Accreditation

Recognition of a college or university by any of the regional or national accrediting bodies, indicating that the institution as a whole has been judged to be meeting its objectives.

ACT Assessment (ACT Test)

A group of tests administered by ACT and required or recommended by most colleges as part of the admission process. The tests measure educational development in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning and are given at specified test centers throughout the year. ACT scores range from 1-36.

Advanced Placement

Granting of credit and/or assignment to an advanced course on the basis of evidence that the student has mastered the equivalent of an introductory course.

Aid Package

A combination of aid (possibly including a scholarship, grant, loan, and work) determined by a college financial aid office.

ASSET

A group of tests developed by ACT and required at many two-year colleges as a part of the course placement and advising process.

Candidates Reply Date

A policy among subscribing institutions that permits students to wait until May 1 to choose, without penalty, among offers of admission/financial aid.

College Calendar

The system by which a college divides its year into periods of time for instruction and awarding credits. Common systems include the traditional semester (two per year); the early semester (two per year with the first ending before Christmas); the quarter (three terms of approximately 12 weeks each); the trimester (three semesters per year, the third semester replacing summer chool); and 4-1-4- (two equal terms of about 16 weeks each with a 4-week interim term).

COMPASS

A comprehensive computer-adaptive testing system from ACT that helps places students into appropriate college courses and maximizes information needed to ensure student success.

Credit by Examination

A program through which many colleges grant course credit based on results of the Advanced Placement Tests (AP), the CEEB College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Regents College Examinations (RCE), DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), or another examination developed by colleges.

Credit hour

A unit of academic credit that often represents one hour of class time per week for a period of study.

Deferred Admission

The practice of some colleges of allowing an accepted student to postpone enrollment for one year.

DISCOVER

A user-friendly, interactive, computer-based career guidance and information system that is designed to meet the career and educational planning needs of students DISCOVER helps students identify their interests, abilities, and work-related values (through online inventories) and to understand the relationship of these self-variables to the complex world of work.

Early Action

An application process which permits students to make application to an institution of preference and receive a decision during the senior year, well in advance of the normal response dates in the spring. The candidate is not committed to enroll at that particular institution.

Early Admission

Admitting students of superior ability into college courses and programs before they have completed the standard high school program.

Early Decision

An application process in which a commitment is made by the student to the institution that, if admitted, the student will enroll. Only a student who can make a deliberate and well-reasoned first-choice decision should apply under an Early Decision plan because the institution will require a nonrefundable deposit well before May 1.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

An amount you and your family are expected to contributed toward your education. It is used in determining your eligibility for federal student aid.

EXPLORE

An eighth-grade assessment program from ACT designed to stimulate career exploration and help students develop plans for their high school years and beyond.

Federal Direct Loans

Loans made by the federal government directly to qualifying students and parents through participating colleges.

Federal Pell Grant

Financial assistance awarded by the federal government on the basis of need and designed to provide the "floor" of an aid package for postsecondary education. The grant may be used toward tuition, room and board, books, or other educational costs, and requires no repayment.

Federal Perkins Loan Program

Loans funded by the federal government and awarded by the institution. The loans feature low interest rates and are repayable over an extended period of time.

Federal PLUS (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) Program

Provides low-interest federal loans to credit-approved parents of eligible undergraduate students. Repayment begins 60 days after loan funds are disbursed. Loans are available from participating banks, lending institutions, and participating Direct Lending schools

Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan Program

Provides low-interest federal loans to eligible students through banks and lending institutions. It is based on need, and the federal government pays the interest for qualifying students while they are enrolled at least half time. Repayment begins after the student leaves schools.

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program

Provides low-interest federal loans, which are not based on, need, and the student must pay the interest while in school. Repayment begins after the student leaves school.

Federal Work Study

A government-supported financial aid program coordinated through financial aid offices whereby an eligible student (based on need) may work part time while attending class, generally in career-related jobs.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The application required for students to be considered for federal student financial aid. Obtain a FAFSA form or electronic filing information from a high school or college for the appropriate year (usually in November). The FAFSA is processed free of charge and most state agencies and colleges use it.

Grant point average (GPA)

An indicator of the student's overall scholastic performance. The GPA is computed by multiplying the number of grade points earned in each course (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1) times the number of credit hours, then dividing the sum by the total number of course hours/credit hours carried.

Grants

Awards based on financial need that do not require repayment. Grants are available through the federal government, state agencies, and educational institutions.

Honors Program

Any program offering opportunity for superior students to enrich their educational experience through independent, advanced, or accelerated study.

Major

The subject of study in which the student chooses to specialize.

Open Admissions

The policy of some colleges of admitting virtually all high school graduates, regardless of academic qualification such as high school grades and admission test scores.

PLAN

A 10-grade "pre-ACT" assessment program designed to help students improve their postsecondary planning and preparation. PLAN contains academic tests, an interest inventory, study skills assessment, and student information section, and is complementary in content and format to the ACT Assessment. PLAN scores range from 1-32.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rolling Admission

An admission procedure by which the college considers each application as soon as all required materials has been received. The college then notifies each applicant of acceptance or rejection as soon as possible.

SAT I

A test of verbal and mathematical abilities given by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) throughout the year at specified test centers and required or recommended by many colleges as part of the admission process

Scholarships

Nonrepayable awards to students based on merit or merit plus need.

Student Aid Report (SAR)

The information you will receive approximately 3-6 weeks after your FAFSA has been processed. It will report the information from your application and, if there are no questions or problems with your application, your SAR will report your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Transcript

The official record of high school or college courses and grades generally required as part of the college application.

Wait List

A term used by institutions to describe a process in which they may initially delay offering or deny you admission. Rather, the institution extends to you the possibility of admission in the future. Colleges offer admission to wait-list candidates if insufficient numbers of regularly admitted candidates accept their offers of admission.

WorkKeys

A national system designed to improve workplace skills and to help individuals equate learning with earning. WorkKeys measures workplace skills, relates those skills to specific jobs, and helps individuals acquire the levels of skills needed for the jobs they want.

 

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