Term

Definition

Art School and Conservatories

Colleges with a primary focus on the visual and performing arts. For admissions, students are judged primarily on their artistic skill or talent

Associates Degree

Degrees awarded after completing 2 years or 60 credits of study. Offered by Community colleges or 4 year universities, after earning this degree, a student may transfer to a 4yr college to complete a bachelor’s degree

Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS)

Degrees awarded after a student completes a four year, full time program of study (120 credits).

Class Rank

A measurement of how your academic achievement compares with that of other students in your grade. This number is usually determined by using a weighted GPA that takes into account both your grades and the difficulty of the courses you’ve taken.

College Credit

What you get when you successfully complete a college-level course. You need a certain number of credits to graduate with a degree. Colleges may also grant credit for scores on exams, such as those offered by the College Board’s AP Program® and CLEP.

Community Colleges

Postsecondary institutions that provide entry-level college education. They often have open admissions policies and offer two-year degrees, vocational training, certification courses, community and continuing education

Early Action

An option to submit your applications before the regular deadlines. When you apply early action, you get admission decisions from colleges earlier than usual. Early action plans are not binding, which means that you do not have to enroll in a college if you are accepted early action.

Early Decision

An option to submit an application to your first-choice college before the regular deadline. When you apply early decision, you get an admission decision earlier than usual. Early decision plans are binding. You agree to enroll in the college immediately if admitted and offered a financial aid package that meets your needs.

Financial Aid

Any grant, loan, or paid employment offered to help a student meet his/her college expenses

Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)

Colleges and universities founded with the mission of educating black men and women

Match School

The school in which the acceptance criteria of the college (in terms of average SAT or ACT score and average GPA) matches with the profile of the student who is applying

New York State Opportunity Program

An admissions and acadmeic support program established by New York State and offered in many colleges. They enable low-income students who fall below the academic thresholds for admission to their college to attend and receive extra services.

Priority Date or Deadline

The date by which your application — whether it’s for college admission, student housing or financial aid — must be received to be given the strongest consideration.

Private Colleges and Universities

Not-for-profit colleges and universities primarily supported by private funding

Proprietary Colleges and Institutes

For-profit colleges and universities

Public Colleges and Universities

Not-for-profit colleges and universities primarily supported by government funding

Reach School

The average SAT or ACT score and the average GPA of accepted students is much higher than the student looking at the school

Registrar

The college official who registers students. The registrar may also be responsible for keeping permanent records and maintaining your student file.

Rolling Admission

An admission policy of considering each application as soon as all required information (such as high school records and test scores) has been received, rather than setting an application deadline and reviewing applications in a batch. Colleges that use a rolling admission policy usually notify applicants of admission decisions quickly.

Safety School

The acceptance criteria of the college (GPA and SAT scores) is lower than the profile of the student applying.

SAT/ ACT

Standardized test for college admissions

Waiting List

An admission policy of considering each application as soon as all required information (such as high school records and test scores) has been received, rather than setting an application deadline and reviewing applications in a batch. Colleges that use a rolling admission policy usually notify applicants of admission decisions quickly.