Common
Terminology
Acceptance Form: This form
documents the student's receipt of an award letter. The form usually
includes a space to indicate acceptance of offered aid, declination of all
or part of the package, and some means for requesting an appeal to modify
the award. Acceptance letters and award letters are frequently combined into
a single document.
Admit-Deny: Some schools will
admit marginal students, but not award them any financial aid. Very few
schools use admit-deny, because studies have shown that lack of sufficient
financial aid is a key factor in the performance of marginal students.
Advanced Placement :It
is possible for you to obtain credits toward a college or university program
while you are still in high school! The Advanced Placement program is a
series of internationally recognized exams that allow you obtain first-year
credit or exemption for many subjects. Advanced Placement exams are offered
for many subjects including Calculus, History, Computer Science, Studio Art
and more. The Advanced Placement exams are administered by The College
Board. Check out their website for more details.
Associate Degree: A degree
which is granted to a student who has completed a two-year program (64-66
credits) and is equivalent to the first two years of study for a Bachelor
degree. An Associate degree may be further specified as an Associate of
Arts (AA) (granted to students who have completed a two-year program in
Liberal Arts) or an Associate of Science (AS) (granted to students
who have completed a two-year program in the Sciences).
Associate of Applied Science
(AAS): A degree that is granted to students who have completed a
technology or vocational program. It is generally considered a terminal
degree as it prepares students for immediate employment upon graduation. In
some cases, the credits earned while completing an AAS can be transferred to
a Bachelor degree, but only when specified by the school or program in
question.
Award Letter: The form which
notifies the student that financial aid is being offered. The award letter
usually provides information about the types and amounts of aid offered, as
well as specific program information, student responsibilities, and the
conditions which govern the award. The Award Letter often includes an
Acceptance Form.
Campus-based Programs: The
term commonly applied to those U.S. Department of Education federal student
aid programs administered directly by institutions of postsecondary
education. Includes: Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and Federal Work-Study (FWS)
programs.
Commuter Student: A student
who does not live on campus; typically 'commuter' refers to a student living
at home with his or her parents, but can also mean any student who lives
off-campus.
Cooperative Education: In a
cooperative education program, the student spends some time engaged in
employment related to their major in addition to regular classroom study.
Credit Hour: The unit of
measurement some institutions give for fulfilling course requirements.
A credit in a school or college, usually representing one hour of class per
week for one term.
Community College
is a U.S. public nonresidential junior college offering a two-year
curriculum leading to an associate in arts degree or to transfer to a
four-year college. It is often funded by the government and prepares
students for direct entry into an occupation and, because of the low
tuition, local setting, and relatively easy entry requirements, has been a
major force in the expansion of educational opportunities since World War
II.
Colleges : Colleges are smaller schools that offer a wide variety of
programs which usually take a shorter time to complete. Colleges are very
similar to universities in that they also offer a large number of programs,
however they typically do not have as many students and do not grant
degrees. Instead of giving degrees a college typically grants diplomas or
certificates.
Some colleges also offer what are called university transfer programs, which
allow you to start a program at a college and then transfer to a university
to finish your degree. Most colleges and universities publish transfer
guides that tell you which programs can be transferred to which schools. For
more information on transfer programs, contact an advisor or talk to your
high school counselor.
Upon completion a program, the school may help you find a job relating to
your field of study. Some programs also lead into apprenticeships, where you
continue your education by working for an experience professional in the
field. Talk to your high school counselor or career center for more
information about apprenticeships and trade schools.
Dental School : A graduate school offering study leading to degrees
in dentistry.
Distance Education : If you do not want to attend a school in person
or if you do not live near an institution, it is still possible for you to
complete a program. Many universities and colleges offer distance education
programs, which allow you to study through correspondence. Some universities
are even beginning to offer distance education programs through the internet
using the Web and E-mail. If you are interested in a distance education
program, contact the school's admissions or distance education office for
details.
Early Action: An early action
program has earlier deadlines and earlier notification dates than the
regular admissions process. Unlike the Early Decision program, the
early action program does not require that a student commit to attending the
school if admitted.
Early Admission: Procedure
used by colleges which allows gifted high-school juniors to skip their
senior year and enroll instead in college. The term "Early Admission" is
sometimes used to refer collectively to Early Action and Early
Decision programs.
Early Decision: Some colleges
offer the option of an early decision to students who meet all entrance
requirements, are certain of the college they wish to attend, and are likely
to be accepted by that college. Students participate in the Early Decision
plan by indicating their desire to participate on their college application.
The decision regarding admission is made by mid-December of the student's
senior year in high school, as opposed to the regular admissions
notification of mid-April. A drawback of the Early Decision program is that
students will have to commit to a school before they find out about the
financial aid packet. A student can apply early decision to only one school.
Full Time Student
is any student who is enrolled for at least 3 Classes (maybe
4 classes depending on the university) per semester.
Full Time Employee is any employee who works for at least 40 hours
per week.
Graduate School : A school in a university offering study leading to
degrees beyond the bachelor's degree.
Law School : A graduate school offering study leading to a law
degree.
Medical School : A graduate school offering study leading to a
medical degree.
Normal School :School for the professional training of teachers,
especially elementary school teachers. The first American private normal
school opened in 1823 as a two-year training institute for elementary school
teachers. The number of schools grew during the late 19th cent., and
beginning in the 1890s, as the need for teachers increased, normal schools
expanded into four-year, degree-granting teacher-training colleges. In the
last half of the 20th cent. teachers colleges expanded their curricula, and
many universities began offering graduate degrees in education.
Open Admissions: Students are admitted regardless of academic
qualifications. The school may require an additional probationary period
during which the student must earn satisfactory grades to ensure continued
enrollment. This is the same as Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment : Policy of
admitting any high school graduate to college in an effort to provide higher
education for all who desire it. To critics this means lowering of
standards, since considerable effort must be devoted to teaching basic
skills. The most ambitious programs were established in California and New
York City. In the 1980s many educational institutions partially reversed
such policies and increased admission requirements. This is the same as Open
Admission.
Out-of-State Student: This
term generally applies to students applying to a public college or
university. Tuition rates are lower for state residents; out-of-state
students must pay a higher rate of tuition until they have established the
legal residency requirements for the state.
Part Time Student
is any student who is enrolled for at least 1 Class per
semester and no more than 2 classes per semester.
Part Time Employee is any
employee who works for at least 1 hour per week but less than 40 hours per
week.
Remediation: Students who are not fully prepared for college
academically are often required to complete remedial classes. The courses
are designed to bring the student up to the level required for satisfactory
college-level performances. Such courses are usually not granted credit
towards graduation.
Rolling Admissions: Students'
applications are considered when all required credentials have been
submitted. There is either no deadline or a very late deadline; qualified
students are accepted until classes are filled. Applicants are notified of
admission continuously throughout the enrollment period.
Selective Admissions:
Procedure used by colleges and universities who admit a set percentage of
their applicants for admission. Minimum academic qualifications are required
along with other qualitative standards.
Trade and Technical Schools :
Trade schools typically offer specialized training in a specific trade or
vocation. Trade and technical schools are typically small schools that focus
specifically on one program, trade, or vocation. Trade and technical schools
do not grant degrees, but usually grant certificates or diplomas. Classes at
these schools are typically small and programs can usually be completed in
two years or less.
Upon completion a program, the school may help you find a job relating to
your field of study. Some programs also lead into apprenticeships, where you
continue your education by working for an experience professional in the
field. Talk to your high school counselor or career center for more
information about apprenticeships and trade schools.
Universities : Institutions of higher education. Universities, which
usually consist of several faculties or colleges, are larger than colleges,
have wider curricula, are involved in research, and grant graduate and
professional as well as undergraduate
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
