Do you know these terms related to US Admissions ?

Some Terms You Must Know Before Applying To Universities

EA

It is an option where an applicant is allowed to submit his applicants before the regular deadlines. This also means that the applicant will receive his decision earlier. Usually, the deadline for EA is November 1. Some colleges that offer EA are MIT, University of Michigan, Georgia-tech, UChicago. This is not binding as ED

ED

It is an option to submit an application to your first-choice college before the regular deadline. However, this is binding which means if you get into your ED choice college, you are obligated to accept that offer and could not attend another college unless your financial need is not met. The deadline for ED is around November 1. Some colleges also offer ED2 which is ED but at a later date. Usually, the deadline for it is January 1. Some colleges that offer ED are Upenn, Cornell, UChicago, NYU, Dartmouth, Amherst, etc. 

REA

REA refers to Restricted Early Action. It limits you from applying to any other private universities in the Early rounds like EA and ED. Colleges that offer REA are Stanford, Yale, Harvard, and Princeton. 

Rolling Admission

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

Need-Blind

A policy of not considering applicants' financial circumstances when making admission decisions. Colleges that follow this policy may not be able to provide enough financial aid to meet all of a student's needs. There are only 6 need-blind institutions in the US for international students: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Amherst, Minerva school at KGI. Only the first five of them meet the demonstrated need. Outside of the US, NYUAD and some universities in Education city located in Qatar are also Need-Blind and usually meet applicants' demonstrated needs. 

Need-Aware

These are the institutions that consider your financial need while applying. This means that any student asking for financial aid will be also considered as a part of a college application. If any student asks for financial aid, it will affect his acceptance.

Public University

These are the universities funded by the respective government of the state where the university is located. It has special provisions for in-state students as they pay fewer tuition fees than out-of-state students. Usually, the Out-of-state fee is twice or thrice of the in-state tuition fee. 

 

Private University

A "private" university is funded entirely by fees, investments, and private donors rather than by taxpayers. Most universities that give huge financial aid to international students are private universities. However, the tuition fee is very high and is the same for every student. 

Liberal Arts College(LAC)

A liberal arts college is a college that focuses on undergraduate studies in the liberal arts and sciences. Students at a liberal arts college typically major in a specific field while still gaining exposure to a broad variety of academic topics, including sciences as well as conventional humanities subjects.

Cost Of Attendance(COA)

It is the total cost a student is supposed to pay before scholarship and financial aid. It includes tuition fees, extra fees, insurance, housing and meals, transportation, and personal expenses. 

Estimated Financial Contribution(EFC)

It is the net cost a student is supposed to pay after scholarship and financial aid. 

 

Deferral

Deferral refers to postponing your college by a certain amount of time which can be anything from a semester to a couple of years.

Waitlist

Being on a waitlist means that you are placed on hold for acceptance. However, it is not sure if you would get acceptance or rejection.  

College Credit

To earn a degree, you must complete a certain number of credits. Colleges can 

also provide credit for test results, such as those from the College Board's AP Program, IB, and A level results. 

Common Application/Coalition Application

The Common Application/ is a regular application form that is approved by all colleges that are members of the association. You will complete this application only once and could send it to almost 900 colleges that approve it. However, you could only apply to 20 colleges in one academic year.  Coalition application is an alternative to it 

Financial Aid

It is the grant or sum of money provided to a student, especially the ones who are in need, to cover the cost of attendance that a student might not be able to afford. 

Merit-based scholarship

It is the scholarship that depends upon the academics and Extracurricular profile of an applicant. It majorly depends upon GPA, Academic rigor, Standardized testing, and ECAs.

Placement tests

It is like an entrance examination that is mainly given for course placement and scholarship consideration. Majorly students give placement tests on Mathematics and English Language. 

Priority date or deadline

It is a date or deadline before which a student must apply to a college for scholarship consideration. Mainly for full-ride and full-tuition scholarships, Applicants must apply within the priority deadline. 

Weighted GPA

Weighted GPA is calculated after adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses. Weighted GPA exceeds the normal 4.0 GPA and has a maximum limit of 5.0. 

School Transcript

It is a school report that consists of the grades the student has received during his/her high school. 

Grant

It is the gift aid given by the school to the student that doesn't need to be repaid. 

Work-Study

It is usually a part of financial aid given to a student. A student is supposed to work for a few hours during their academic year and in the summer to support the fees and housing. 

Freshman = First year of study

Sophomore = second year of study

Junior = Third year of study

Senior = Fourth and Final year of study

Community College

A higher education institution that mainly serves the community in which it is located. Community colleges provide standard instructional courses such as math and history that can pass to a four-year college or university and community services such as resume assistance for career applicants and swim lessons for youngsters. Mainly a student attends community college for two years.