Glossary of Terms:
Academics Basic, general areas of study such as English, mathematics,
science, social studies, foreign language, etc., as opposed to strictly
technical or vocational courses. High school success in these core subjects is
used as a predictor of success in college.
Advanced Placement (AP):
A series of exams offered in classroom subject areas in May each year.
Many high schools offer AP courses in many subject areas. Students may earn
from one to eight college credits depending on the score earned on the test.
The colleges determine what credit will be given for specific scores.
Arts and Sciences:
The liberal arts division of the college (usually the largest division).
Liberal arts are not engineering, business, pharmacy, or nursing. They consist
of the humanities; physical, life, and natural sciences; math; and social
science disciplines. Many students apply to the arts and sciences division.
Bright Futures
Scholarship: This is a scholarship awarded by the state of Florida based on
standardized test scores, GPA and community service hours – depending on the
award level. Bright Futures scholarship
money is accepted at all undergraduate colleges/universities in the state of FL
and also at some select colleges/universities in the United States. Students will apply for Bright Futures beginning
on December 1st of their senior year. For more detailed information regarding award
amounts, go to http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/PDF/BFEligibilityAwardChart.pdf
Candidate's Reply
Date: May l has been designated
as the date by which all students must make a commitment to the college he or
she will attend in the fall. Many schools will notify a student of admission
before April l5 (the last date the colleges must inform students about their
applications), but no student seeking admission under Regular Decision need
notify a college of attendance before May l.
CEEB Code: The College Entrance Examination Board is a
nonprofit organization governed by college and secondary school members. CEEB
is the overseeing agency for many tests and services connected with the college
admission process. The six-digit high school code most colleges may ask for is
called a CEEB code. This code is required for SAT/ACT test registration forms
as well as many college applications.
CLEP: The College Level Examination Program
sponsored by the College Board through which students can receive credit for
classwork experiences and on-the-job training. Not all colleges recognize CLEP
credit.
College (as different
from a university) : An
educational institution that offers instruction beyond the high-school level in
a two- or four-year program only (BA or BS), or an academic division of a
university, such as the College of Arts and Sciences.
College Fair: Colleges and universities from around the country attend
college fairs sponsored by a large number of high schools within the MDCPS
system. Most college fairs occur during the first semester around the time of
the large national fair in Fort Lauderdale, while other fairs are scheduled for
February around the time of the Miami National College fair. Colleges attend
high school college fairs to meet students and parents. They answer questions
about their institutions and distribute information about their programs and scholarships.
All Students and their parents are encouraged to attend their high school’s
fair. It is a great way to learn about the college process and expand their
knowledge of the various colleges and opportunities available to them.
College Rep Visit: Many college representatives visit high schools
throughout the school year. Eleventh and twelfth graders are generally encouraged
to sign up to meet with these representatives.
Frequently, these are the same people who read your actual application.
College visits provide a great opportunity to meet and get to know admissions
representatives on a personal basis. Visits like this often provide a personal
insight to the college process that a student may not find elsewhere.
College Scholarship Service (CSS):
The division of the College Board responsible for the PROFILE and the
needs analysis that determines the family's contribution toward payment of a
student's education. The CSS Profile is commonly used by many private colleges
and universities for determining financial need in the awarding of
institutional financial aid.
Combined Studies Program or Dual Degree Program: These terms designate
programs in which a student combines academic interests from more than one
area; for example, a student who is pursuing two separate bachelor's degrees is
in a combined (or dual) degree program. Students who pursue double majors and
major/minor combinations are in combined studies programs.
Common Application: The Common Application is an online form that
can be used to apply to over 400 colleges and universities; college applicants
need to fill out only one form. Many colleges and universities ask you to apply
for admission directly through the common application. Go to www.commonapp.org
to see a list of schools and to apply.
Co-op Program: In a
cooperative education program between a college and a corporation, studio, or
lab, the student attends classes and then works off-campus, for pay, at the
business site in the student's career field to gain experience.
Credits: The unit used for measuring educational accomplishment
based on a given number of classroom periods per class, per week, throughout a
term. Most undergraduate programs require an accumulation of at least l20
credit hours to graduate.
Deferred Admission: A
process by which seniors apply for and are accepted for admission to colleges
during their senior year of high school, but choose to enter as freshmen after
a one-year absence from school. A
deferred admission is a commitment on the part of the college to take the
student; a deferred acceptance is a commitment on the part of the student to
attend after one year. Check with the college for specifics on deferring your
enrollment.
Deferred Admission (second definition): This term is typically used
when a student applies Early Decision to a school and is put in the regular
admission pool to be considered again.
Being deferred does not mean “no” it means “maybe.” This is a wonderful time to update the
college on anything new that has happened since you submitted your initial
application. College Reps want to hear
from you through email. Don’t be shy!
Deposit: An amount of
money that a student must send to the college, once he or she has been
accepted. The deposit indicates that the student accepts the college's offer
and will enroll. The enrollment deposit is nonrefundable. A housing deposit,
also required, is often applied toward the first semester of housing.
Distribution Requirements:
Most colleges won't let students take only history courses or only math
courses; instead, they usually require that a student take some humanities
courses, math courses, language courses, etc., in order to be liberally
educated (i.e., not specialized). Some colleges have a core curriculum that is
very specific about required courses. Almost all require freshman composition
(i.e., English).
Diversity: This can mean
anything from geographic distribution, to socioeconomic backgrounds, to
political leanings, to religious affiliations of the student body. Often,
diversity means the percentage of minority or international students.
Decision Plans:
ˇ
Early
Decision: Many colleges/universities
offer an option to apply by early November and receive an admission decision by
mid-December. Early Decision is a
binding contract. Meaning: if you get into the school, you have to go.
ˇ
Early
Action: Similar to Early Decision, the applicant has the option to apply by
early November and receive an admission decision by mid-December. However, Early Action is not binding. The student has until May 1 to let the
college know if s/he will attend.
ˇ
Regular Decision:
Colleges that use an application deadline usually in or around January.
Students hear decisions by April 1.
ˇ
Rolling
Admission: A college that begins reading applications in August of a
student’s 12th grade, and starts accepting students immediately. Meaning: the earlier you apply to a Rolling
Admission School, the earlier you will hear if you are accepted, and the easier
it will be to gain admission.
ˇ
Spring
Admission: This is an option for that many schools offer for students who
wish to take their first fall semester off to work or perform community
service. This is also sometimes a good option for students who are borderline
in admission criteria.
ˇ
Summer
Admission: This is an option that many schools offer for students who want
to get a head start on their freshman year classes. This is also sometimes a good option for students who are borderline in admission
criteria.
ˇ
ATTENTION
STUDENTS APPLYING TO UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA: UF has an application deadline
of November 1. This is a non-binding
deadline.
ˇ
ATTENTION
STUDENTS APPLYING TO FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY: FSU has TWO deadlines for
admission that vary in exact date from year to year. These are non-binding deadlines. One deadline
is in October (students receive an answer by December) and one is in January
(students receive an answer by March.) The earlier you apply to FSU, the more
of a chance you have in gaining admission.
FAFSA: Federal Student Aid Application. This is an application to
receive money from the government based on family income. All families are encouraged to fill out a
FAFSA as soon as possible after the online application is available January 1st
of their senior year. Please check
specific deadlines with each college/university applying to. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
Fee Waiver: This is a waiver of
payment for the SAT, ACT or for a college application. For more information, please go to the
following websites.
SAT Fee Waiver: http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-fee-waivers
ACT Fee Waiver: http://media.act.org/documents/feewaiver.pdf
NACAC Fee Waiver: http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/feewaiver/Documents/ApplicationFeeWaiver.pdf
FFAA: The Initial Student Florida Financial Aid
Application (FFAA) is available for the fall through spring academic year
awards. The application is required for all state-funded student financial aid
programs, including the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. This
application is NOT the federal application (FAFSA) for student financial
assistance. If you are interested in
student financial aid from the federal government such as PELL Grants, Stafford
loans or PLUS Loans you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA). The actual application can
be found at: https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/ua/sawstua_uaform.asp
. This link may change each year as determined by the OFSA
GPA: (Grade Point
Average) The average of all high school classes you have taken. There are two types of GPA’s: weighted and
un-weighted. Weighted GPA takes into
account any Honors, AP’s or IB classes and gives you extra points for each of
those classes. Un-Weighted GPA only
takes into account your actual grade for each class, regardless of its
level. BOTH GPA’s ARE IMPORTANT. Also be
aware of the GPA recalculation procedures of the college or colleges that you
intend to apply to. For example a majority of our Florida state universities
will recalculate your GPA based solely on your performance in your core and
elective “academic” classes taken. Classes that are considered as
“non-academic” are not considered in the recalculation. The Florida Bright
Futures Scholarship determines GPA eligibility in this manner too. GPA
recalculation may or may not be practiced at other colleges and universities
around the country – so it might be to your advantage to make this question
standard when you meet and talk to college admissions representatives.
One thing is very clear; that
colleges will evaluate your transcripts for academic rigor and how you have
challenged yourself while in high school. The determining factor is how well you
have prepared yourself for college level work. GPA alone is usually not a
consideration. It is how you have challenged yourself in preparation of college
level work.
Grant: An amount of money
given (rather than loaned or earned) to a student for a specified time of study
or research. Certain grants are based on need, as are the federal Pell Grant
and state grants.
Greek Life: Fraternities
and sororities associated with a college or university, including their
sponsored activities.
Group Meeting or Information Meeting: Informational meetings are
often held in cities around the country to give prospective students and their
parents information about a college. They are conducted by an admission
counselor with assistance from college alumni.
International Student: An
international student is a student who is not a citizen or permanent resident
of the United States. Any foreign student residing in or planning to study in
the United States on any type of visa other than a resident alien card is
considered an international student.
Loans: The most commonly
used loans are:
Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan
has the interest paid by the federal government while the student attends
college. Repayment begins six months after completing (or leaving) college.
Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan does not have the interest
paid by the federal government while the student attends college. Interest can
be paid while in college or left to accrue until completing (or leaving)
college.
Federal Perkins Loan Carries the lowest
interest rates and is offered through the college as part of a financial aid
package.
Parent Loan Program (PLUS) Parents borrow
for college expenses; repayment begins 60 days after inception of the loan.
Major: A subject of
academic study chosen as a field of specialization.
Letters of Recommendation: Many, but not all schools require a
counselor recommendation or at least one teacher recommendation for
admission. This is a chance to show a
school how your teachers and counselor see you personally. It is important to
give your counselors and teachers advance notice. To request a counselor recommendation, please
understand the policies of your student services office as well as the
requirements of the teacher that you will be requesting a letter of recommendation
from. A bit of advice: do not send recommendations to schools that do not ask
for them!
National Achievement Scholarship: This is a scholarship awarded by
the National Merit Program. It is
awarded to outstanding Black American students who score in the top 1% of the
state’s graduating 12th graders. http://www.nationalmerit.org/nasp.php
NCAA Eligibility Center, Clearing House. This is an organization that links athletes
to college coaches and vice-versa. By
registering, you are cleared to speak to coaches and coaches are cleared to
speak to you. Register in 11th
grade through: http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.jsp
National Merit
Scholarship: This is a scholarship awarded by the National Merit Program to
students who score in the top 1% of the state’s graduating 12th
graders. http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php
Official Transcript:
Your official record of high school classes taken. Your official transcript
only shows your final grades from each class.
To request an official transcript, visit either your school’s website or
go to directly to your school registrar’s office for information. Depending of
the college or university, transcripts may be sent either electronically, or by
the mail. Please check with your guidance counselor, or your CAP Advisor as to
how to request transcripts.
OFSA: The Office of Student Financial Assistance
(OSFA) State Programs, within the Florida Department of Education, administers
a variety of postsecondary educational state-funded grants and scholarships,
and provides information to students, parents, and high school and
postsecondary professionals.
ˇ
Programs Offered - Click on program name to view
detailed information.
NEED-BASED
|
|
April
1 |
|
April
1 |
|
Institutional
Deadline |
|
Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education Student
Assistance Grant Program |
Institutional
Deadline |
Institutional
Deadline |
|
Institutional
Deadline |
|
Institutional
Deadline |
|
|
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MERIT-BASED
|
|
High
School (HS) Graduation Date |
|
|
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SPECIAL
INTEREST |
|
Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or
Disabled Veterans |
April
1 |
Institutional
Deadline |
|
Institutional
Deadline |
|
Minority Teacher Education Scholarship Program/Florida
Fund for Minority Teachers |
Institutional
Deadline |
Prerequisite: A course required before taking another
course (i.e., French I would normally be required before taking French II).
PSAT: A “practice” standardized test that is similar (but not
identical) to the SAT. Students should begin taking the PSAT in 10th
grade, and again in October of 11th grade. The PSAT is coordinated through your high school. Very
important: The PSAT can qualify you for a National Merit and/or National
Achievement Scholarship. See below for more information.
Reach School: A school that will be difficult to get into based on
their admission criteria.
Residential Campus: A
college that provides or requires on-campus housing for most or all students.
Many colleges require all first-year students (freshmen) to live in college
housing; this is usually referred to as guaranteed housing.
Safety School: A school that will be easy for you to get into based
on your grades and test scores.
Standardized Tests:
ˇ
ACT:
A standardized test that assesses your skills in reasoning. Students should begin to take their ACT in 11th
grade, speak to your counselor for more guidance on exactly when in 11th
grade to start taking the test. Register for ACT through www.actstudent.org
ˇ
SAT:
A standardized test that assesses your skills in reasoning. Students should begin to take their SAT in 11th
grade, speak to your counselor for more guidance on exactly when in 11th
grade to start taking the test. Register for SAT through www.collegeboard.org
ˇ
Subject
Test: A standardized test on a specific subject (i.e.: math, language or
history). Some highly competitive colleges require these tests for admission.
Register at www.collegeboard.org
SAT/ACT Optional: An increasing number of schools have decided to
make the SAT and ACT optional for admission.
A list of these schools can be found at http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional
Scholarships: Merit vs. Financial Need. A merit scholarship is a scholarship based
solely on scholastic, athletic and/or community service performance. Details vary according to scholarship. Need-based financial aid is based solely on
financial need. Both the FAFSA and CSS
Profile are used to determine a family’s ability to pay for college.
Senioritis: A tendency in high school seniors to become so excited
about the end of school and graduation that they spend too much time in social
activities and fail to maintain their grades through the end of their senior
year. Don't let this happen to you!
3-2 Programs: A dual degree program where students complete 3 years
at one college and 2 years at another. The student graduates with two degrees.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): A test offered to assess knowledge of
written and spoken English for students whose native language is not English.
Unified Auditions: To make the audition process to a performing
arts college easier, many colleges/universities partake in unified auditions. These auditions take place in a major city
and students can audition for as many schools as they choose.
University: Latin for the
whole (uni) truth (veritas), this term refers to an academic organization that
grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of fields and supports
at least two degree-granting professional schools that are not exclusively
technological (such as medicine, journalism, or agriculture) and is composed of
a number of schools or colleges, each of which encompasses a general field of
study.
Viewbook: A viewbook
contains a broad range of information about a particular college or university,
such as the size of the student body, the size and quality of the faculty,
information about the faculty, information about life on campus, and certain
specific information about the courses of study available at the school. Other
information is sometimes needed to supplement viewbook information for a
particular specialization.
Wait List or Alternate List:
The number of qualified candidates at a selective college who initially
receive neither a letter of acceptance nor a letter of denial, but who may be
offered a place in the freshman class after the Candidates' Reply Date if the
class is nor filled by those initially offered admission. Some colleges may go
to the Wait List as late as July or even August. Students who receive a Wait
List letter may be asked if they want to remain on it.
Work-Study: A special
federally sponsored college program combining class hours and work hours on the
campus. Pay is usually minimum wage or slightly above for approximately l0-l5
hours per week. The earnings from the job are used as part of a financial aid
plan to help pay for tuition and other college expenses.
This reference information, was combined by several CAP Advisors
in M-DCPS. Very useful and informative.