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Accommodation: Students with documented disabilities may arrange to take certain examinations (ACT, AP, PLAN, PSAT, SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests) under special circumstances. These include: extended time; nonstandard-format exams (such as Braille and photo-enlarged); permission to use a Braille device, computer, typewriter, or magnifying device; a reader to dictate questions; a writer to record responses; and/or a sign language interpreter to give directions. Visit the ACT website or College Board website for more information.

Accreditation: A "stamp of approval" endorsement given to an educational institution by an organization that reviews and verifies that the institution meets a minimum set of educational requirements. Businesses typically expect their employees to have earned degrees from accredited colleges and universities; degrees from non-accredited schools may be regarded as little better than high school diplomas.

Acronyms: Things you'll get used to when you start preparing for college! They're formed from the first letters of a series of words, and you'll encounter them everywhere. For an example, read the definition of SAR, below.

ACT: The ACT assessment is a three-hour college entrance examination comprised of subtests in four academic areas (English, mathematics, science, and reading). A writing subtest, which will include a student-produced essay, will be added to the ACT in the spring of 2005. Scores are reported on a scale of 1-36 for each subtest and for a composite score (the average of the four subtest scores). The ACT composite score can be used in the college admissions process, and some colleges award college credit for high ACT subtest scores (refer to each college's Catalog for more information). Learn more about the ACT, or register to take an ACT exam, at the ACT's website. Fee waivers for economically-disadvantaged students are distributed by high school counselors.

AP (Advanced Placement): AP classes are college-level courses in nineteen selected subjects; they are offered in high schools throughout the United States. Comprehensive AP examinations, which test students on material learned in AP classes, are administered by the College Board and offered every May. Each exam is approximately three hours in length. AP exam scores are sent to students' home addresses in July. Exam results are reported on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 is highest), and some colleges and universities will extend college credit and/or grant advanced course placement for high AP scores (refer to each college's catalog for more information). Many students find that AP classes are a relatively inexpensive way to take college courses; for the price of a single exam (currently $82.00), they may earn three to six hours of college credit. Fee waivers for economically-disadvantaged students are distributed by high school counselors. Academically-accelerated students may take AP exams even if they have not participated in AP classes. Learn more about the AP program at the College Board's website.

Appeal letter: A letter, written by a student or parent to the financial aid office of a college or university, that asks an institution to consider unusual financial circumstances or hardships affecting the student's need for additional financial assistance.

Applicant Pool: The total group of students who apply to a college or university in a particular year. Associate Degree (or Associate's Degree): A two-year degree, usually offered only by community or junior colleges, conferred upon students who have earned at least 60 credit hours and followed a prescribed course of study. Associate degrees usually qualify recipients for partially-skilled professions or for transfer to four-year institutions where they may continue studying towards a bachelor degree.

Audit: To attend a college class just to learn about the subject. Auditors neither take exams nor receive credit for the class.

Award Letter: A letter from a college or university that describes the amount and type of financial aid that institution can offer a particular student.

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Baccalaureate Degree: A four-year degree from a college, university or professional school; usually requires at least 124 credit hours. Common degrees are Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.). Can be used interchangeably with Bachelor's Degree.

Bachelor Degree (or Bachelor's Degree): A four-year degree from a college, university or professional school; usually requires at least 124 credit hours. Common degrees are Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.). Can be used interchangeably with Baccalaureate Degree.

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Candidate Reply Date (also called National Reply Date): Sponsored by the College Board, this agreement establishes a common date, May 1 of every year, as the earliest time a subscribing college may require accepted applicants to notify the college that they plan to attend that school.

Candidate Notification Date: The date by which an institution announces its decision on a student's application (the vast majority of colleges send notifications by April 15).

CEEB (College Entrance Examination Board): Founded in 1900, the College Entrance Examination Board was originally a membership group composed of 12 post-secondary institutions. Today, the CEEB is commonly called "the College Board". Students will frequently be asked for their high school's CEEB number, also sometimes called the "high school code number". Every accredited high school in the United States has a unique number.

COA (Cost Of Attendance): A student's Cost Of Attendance is the estimated total cost of attending college. It includes tuition, fees, room (dormitory), board (food), books, supplies, student loan fees, transportation to and from school, dependent care costs, and miscellaneous reasonable expenses while attending college. The school estimates the cost of attendance within guidelines established by federal statue. The COA is compared to a student's expected family contribution (EFC) to determine that student's need for financial aid.

College Search: Most high school students are unfamiliar with the tremendous variety of excellent colleges and universities in the United States. With over 2500 four-year institutions to choose from, there truly is a great school (or, actually, several great schools!) for every student. On-line college search engines can help students explore their individual interests and find schools that best meet their needs. The surfing process takes a little time, but it's informative and fun. Good search engines can be found at the College Board and College Data web sites.

Course Numbers: Numbers assigned to specific classes. Usually these numbers will include codes for class level (first-year, fourth year, etc.), hours of college credit, etc. Refer to a college's Catalog for an explanation of the codes.

Credit Hours: Credit given for successfully completing college classes. Originally, each credit hour corresponded to one hour spent in the class every week. A lecture class, for example, that met for one hour every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, would carry three credit hours. This correspondence is no longer always certain, and colleges in other parts of the United States may award credit differently. In Texas, most college classes carry three or four credit hours.

CSS/Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile): A financial aid form, administered by the College Board, that some colleges and universities require of all Early Action and Early Decision applicants who seek financial aid (some colleges may require it of all applicants). Whereas the FAFSA can only be completed after a family has filed its annual income tax return, the CSS/Profile can be completed any time, and it allows the college to estimate each student's financial need and EFC. For more information, or to register for the CSS/Profile, go to the College Board's website. Note that the CSS/Profile may be expected in addition to the FAFSA, not instead of it. A completed FAFSA will still be required of every student who requests financial aid.

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Deadlines: Each college and university establishes its own deadlines, not only for application documents, but for academic options that occur every semester. High school seniors should be very vigilant about noting and meeting each college's admission and financial aid deadlines.

Deferred Admission: A program that allows an accepted student to postpone enrollment in college for one year for personal reasons (travel, work, personal hardship, etc.). Two stipulations usually apply: the student may not enroll in another institution during the intervening year, and the student must pay a commitment deposit before the deferral can be granted (also see Gap Year, below).

Degree: A certificate of completion of a course of study. Most four-year colleges in Texas confer degrees to students who have successfully completed all the academic requirements for that degree (typically 124 or more college credits).

Degree Plan: A specific list of required courses and electives that must be successfully completed before a student can be awarded a degree.

Demonstrated Interest: A concept in college admissions by which applicants take an active role in demonstrating to a college or university that he or she is very interested in attending that school. Colleges tend to favor students who have "gone the extra mile" to let the school know that it is the student's first choice institution. Students can (and should!) demonstrate interest by doing more than is minimally required when applying to a college - they may, for instance, visit the school at least once (be sure to register every visit with the school's Office of Admission), write an extra letter or send an email, join college-sponsored chat rooms, seek an interview at the college or with an alumnus, etc. At the very least, students should always write thank-you-notes when they are appropriate.

Distance Learning: Classes offered over the Internet instead of in a traditional classroom (also see Web-based classes).

Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP): This program, for high school students who are Texas residents, requires advanced schoolwork that reflects college- or professional-level skills. To earn this honor, students must complete any combination of four of the advanced "measures" listed below:

Texas resident students who complete the DAP and can demonstrate financial need may qualify for up to $1500 per year in financial aid from the Texas Grant program. See the College for Texans website for more information.

Doctoral Degree (or Doctorate Degree): Also known as the Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.), even if the field of study is not philosophy. A Ph.D. is the most advanced academic degree that one can earn. Terminal degrees in other, "professional" fields include M.D. (Doctor of Medicine), J.D. (Doctor of Jurisprudence [law]), D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), etc.

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Early Admission: A program by which colleges accept applicants who have not yet graduated from high school. Admission standards are usually very stringent for early admission applicants.

Early Action: A non-binding admission plan by which students may apply to a particular college before the regular application deadline. The benefit of this program is that an applicant will learn of the college's decision sooner than April. Early Action applicants, if accepted, are not required to attend the school, and have until May 1 to decide.

Early Decision: A binding application plan by which students may apply early (October or November) to a particular college and learn of the college's decision in December or January. Students may apply to only ONE institution as an Early Decision candidate, and if accepted by that institution, they MUST immediately withdraw all other applications and commit to that school. This application plan is suggested only for students who are very certain of their choice of school. A student can be released from this ED commitment ONLY if the financial aid package he or she is offered is substantially inadequate for the student's financial need.

EFC (Expected Family Contribution): The amount, determined by a federal formula, that a student's family is expected to contribute toward the cost of his or her college education. The EFC is determined for purposes of federal financial aid programs. It will be printed on the front of the Student Aid Report (SAR) or the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR).

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Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program: The Stafford (subsidized and unsubsidized), federal Plus, and federal Consolidation Loan programs. Private lenders provide funding for these programs, which the U.S. government guarantees.

Fees: Incidental costs related to college attendance. These may include Student Use fees, Facility fees, Student Activity fees, parking fees, etc.

Fee Waivers: Students from economically-disadvantaged families may be exempted from registration fees for certain exams (i.e., ACT, SAT) and for college application fees if they first obtain fee waivers from their high school counselors. Fee waivers are usually in the form of a certificate or code number.

FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid): A form that is completed and filed by a student (or his or her family) that collects family income and other financial information, including the family's current income tax return. This information is processed by the federal government to calculate the student's expected family contribution (EFC).

Freshmen: Students who have successfully completed less than 30 hours of college credit. Most first-year college students are freshmen.

Full-time: Students who enroll for twelve or more credit hours per semester, or four or more classes, are considered full-time students.

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Gap Year: Some students choose to take a year off between high school and college; this is called a Gap Year. Good reasons to take advantage of a Gap Year include working to earn extra money for college; taking advantage of an unusual opportunity to travel, learn a new skill, or perform community service; taking time to gain more maturity, etc. Students who are interested in pursuing a Gap Year should nonetheless apply to colleges in their senior year of high school, following normal application procedures. Upon acceptance by a college or university, the student may then request deferred admission status during the Gap Year (see Deferred Admission, above).

GPA: Grade Point Average: A mathematical average of a student's cumulative grades in all college coursework, usually based on a 4.0 scale.

Grants: Student financial aid that does not require repayment; sometimes known as "free money". Grants are usually bestowed upon students who can demonstrate either extraordinary talent or financial need.

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IB (International Baccalaureate): The International Baccalaureate Organization is a non-profit educational organization, established in 1968, that offers college-level coursework at selected high schools. High school juniors and seniors at participating IB schools can sign up for a single IB class or for the full IB Diploma Program, in which case all their academic classes will follow the IB curriculum. IB exams are administered in May, and their results are mailed to students' home addresses in July. Some colleges and universities offer college credit or advanced course placement for students who have earned high scores on IB exams; check your college's Catalog for more information. To learn more about the IB program, visit their website.

Internship: A work opportunity, usually lasting several months, that relates to a student's field of study; some internships are paid (the student receives a salary) and others are unpaid. Internships may be required in some academic programs and may carry college credit.

Junior: A student who has successfully completed 60 to 89 hours of college credit.

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Liberal Arts: Academic disciplines, such as languages, literature, history, philosophy, mathematics, and science, that provide information of general cultural concern: "The term 'liberal arts' connotes a certain elevation above utilitarian concerns. Yet liberal education is intensely useful" (George F. Will). Whereas some courses of study can be considered more vocational in nature (e.g., engineering, computer science), the liberal arts disciplines may appeal to students who are more interested in intellectual inquiry. In the Middle Ages, the liberal arts were understood to consist of seven disciplines: the quadrivium (geometry, astronomy, arithmetic, and music) and the trivium (grammar, logic, and rhetoric). Some business consider that a study of the liberal arts makes employees valuable because it teaches them thinking and reasoning skills; other businesses are more interested in employees with vocational preparation.

Loans: Financial assistance that must be repaid.

Long Session: The regular fall and spring semesters are called "long sessions".

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Major: A student's concentrated field of study. Some colleges require that students declare majors before they can be admitted to the school; others require students to choose a major before the end of the sophomore year.

Master Degree (or Master's Degree): A post-graduate degree that usually requires two or more years of study beyond the Baccalaureate Degree.

Minor: A student's secondary field of study. At some colleges and universities, students are not required to declare a minor.

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National Merit: A scholarship program offered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The qualifying examination for National Merit scholarships is the PSAT/NMSQT administered in October of the junior year of high school. Every year, approximately one million high school juniors take the PSAT/NMSQT. Of these, about 50,000 whose Selection Index scores (see PSAT, below) are high will be designated High Scorers. From the High Scorer pool, about 16,000 students (the top scorers in each state) will be designated National Merit Semifinalists - the other 34,000 High Scorers will be designated National Merit Commended Scholars. Semifinalists are invited to apply for Finalist status; approximately 90% of Semifinalists advance to the Finalist level. Half of all Finalists will ultimately be offered scholarships and therefore become National Merit Scholars. The rewards of Semifinalist and Finalist status are many, and can range from annual scholarships of $500 to full scholarships at universities that wish to attract outstanding students to their campuses. The process is somewhat complicated; please visit the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website for more information.

Non-resident: Any student whose permanent residence is in another state, or who does not meet specific state residency requirements. Tuition at state-sponsored colleges and universities is usually substantially higher for non-resident students.

Need Analysis: The process of analyzing family financial information to calculate the expected family contribution (EFC).

Open Admissions: An admission process that allows virtually all applicants to be accepted, without regard to such traditional qualifying criteria as test scores, class rank, grades, etc.

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Part-time: Students who enroll for fewer than twelve credit hours per semester are considered to be part-time students.

Pell Grants: Student financial aid that is awarded according to strict rules set by the U.S. government. Students who meet eligibility requirements can receive Pell Grant aid directly from their colleges, which will be reimbursed by the government.

PLAN: Sponsored by ACT, the PLAN is an assessment test administered to tenth grade students. The test's format is similar to that of the ACT, but the score range is 1-32. PLAN results can be used to assess individual academic progress and career interests. For more information, visit the ACT website.

Prerequisite: A course that must be successfully completed before a student may enroll in another course. For instance, English 101 may be a prerequisite for English 202; in that case, no student can enroll in 202 unless he or she has first successfully completed 101.

Private University: A college or university that is not financially dependent upon state funding, but relies on funds from private donors and tuition. Private schools do not usually discount tuition for resident students.

Profile: See CSS/Profile, above.

Provisional Admission: An admission decision by which an applicant may earn formal admission to a college only if he or she meets certain preliminary requirements. These requirements may include the successful completion of college coursework during a summer session or at a community college, limitations on the number of courses the student may take each semester, etc. Provisional admission policies vary from school to school.

PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test): Sponsored by the College Board, the PSAT is an examination, administered every October, composed of verbal, math, and writing subtests. Each section is graded on a scale of 20-80. A composite score, the selection index, is composed of the sum of subtest scores. Students may take the test any year of high school, but they are strongly encouraged to take the test in October of their junior year. The junior year PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying examination for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation; students who earn high scores may receive substantial financial merit awards for college.

Public University: A state-funded college or university. Tuition rates at public schools are usually discounted for resident students.

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Recommended High School Program: The RHSP, which consists of a minimum of 24 high school credits, offers students in Texas public high schools excellent opportunities to succeed in college. The RHSP has been the default curriculum for Texas public high school students since 2005. Texas resident students who complete the RHSP and can demonstrate financial need may qualify for up to $1500 per year in financial aid from the Texas Grant program. See the College for Texans website for more information.

Registrar: The record-keeper at a college or university. Among other things, the Registrar's office processes course Registration information, tracks course grades and cumulative GPAs, and certifies and mails transcripts.

Registration: The process by which college students enroll in college classes.

Resident: A student whose permanent residence is within a state, or who has resided in the state long enough to meet residency requirements. At state-supported schools, residents receive reduced tuition rates.

Rolling Admission: An admission practice wherein colleges and universities evaluate applications throughout the year, as they are received. Schools that offer rolling admissions usually notify applicants of their decisions within three to four weeks.

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SAT Reasoning Test (or SAT): Administered by the College Board, the SAT is a three hour, forty-five minute college entrance examination whose purpose is to evaluate students' preparedness for the rigors of college coursework. The SAT measures reading and math reasoning skills and writing skills, and reports separate critical reading, math and writing subtest scores on a scale of 200 to 800. A "total" SAT score is computed by adding the three subtest scores, with 2400 being a perfect score. Economically-disadvantaged students may qualify for up to two fee waivers for the SAT, which may be obtained from high school counselors. Please visit the College Board's website for more information about the SAT, or to register for the exam.

SAT Subject Tests: Administered by the College Board, these one-hour exams measure knowledge and skills in specific subjects; they are basically achievement tests. Scores are reported on a scale of 200 to 800. Selective colleges often require applicants to submit scores from two or three SAT Subject Tests. They may also use SAT Subject Test scores to grant course credit or advanced placement. Economically-disadvantaged students may qualify for fee waivers for SAT Reasoning Tests, which may be obtained from high school counselors. Please visit the College Board's website for more information about SAT Subject Tests, or to register for the exams.

Scholarships: Student financial aid that does not require repayment; sometimes known as "free money". Scholarships are usually awarded to students who can demonstrate extraordinary talent or academic ability.

Selective Admission: Certain college and universities receive significantly more applications every year than they have spaces available for new students; in this case, the schools can practice selective admission policies. This means that they can set high standards for applicants—very high SAT and SAT Subject Tests scores, very high GPAs in difficult high school classes, etc. In some cases, selective colleges may be forced to deny admission to many qualified applicants just by virtue of their numbers.

Semester Hours: See credit hours.

Senior: A student who has successfully completed at least 90 hours of college credit but has not yet earned a Baccalaureate Degree.

SFA Programs: Administered by the office of Student Financial Assistance Programs within the U.S. Department of Education: Pell Grants, federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity grants, federal work study, federal Perkins loans, federal Direct Stafford/Ford loans, federal Direct Plus loans, federal Stafford loans, federal Plus loans, and state Student Incentive grants.

Sophomore: A student who has successfully completed 30 to 59 college credit hours.

SAR (Student Aid Report): A federal document sent to a student by an application processor. The SAR contains financial and other information reported by the student (or the student's family) on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. That information is processed by a computer system that produces the SAR. The student's eligibility for aid is indicated by the EFC, which is printed on the front of the SAR.

Summer Session: A summer term of five or six weeks.

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TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) Administered by the Texas Education Agency, the TAKS test is required by Texas state law. Exit-level TAKS tests are administered to high school students in the spring of their junior year. A student must earn passing grades on all four subtests (English language arts, science, math, and social studies) in order to receive a Texas high school diploma.

THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment): Students enrolling in a Texas public two-year or four-year college or university must pass the THEA or an authorized alternative examination. The THEA (formerly called the TASP) consists of three subtests (reading, math, and writing). Any student who fails a section of the test will be offered remedial courses in that subject by the college. Students are encouraged to take the THEA in the spring of their senior year in high school.

Students who earn high scores on the ACT, SAT, or TAAS exam may be exempted from the THEA. Please consult the college you will be attending to find out their policies on THEA exemption.

Teleregistration: Registration for college classes by telephone.

Texas Grant: A state program that provides grants of up to $4,392 per year for well-qualified Texas college students who can demonstrate financial need. For more information, go to the College for Texans website.

Tuition: The cost of college or university classes. Tuition costs do not include certain additional fees; for example: food, dormitory, books, supplies, parking, facility, student use fees are usually at additional cost.

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Verification: A procedure whereby a college checks the information reported on a student's FAFSA, usually by requesting a copy of signed income tax returns filed by the student, the student's parent(s), and/or the student's spouse.

Waiting List (or Wait List): An institution's list of students that, while not granted admission by mid-April, may still be accepted by that school if space becomes available.

Web-Based Classes: Classes offered over the Internet instead of in a traditional classroom (see Distance Learning).

Web Registration: Registration for college classes, performed on the Internet.

Work-Study Program: A federal financial aid program that allows students to earn money for tuition by working in some capacity on their college campuses.

Yield: The number of accepted students who actually enroll at an institution.

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