Also known as your academic counselor, your designated advisor will help you choose classes and make sure you’re taking the right courses for your major and minor. At some schools, advisors are faculty members. Other institutions may have entire positions dedicated to the role.
ADVANCED STANDING CREDIT
Your school may accept credit hours that you’ve earned in high school, at another college or through military service. Some institutions also let you “test out” to show you deserve credit for a certain level (such as a prerequisite) course. The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers exams for college credit. Many schools also allow you to earn up to a full year of college credit with qualifying AP exam scores.
AP COURSE
An Advanced Placement (AP) class is a college-level course offered at your high school that can provide you with college credit when you enter your freshman year.
AUDIT
If you want to take a class “just for fun” (no college credit earned), you can request permission from the instructor to audit the course. Most schools will not let you petition for course credit at a later date.
AWARD PACKAGE
A school’s financial aid offer, which might include loans, scholarships and work-study.
BURSAR’S OFFICE
A fancy name for the business office that handles all the financial transactions for students, including tuition and loans, although there often is a separate financial aid office.
COMMON APPLICATION
A general application accepted by (currently) 456 colleges and universities throughout the United States and abroad. See www.commonapp.org.
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT
Attending two schools at the same time. This could mean high school and college or two higher education institutions.
CREDIT HOURS
In general the number of hours per week a class is held. A biology class on Monday Wednesday and Friday morning from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for example would be three credit hours. Determination of whether you are considered a part-time or full-time student is based on the number of credit hours you are taking in a semester.
EARLY ACTION
A process that allows students to apply to a school earlier than normal (often before November) in order to receive an earlier decision (usually by mid-December). Students are allowed to apply to other schools as well but you typically need to let the accepting college know by late spring if you’ll be attending its school.
EARLY DECISION
Similar to early action but with a very important difference. Early decision allows students to apply to ONE college or university with the promise to attend if accepted. Early decision is binding so be sure it’s the school you want to (and can afford to) attend before applying early decision.
ELECTIVE
A class not required for your major or minor. These are generally courses you take for fun or just to see if something sparks your interest. Examples might include a theatre class, a beginner’s Spanish class or volleyball.
