In most cases they do not require a response until May 1, and no commitment to attend is expected until that date.

SAR (Student Aid Report):  A form distributed by the College Scholarship Service for the purpose of informing the student whether or not he has met eligibility requirements and to report the estimated family contribution (EFC) to a student's college costs.

SAT Reasoning Test is used by many private colleges as an entrance requirement and as a predictor of academic success.  It is a three-hour, 45 minute test—critical reading, writing, and mathematics.  There is a fee.  Scores on each part range from 200-800, and are separately reported for the verbal and mathematics sections.  Students who use a fee waiver for the SAT are also eligible to use a fee waiver for college application. 

SAT Subject Tests are one-hour tests in specific subject areas also required by many colleges.  The tests may be taken one at a time or all three at one sitting.  There is a fee.   The SAT II is given on the same dates as the SAT, and students register for one or the other.

Scholarship:  A gift of money awarded for achievement, talents, and/or financial need.

Study Abroad:  Any arrangement by which a student is enabled to complete part of his/her college program - typically the junior year but sometimes only a semester or a summer - study in another country.  His/her own college may operate the campus abroad or it may have a cooperative agreement with some other American college or an institution of the other country.

Subject A:  English Composition is required by the University of California.  Students can fulfill this requirement by achieving a score of 680 or higher on the SAT II subject test in Writing, or by scoring 3 or higher on an AP English exam.  High school seniors who have been admitted to a UC campus MUST take this test in May unless they have already satisfied the requirement.   

Technical College:  Independent professional schools that provide four-year training programs in the fields of engineering and the physical sciences.  They are often known as Institutes of Technology or Polytechnic Institutes.

Transcript:  A complete record of the student's high school grades in all subjects taken from grades 9 through 12.

Transfer Program:  An education program in a two-year college ( or a four-year college that offers associate degrees) primarily for students who plan to continue their studies at a four-year college or university.

Tuition:  A fee that is paid for instruction in a private or out-of-state school, college, or university.

Upper-Division College:  An institution offering bachelor's degree programs that begins with the junior year.  Entering students must have completed the freshman and sophomore years at other institutions.

Undergraduate:  College student who has not yet received a bachelor's degree.

University:  An academic organization which grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of fields and which supports at least two degree granting professional schools that are not exclusively technological (such as medicine, journalism, or agriculture).  It is composed of a number of "Schools" or "Colleges", each of whom encompasses a general field of study.

Waiting List:  Students who are qualified for admission but whose credentials are less strong than others in the applicant pool, may be placed on the Waiting List.  This means that they might be offered a place after the May 1 Candidates Reply Date.  The college knows then how many students plan to enroll.  Some years colleges never resort to their Waiting List because the original number of accepted and accepting students meets their quota for the fall.

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