College Terms 101: 16 Terms to Know Before You Apply
Applying to college can be an intimidating process. You’ll likely see many new terms that you’re unfamiliar with, and this can cause some confusion and frustration. Read on to familiarize yourself with some common phrases used in academia, and alleviate some of the stress that comes along with applying to universities.
College Terms 101: 16 Terms to Know Before You Apply
1. Early Action
Early action is when a student applies to a college early and is able to receive a decision from the college early on in the admission cycle. If accepted, the student is able to decide whether or not they want to accept the offer and attend the university.
2. Early Decision
Early decision is similar to early action, in that students are presented with the opportunity to apply to a university early. However, unlike early action, the student agrees to attend the university if they are accepted. They are only permitted to apply to one college at a time as an early decision candidate and must apply to other universities the traditional way. Don’t let time get away from you! Make sure to familiarize yourself with NJIT’s dates and deadlines schedule.
3. Rolling Admission
Rolling admission is an admissions process where the school reviews student applications as they come in during a set period of time. Rolling admissions typically come after the deadlines for early action applications have passed.
4. Waitlist
If a student who has applied for admission is placed on a waitlist, that means that the student has not been offered admission to the university, but it is still possible that they can be. A university will place students on the waitlist after it has admitted the maximum number of students that it can for the current application period. It is still possible that some accepted students may choose not to attend, and when this happens, students on the waitlist may be offered admission.
5. Dual enrollment
Dual enrollment, also known as concurrent enrollment, is a program that allows students currently attending high school to take college-level courses, or for transfers to earn credit toward their BS or MS degree. Upon completion of the course, the student will receive credit for both high school and college. Typically, the student is required to achieve a grade of C or above in order to receive college credit. This credit then becomes a part of the student’s college academic record. This is a great way for high school students or transfers to jump-start their careers.
6. Transcript
Your transcript is a record of all of the courses you have taken and the grades you achieved in those courses. You have separate transcripts for your high school courses and your college courses. Typically, there are two types of transcripts – official and unofficial. Official transcripts usually come straight from your school’s registrar and can be authenticated as being legitimate. Unofficial transcripts are usually easily accessible through your school’s website and are useful for tracking your progress.
7. Tuition
Tuition is the amount of money that students owe based on their course load. This cost is determined by the number of credit hours you are enrolled in for each term, and the rate per credit hour may change year to year.
For more information regarding NJIT’s tuition and fees, along with room and board, visit the admissions site.
8. Room and board
Room and board is the cost that students living on campus need to pay to cover their dorm room, their utilities, and their meal plans. Students who commute do not need to pay for room and board.
9. COA
The cost of attendance (COA) is the total cost of all of your college-related expenses. This includes tuition, room and board, supplies, textbooks, transportation, and loan fees.
10. FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that you can use to apply for federal financial aid. This is an option available for students who may need help financing their education. Visit fafsa.gov for more information and to apply for aid.
11. Grant
Grants are awards given to students that assist them with the financing of their education. Unlike other types of financial aid, grants do not need to be repaid. Grants are generally awarded by the federal government and are usually given out based on a student’s financial needs.
12. Loan
A loan is a form of financial aid that is expected to be repaid by the student at a future point in time. There are a number of different types of loans, with the most common loans being federal and private loans.
13. Work-study
A work-study program is a federal program in which universities are provided with federal funding so they can hire students for part-time jobs that will help those students pay for their education.
14. Scholarship
A scholarship is a financial award that is presented to students and is generally awarded based on academic achievement. Scholarships, unlike loans, do not require repayment.
15. Academic advisor
An academic advisor is someone assigned to you by your university based on your area of study. Their job is to help guide you through your college experience. They are there to help you plan out your path to graduation and to help you with the struggles you may face along the way. For help with college course planning and other aspects of your college career, get in touch with NJIT’s Office of Academic Advising.
16. Test-optional
Some universities may be test-optional. This means they allow "all or some applicants to decide whether to submit SAT or ACT® scores as part of their application".
Take your next step with NJIT
Now that you know all of the terms, it's time to fill out an application to begin your college journey! NJIT is here to help with any of your application questions. Apply today to get started!