TESTS: Standardized tests given by the College Board
in specific high school subjects. Colleges look at scores when making
decisions about admission and course placement. These tests are
not required by most schools.
A standardized admission test. See American College Testing
REQUIREMENTS: Students wanting to attend a specific college
must meet requirements (high school grade point average, standardized
test scores, high school courses, etc.) to be considered for admission.
CREDIT: Some colleges offer tests for advanced college
credit. Students who receive a high score can earn credit in specific
PLACEMENT: Tests given at the end of an Advanced Placement
course taken in high school. Students with high scores on these
tests can be placed in upper-level college courses and may receive
credit for beginning-level courses.
OR EARLY REGISTRATION: A period of time set by most colleges
during which students can register early for classes.
Algebra is the most basic branch of mathematics. It explains the
laws that govern the other branches. Branches include arithmetic,
geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. Simple algebra is concerned
with the "laws" of arithmetic. For example, we can multiply
two numbers either way and get the same answer. Source: Children's
Encyclopedia Britannica vol.1, p.159, 1989.
People who have graduated from a school.
COLLEGE TESTING (ACT) PROGRAM: A company that produces
standardized admissions tests, including the ACT and PLAN. See Standardized
FEE: A charge to process a student's application. In
some cases, this fee is waived if a student shows financial need.
A training program, like carpentry or welding, that results
in certified skills for a trade. Apprentices are usually paid for
AGREEMENTS: An agreement between two schools that allows
course credit to be accepted or transferred and be applied toward
a degree or certificate.
& SCIENCES: A grouping of academic studies that may
include fine arts, languages, social sciences, natural sciences,
and humanities. The group may be called a division, college, or
school; for example, the School of Arts and Sciences.
INSTRUCTOR (AI): A graduate student who helps a professor.
An AI may teach introductory classes, grade papers, or lead discussion
sessions; may also be called a Teaching Assistant or TA.
DEGREE: The degree granted by colleges after students
complete a two-year, full-time program of required courses, or its
part-time equivalent. These degrees are offered by many types of
colleges, including junior colleges, technical colleges and colleges
and universities that offer bachelor's degrees.
OR BACHELOR'S DEGREE: The degree granted by a college
after students have satisfactorily completed a four or five year,
full-time program of required courses, or its part-time equivalent.
OF TRUSTEES: The policy-making and governing body of
A smaller version of a college catalog; describes aspects of
a particular college or university.
The person in charge of money at a college. Students pay the
bursar tuition and room and board.
A branch of mathematics divided into two general fields: differential
calculus and integral calculus. Differential calculus can be used
to find rates of change, like orbits of planets, satellites, and
spacecraft. Integral calculus is a method of calculating quantities
by splitting them up into a large number of small parts. It can
be used to find the surface area of irregular objects. You can find
out the total surface area of your car (even the round parts) by
using integral calculus. Source: Children's Encyclopedia Britannica
vol. 3, p. 308-309, 1989.
How a school divides the academic year for classes and grading.
Calendars usually run from August to May or September to June. School
years are usually divided into quarters, semesters, or trimesters.
The grounds, class buildings, and residence halls of a college.
CLUSTER: A group of jobs or career areas that are similar
or require some of the same skills.
PLAN: A set of steps to be followed over a period of
time to get a desired job.
Book about a specific college that contains general information
about classes, faculty, costs, and admission and degree requirements.
Certificates granted by colleges after completion of study for
a specific occupation.
OF TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT: A certificate, similar to a
report card that can be updated during and after high school, awarded
to students who master specific technical skills and knowledge.
The highest administrator of an academic department; is usually
Chief administrator of a college campus.
The study of the elements, the compounds they form, and the reactions
they undergo. Chemists try to discover new, useful compounds. They
do their work by using the results of experiments to prove their
GROUP: A community organization or club that usually
wants to improve life in the community.
Both men and women being included in a facility, for instance
being able to attend the college or live in a residence hall.
A school offering studies that lead to an academic degree. A
college can be part of a larger university system.
SCHOLARSHIP SERVICE: This service processes a supplemental
financial aid application called the Profile. Some colleges and
universities require The Profile in addition to other financial
aid forms. See Profile Application.
WORK-STUDY PROGRAM: A form of financial aid in which
students earn money by working part time at their college. Students
apply for work-study by filling out the FAFSA. See Free Application
for Federal Student Aid
Graduation ceremony to recognize students who have completed
COLLEGE: See Junior College.
STUDENT: A student who lives at home or somewhere off
campus and must drive or take public transportation to attend class.
ADMISSION POLICY: An admission policy in which a college
only admits students who meet certain requirements.
ADMISSION: A college may admit students who have not
met all the admission requirements. To remain, these students must
fulfill specified requirements before or during their enrollment.
Arrangement between schools that enables students who attend
one school to go to class and use resources at another school.
EDUCATION (CO-OP EDUCATION): A program in which a student
combines employment and study in a career field.
CLASSES: Classes that all students in a major program
are required to take.
40: Required program of study for all students in Indiana
A class taken with a related course.
COURSE: A class where students receive lessons in the
mail and send completed assignments to instructors. Correspondence
is an example of independent study. See Independent Study.
Another name for "class."
EVALUATION: A survey usually given at the end of a semester.
Students give their opinions about the instructor and the course.
Number: Numbers assigned to courses to show their level
of difficulty or depth/breadth of study. A 100-level course is less
difficult or broader in scope than a 200-level courses.
How schools measure students' progress toward a diploma or a
degree. For a semester, three hours of credit for one college class
The available courses in a program of study.
The highest officer of a division, college, or school, such
as Dean of Education.
a Major: Officially tell a college your major, or area
of study. See Major.
Admission: A college may accept a student but then allow
the student to delay coming to the school for one year.
Points: These indicate unsatisfactory classwork. Students
with these can be put on academic probation or dismissed from school.
After finishing a program of study at a college, students receive
an academic title, for example, a Bachelor of Arts degree from XYZ
A specific area of study in a larger college or school. For
example, French is a department in the School of Arts and Sciences.
An official piece of paper given by colleges and high schools
to students when they complete a specific course of study.
A field of study. See Major.
Section: Some classes have two types of meetings. One
is when the professor lectures. The other, the discussion section,
is when a small group of students meets to discuss the lecture.
Discussions are usually led by a graduate student called an Assistant
Instructor or Teaching Assistant.
Students can be dismissed or expelled for consistently poor
grades or breaking rules.
Education: Classes taught over satellite or local television,
through the Internet, by video tape or CD ROM, and by correspondence.
Some may be regularly scheduled; others may be taken when most convenient
for the student's schedule.
Requirements: See General Education Requirements.
The highest university degree, also called a doctorate or doctor
of philosophy (Ph.D.). Physicians receive a Medical Doctorate (M.D.),
while lawyers receive a Juris Doctorate (J.D.)
Dormitory. See Residence Hall.
Major: Meet requirements for two majors. See Major.
or Concurrent Enrollment: Some colleges enroll high achieving
high school students in college courses that may fulfill both high
school and college graduation requirements. Students need the permission
from the high school principal or guidance counselor and admission
to a college.
Admission: Students can take the necessary standardized
tests and apply early in their senior year for admission to some
An optional class, instead of required.
Faculty: Honored faculty members, usually retired from
To officially select classes. See Registration.
A course requirement that is fulfilled by passing an exam in
Activities: Activities that occur outside the classroom.
See Free Application For Federal Student Aid
The teachers, professors, and instructors who teach at schools.
Pell Grant: A college federal financial aid grant program.
Students apply by filling out the FAFSA.
Perkins Student Loan: A low-interest loan for students
who show financial need. It must be repaid after graduation. Students
apply by filling out the FAFSA.
PLUS (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) and/or Federal Direct
PLUS: Financial aid processed through a bank, other lending
agency, or college or university to help pay for college. These
loans must be repaid with interest and are not deferred.
Stafford Loan and Direct Ford Loan: Student financial
aid processed through a bank and/or a college. A student must be
enrolled in a college degree program at least part time to receive
a Stafford Loan. Loans must be paid back with interest after a student
leaves school. This was formerly called Guaranteed Student Loan;
it requires a completed FAFSA.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG): Federal
grant for students with exceptional need. Apply by filling out a
Unsubsidized Stafford/Direct Unsubsidized Ford Loan: Similar
to a Federal Stafford Loan, except interest is paid by the student
Money charged by a college for services provided to a student.
Fees are often charged for lab materials and recreational facilities.
Waiver: A written statement that says that the student
does not have to pay a certain fee. Some scholarships give fee waivers
Week: Time at the end of the semester when classes do
not meet and final tests are given.
Aid: Federal, state, college, and private programs which
help students pay for college costs. Financial aid can be in the
form of grants and scholarships, loans, or work-study programs.
Aid Counselor: A college staff member who helps students
and parents fill out financial aid forms and processes financial
A group of people sharing a common interest. Academic or business
fraternities may be coeducational. Social fraternities are usually
for men only. See Greek Organizations, Rush, Sorority.
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): The required
application for federal, state, and institutional financial aid.
Students must file their applications between January 1 and March
1 of the year the student plans to attend college.
Student: A student who carries a minimum number
of credits or hours to be considered "full time" by a
college. The number of credits considered to be a full-time load
can vary from college to college.
or 4-4-1: Calendar used by some colleges. There are two
regular semesters of four months, with one month long semester between
or following them.
Educational Development Tests (GED Tests): Tests that
measure the knowledge and skills usually learned in high school.
A person who passes the GED tests has the equivalent of a high school
Education Requirements: Many colleges require students
to take a variety of classes in different academic areas. For example,
they may require a certain number of courses in science, foreign
language, and math.
Geometry comes from two Greek words meaning "earth measurement."
Geometry began as a study of how to measure the Earth (as in map-making)
or to measure the Earth in relation to the rest of the universe
(as in astronomy). Geometry today is more a study of physical spaces
in general. For example, geometry can be used to figure out the
area of a house or a football field. Geometry is very important
in the design and manufacturing of most products. Children's
Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 8, p. 101-102, 1989.
Aid: Financial aid that is not repaid, such as grants
Point Average (GPA): A system for evaluating the overall
scholastic performance of students. A student's GPA is found by
dividing the sum of grade points by the number of course work credits
or hours. Grades are often measured on a four-point scale in which
four equals `A,' three equals `B,' etc. This is called grade points.
Total points are found by multiplying the number of hours for a
course by the student's grade point.
A person who receives a certificate, degree, or diploma from
Assistant (GA): A GA helps a professor with research
or works for an academic department. GA's usually receive a salary
and reduced tuition.
Student: A student who has received a bachelor's degree
and is working on an advanced degree such as a master's or doctoral
Financial aid based on student need; it is not repaid.
Organizations: Social organizations named by Greek letters
that students can join. These organizations often engage in social
and charity events. Members of Greek organizations frequently live
together in a "Greek House." See Rush, Fraternity,
Student Loan (GSL): See Federal Stafford Loan.
Education: See Postsecondary Education.
Code: A code that categorizes a person's interests and
can be used to match these interests to career possibilities.
Organizations to which students are nominated for membership
due to high grades, outstanding school service or both.
Living arrangements for students at colleges or private secondary
The branches of learning concerned with human thought and relations,
especially literature, philosophy, fine arts, and history.
Card (ID): Card issued to identify a student. ID's are
often required for borrowing library books or for admission into
College: A college or other school which is not supported
by a state. Some independent colleges have a religious affiliation
or are single sex schools.
Study: Studying a subject for credit but not in an organized
class. Examples are correspondence courses, video or computer instruction,
and student-instructor meetings. See Correspondence Course.
Major: See Student-designed Major.
Interview: An interview to find out about a job or career,
such as the training needed for it and the responsibilities of it.
An established organization; in the education field, it is a
school, college, or university.
A non-tenured teacher at a school. See Tenure.
Any competition or activity taking place between different colleges.
Programs or courses using knowledge from two or more academic areas.
Inventory: An exercise or set of exercises used to identify
possible areas of career fit.
Class credit given to students who work at jobs on or off campus.
Students get practical experience in their major.
Sports: Athletic activities between a school's students.
Shadowing: Time spent (a few hours or a day) with someone
who is at work. This time is used to better understand what people
do in that job.
College: Colleges that offer programs (usually two years
or less for full-time students) that prepare students for immediate
employment, or for transfer to college or university offering bachelor's
House: A student residence where a foreign language is
spoken. Students who want to learn German might live in a "German
Arts: A school or course of study which focuses on developing
students' general knowledge and reasoning ability instead of a specific
career; the result is often considered to be a well-rounded, general
education in the arts and sciences.
Financial aid that must be repaid with interest after a student
Subject areas such as anthropology, economics, or geology in
which students take many classes; an area of interest in which students
earn a degree.
Degree: An advanced college degree earned after a bachelor's
degree, usually taking two years for a full-time student to complete.
To register or enroll in a college.
A person who gives advice and help.
An area of interest studied at the same time as a major. It
is rarely in the same department as a major and requires fewer classes
than a major.
Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Negro Students:
A scholarship program for African-Americans only, similar to the
National Merit Scholarships and based on junior year PSAT scores.
See National Merit Scholarships.
Direct Student Loan (NDSL): See Federal Perkins Student
Merit Scholarships: These competitive scholarships are limited
in number and are offered by corporations and colleges. Winners
are determined by PSAT scores and other criteria.
Form: A form, filled out by the student and/or family members,
used to determine the amount of financial aid the student can receive.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a need analysis
form. See FAFSA.
See National Merit Scholarships, Preliminary Scholastic Assessment
Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
Degree: A degree, usually an associate's degree, that cannot
be counted as credit toward more education, like a bachelor's degree,
at the same or a different college. See Transferable Degree.
Outlook: A prediction of the number of job openings there
will be at a certain time for specific jobs.
Training: Education and training to prepare the student for
a particular occupation.
In education, hours set aside by an instructor to meet with
In education, a person who acts on behalf of students and others
in the school community who have difficulties with the school.
Training: Training provided for employees while they are learning
a job; employee creates a product or provides a service, while being
Policy (Open Door Policy): Admission policy where anyone with
a high school diploma or its equivalent can take classes.
Programs to help new students and parents get to know a school.
Orientation usually takes place before or at the beginning of the
Student: A student enrolled in a number of course credits or
hours that are less than full time. Usually, this is less than twelve
credits or hours a semester.
Kappa: A national honor society recognizing academic excellence
in liberal arts. See Honoraries.
An organization that donates time and money. A philanthropic
organization may donate money or service to organizations and individuals.
The science of the properties and interactions of matter and
test taken to prepare for the ACT. See American College Testing
Program and Standardized Admissions Tests.
A file of materials created by a student that displays and explains
skills, talents, experiences and knowledge gained throughout life.
Education: Education after high school at a public, independent,
technical, community or junior college or university.
Summer Program: College programs offered to freshmen before
fall classes. Courses may be skill-building or regular college classes.
Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying
Test (PSAT/NMSQT): A high school test that measures verbal and
math skills and prepares students for the SAT I. It determines eligibility
for the National Merit Scholarship. See Scholastic Assessment
Course sequences for undergraduate students to prepare them for
graduate work in the same area. Examples include prelaw and premedicine.
Beginning class that prepares students for a more difficult
College: See Independent College.
Status given to students whose GPA falls below a certain minimum
level; varies at schools.
A teacher at a college.
Application: A supplemental application required by some schools
for school-based financial aid. This form must be completed and
mailed to the College Scholarship Service. The deadline is the same
as for the FAFSA, although some colleges require it earlier.
Set of required courses for a degree in a major area of study.
Schools: Colleges that are run as profit-making institutions.
These colleges provide students with practical training in specific
A booklet of general information about a college or program.
The college chief academic officer who is responsible for faculty
See Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
College or other school supported by the state; the state pays part
of the school's operation costs.
Group of residence halls or academic buildings, usually four
A calendar used by some colleges. The quarter school year is
broken down into four distinct periods, each lasting 10 to 12 weeks.
Part of a dormitory or hours during the day where students are
expected to maintain a very low noise level.
Days: Days between the end of classes and beginning of
final exams. Students use these days to prepare for final exams.
Person in a school who manages class schedules and academic
Officially enrolling in classes for the upcoming grading period.
Affiliation: Private colleges associated with religious organizations.
For example, the University of Notre Dame is affiliated with the
Course: A course that teaches skills that are needed to succeed
in college courses. Many students learn these skills in high school.
These skills are in the areas of math, writing, reading, etc.
A set of conditions that must be met in order to do something, such
as be accepted to a college, complete a degree, etc.
Hall (Dormitory): A campus building where students live. Food
service, social and educational activities are provided. Some schools
require students to live in residence halls for a certain amount
Requirements: Most colleges require that students spend a certain
amount of time on campus taking classes or living on campus. This
term can also mean the minimum amount of time a student must live
in the state to pay in-state tuition, which is lower than the fee
paid by out-of-state students.
Assistant (RA): A trained student who lives in a dormitory to
coordinate programs and activities. RAs may also help students with
problems in the dorm or counsel students about campus difficulties.
Admission: Schools with this admissions practice decide whether
or not to admit students as soon as they receive the required materials.
Board: The cost for living in residence halls or other campus
housing (room) and receiving meals from the housing food service
A period of time when students participate in parties and activities
to get to know the members of Greek organizations on campus. Greek
organizations hold rush to meet possible new members. See Greek
I: See Scholastic Assessment Test.
See Subject Area Test.
Academic Progress: Completion of courses according to school
standard. Satisfactory academic progress must be shown to receive
financial aid and continue in the school.
An effort to connect education to the work world.
Financial aid awarded for academic and other achievements (music,
athletics, etc.). Scholarships do not have to be paid back.
Assessment Test I (SAT I): A standardized admission test published
by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). See Standardized
Calendar system used by some schools. Classes and grade reports
are divided into two periods, each lasting about 15 weeks.
A women's social organization often identified by Greek letters.
See Fraternity, Greek Organizations, Rush.
Admissions Tests (SAT I, ACT, etc.): These tests are designed
to measure verbal and mathematical knowledge or skills and are used
to predict achievement in college. The test score may be considered
along with other factors for admission to the college.
Activities: See Extracurricular Activities.
Body: All students who attend a particular school.
Center or Student Union: A building on campus designed for a
variety of uses by students.
A bookstore, dining facilities, administrative offices, game rooms,
etc. may be located here.
Major: At some schools, students can plan an individualized
major. Such programs must be approved by appropriate school administrators.
Programs where students go to school for some time in another country
while making regular progress toward their diplomas or degrees.
Area Tests: Standardized tests given by the American College
Testing Program or College Board in specific high school subjects,
such as biology, a foreign language, etc. Colleges look at these
test scores when making decisions about course placement or admission
to a specific program. Many programs do not require these tests.
Services: Services provided by most colleges to help students
in areas such as academics, veterans affairs, adult and special-needs.
Assistant (TA): See Assistant Instructor.
Courses: Classes in which material to be learned is taught in
an active or applied manner.
College: Colleges that offer programs (usually two years or
less for full-time students) that prepare students for immediate
employment, or for transfer to college or university offering bachelor's
degrees. The emphasis at these colleges is usually on hands-on training
in a specific career area. See Junior College.
Guaranteed employment status given to teachers and professors
after successful completion of certain requirements within a certain
occupation requiring skilled labor, such as an electrician or tool
and die maker.
The official record of a student's educational progress; it may
include listings of classes, grades, major area and degrees earned.
Student: A student who changes from one school to another. Grades
and credits from the first school may or may not be counted at the
second. Schools may not accept all the credits earned at another
Program: College program that prepares students to complete
the degree at another college. Often junior, community and technical
colleges have transfer programs to prepare students to continue
their education at colleges and universities offering bachelor's
degrees. These programs usually award associate's degrees.
Degree: A degree, usually an associate's degree, that can be
counted as credit toward more education, like a bachelor's degree,
at the same or a different college. See Nontransferable Degree,
Math concerned with measurement based on triangles. It is important
in geometry and in physics. Think about a fishing rod, 1 yard long,
with its fishing line dropped straight into the water. The height
of the rod above the water will change according to the angle between
the rod and the water. This relationship between the rod's angle
and its height above the water is an example of the kinds of ideas
studied in trigonometry. Children's Encyclopedia Britannica,
vol. 18, p. 12, 1989.
A calendar system used by some college that is made up of three
10-12 week periods.
The cost of classes or credits at a school.
are experienced adults or students who help others study a specific
2 + 2 Program:
A program offering an associate's degree that will transfer directly
toward a bachelor's degree in the same field of study. These programs
may be within the same college or between two colleges. May be known
by other names, like DegreeLink at Indiana State University.
Admission: Students who meet all of a school's admission
standards are given this status.
Student working on a bachelor's degree.
A postsecondary institution which has several colleges or schools,
grants graduate degrees, and may have research facilities.
Student who is a junior or senior but has not yet received an
College: See Junior College, Technical College, Proprietary
List: A list of those students who will be admitted to
a college or school only if there is space available. Students placed
on a waiting list are usually notified if they are admitted, sometime
in May or June.
A requirement which is not enforced, such as class waiver or fee
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