Admission Deadlines
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Final date to submit applications for entrance and/or certain programs. These deadlines
may be necessary due to limited enrollment space.
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Early
Action Deadline
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An admission plan similar to early decision in that students
learn early whether a college has admitted them, but unlike
early decision, applicants are not obligated to enroll if
admitted.
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Early
Decision Deadline
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An admission plan that allows students to apply early and
receive an admission decision from the college well in
advance of the usual notification date. Early decision plans
are binding. Applicants must commit in advance to attend the
early decision college if admitted.
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Rolling
Admission Deadline
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Some colleges process an application for admission as soon
as all forms and credentials are received, rather than
announcing all admission decisions on one date. However,
some colleges still have a set date after which no
applications will be reviewed. |
Admission Terms
Open
Admission
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An admission policy that focuses on providing opportunities
and admits an applicant who has graduated from an accredited
secondary school without regard to grade point average, test scores, or class standing.
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Selective
Admission
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An admission policy that considers
academic achievement, recommendations, personal qualities,
test scores, personal interviews, community service,
hobbies, essays, athletic ability, etc. when evaluating
applicants for acceptance.
Colleges that require higher levels of accomplishment are
considered more selective.
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Candidates' Reply Date Policy
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A policy among subscribing colleges which permits candidates to wait to choose, without penalty,
among offers of admission and/or financial aid until May 1.
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CAS (Course Applicability System)
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CAS is a free
web-based source for transfer information. Using this easy system, you can
obtain accurate information about how your courses will transfer and apply
to a degree program. |
Credits / Credit Hour
|
The credit hour is the unit used to measure course work. The
number of credit hours assigned to a course is usually
defined as the number of hours the class meets per week
(e.g. 3 quarter hours = three hours per week of course work
for a 10 or 11 week term; 4 semester hours = four hours per
week of course work for 15 to 17 weeks).
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FAFSA
|
FAFSA (Free Application for
Federal Student Aid) is the
form used to apply for federal
and state financial aid, including grants, loans, and
work-study programs. Colleges may use this form to determine
institutional aid as well. |
Grades/Grade Point Average (GPA)
|
The GPA is the indicator of a student's overall scholastic
performance. A grade point is computed by multiplying the
number of grade points earned in each course (generally, A =
4 points, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0) times the number of
course hours (or credit hours) taken each week. The grade
point average is the total of all grade points divided by
the total of all credit hours.
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Major
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The major is a subject or course of study in which the
student chooses to specialize; a series of related courses,
taken primarily in the junior and senior years.
|
The Tests: Unscrambling the Letters
ACT
|
The ACT measures educational development in English,
mathematics, reading and science reasoning. The optional 30-minute
Writing Test measures skill in planning and writing a short
essay. Check each prospective college's requirements
to see if you must also take the ACT Writing Test. The ACT is given at
specified test centers throughout the year. The composite
test score is made up of the four subject area scores which
range from 1-36. Nearly half of all test takers fall in the
17-23 range. |
AP (Advanced Placement) Tests
|
AP Tests are designed for students who have completed
college level work in high school. They are given in
specific subject areas and are used in determining whether
or not a student is eligible for advanced standing in
college. The tests are given in the spring.
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CLEP (College Level Examination Program)
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CLEP exams are designed primarily for individuals who may
have acquired considerable knowledge outside of school
through a job or experience.
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Credit
By Examination
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Some colleges grant college course credit based upon the
results of AP or CLEP scores, or another examination
developed by the college.
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PLAN
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A comprehensive test for the sophomore high school student
which measures English, mathematics, reading, and science
reasoning. It also provides details about a student’s
interests, educational and career plans, knowledge of study
skills, and needs. In addition, PLAN serves as an ACT
practice test.
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PSAT / NMSQT
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The PSAT is designed to provide a practice experience for
the SAT in the fall of the sophomore and/or junior year. It
also serves to qualify juniors for the National Merit
Scholarship competition only if taken in the junior year.
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SAT
(Reasoning Test)
|
The SAT Reasoning Test is a four-hour test measuring
critical thinking skills given by The College Board at
specified test centers throughout the world.
The SAT Reasoning Test includes a written essay as well as
several multiple choice sections.
The SAT is scored on a scale
of 200-800 for math, verbal and writing parts of the test,
with a total maximum score of 2,400. The average score is
500 for each section of the test. |
SAT
Subject Tests
|
The SAT Subject Tests are one-hour multiple-choice tests which measures
how much a student knows about a given subject. The
tests are offered in over 20 different subjects.
Some colleges require specific test scores to be submitted in
addition to the ACT or SAT Reasoning Test scores. Check each prospective
college's requirements to see if they require any SAT
Subject
tests. |
Transcript
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The transcript is an official record of high school or
college courses and grades, generally required as part of
the college application.
updated 10.5.06
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