College Admissions Glossary of Terms

Whether you’re weighing application deadlines or exploring different types of degree programs, this glossary will serve as a valuable resource.

Unlocking the Language of College Admissions: A Glossary for Students and Parents

Navigating the college admissions process can feel like learning a new language. With so many terms, abbreviations, and phrases, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Whether you’re a high school student planning your future or a parent supporting your child’s journey, understanding these terms can make the process less daunting. Below is a comprehensive glossary of college admission terms, organized alphabetically, to help you stay informed and empowered as you take the next steps toward higher education.

College Admission Glossary

A

Acceptance/Admission: An offer from a college inviting you to join its incoming class.
Accelerated Degree Programs: Programs allowing students to complete a bachelor’s degree in three years or less, often paired with graduate study options.
Activities List: A section of the Common Application for summarizing extracurriculars like sports, arts, or volunteer work.
Advanced Placement (AP): High school courses with college-level rigor. Students may take AP exams to earn potential college credit.
Applicant: A student who has submitted an application to a college or university.
Application Deadline: The final date by which a college must receive your application materials.
Articulation Agreement: A formal transfer agreement between two- and four-year colleges to ensure credits transfer smoothly.

B

Bachelor of Arts (BA): A 4-year undergraduate degree often focused on arts, humanities, or social sciences.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA): A 4-year undergraduate degree in disciplines like visual arts, drama, or dance.
Bachelor of Music (BM): A 4-year undergraduate degree in music.
Bachelor of Science (BS): A 4-year undergraduate degree often focused on math or science fields.

C

Class Rank: A measure of a student’s academic performance compared to peers, based on GPA.
Coalition Application: An application platform used by over 150 colleges, offering tools for students with limited access to college prep resources.
College: A postsecondary institution granting bachelor’s degrees, typically without offering graduate programs.
Common Application: A widely-used application platform accepted by over 1,000 colleges worldwide.
Community College (CC): A public institution offering associate degrees, with some now offering bachelor’s degrees.
Core Curriculum: General education requirements that all students must complete, regardless of major.

D

Deferred Admission Decision: When a student’s early application is moved to the regular decision pool for further review.
Demonstrated Interest (DI): Efforts by a student to show enthusiasm for a college, such as attending tours or engaging with admissions staff.

E

Early Action (EA): A non-binding early application option with decisions released before regular admission deadlines.
Early Decision (ED): A binding application option requiring students to commit to attending if accepted.
Extracurricular Activities (EC’s): How a student spends their time outside of the classroom.

F

First-Generation Applicant: A student whose parents have not earned a 4-year college degree.

H

High School Profile: A document outlining a high school’s course offerings, grading system, and other data, sent with transcripts to colleges.
Holistic Review: An admissions process considering factors beyond grades and test scores, such as essays and extracurriculars.
Honors College or Program: A selective program offering enhanced academic opportunities and perks like priority registration.

I

IB Diploma: A rigorous 2-year program emphasizing global awareness and critical thinking.
Institutional Priority: Factors colleges value, such as legacy status or geographic diversity, that can influence admissions decisions.

L

Legacy: An applicant with family members who attended the college, which may be a consideration in admissions.
Letter of Continued Interest: A letter sent by waitlisted or deferred applicants to reaffirm their desire to attend a college.
Letter of Recommendation: Letters supplied to colleges by teachers, school-based counselors and other people who know the student well and who can provide an assessment of the student’s performance, notable characteristics and impact in the settings in which they have interacted with the student.

M

Major: The primary academic focus of a student’s degree program.
Minor: A secondary academic focus requiring fewer courses than a major.

O

Open Curriculum: A program with few or no required courses outside a student’s major, allowing more academic freedom.

P

Personal Statement: An essay submitted as part of an application, showcasing a student’s personality, achievements, and aspirations.
Priority Deadline: An application deadline giving early applicants an advantage in admissions or scholarships.
Private Colleges: Independent institutions primarily funded through tuition and donations.
Public Colleges: Institutions funded by the government, often offering reduced tuition rates for in-state residents.

R

Regular Decision (RD): A non-binding application plan with set deadlines, typically later than early decision/action options.
Restrictive Early Action (REA): This is an application option that allows students to apply early without the obligation to attend if accepted. This is currently utilized by only two super selective institutions Notre Dame and Georgetown. Under REA, applicants are restricted from applying Early Decision to another institution until they receive a decision from their REA school. Typically they may apply early action to any other institution.
Rolling Admission: A flexible process where applications are reviewed as received, with decisions sent out continuously.

S

Scattergram: A chart showing past admissions decisions from a student’s high school to help gauge admission likelihood.
Small Liberal Arts College (SLAC): A private college emphasizing broad education, often with fewer than 3,000 students.
State Flagship: The leading public university in a state, often offering comprehensive academic programs and resources.
Stealth Application: When a student applies without previously engaging with the college through tours or communications.

T

Test Blind: A college admissions policy where standardized test scores (like the SAT or ACT) are not considered at all, even if a student submits them. These colleges may still look at your AP scores.
Test Flexible: Some colleges allow students to submit scores from tests like the AP or IB program scores, instead of ACT or SAT scores, to satisfy their testing requirement.
Test Optional: A policy adopted by some colleges where submitting SAT or ACT scores is not mandatory. Students can choose whether or not to include their standardized test scores as part of their application.
Transcript: A record from a student's school listing all courses taken, grades received, and sometimes it includes test scores, honors and awards.
Transfer admission: The process for students who have started their college education at one institution and wish to continue it at another. This process varies by college but generally involves submitting all college transcripts, a new application, essays, and sometimes recommendations.

U

University: A higher education institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields.
Unweighted Grade Point Average: A measure of a student's average grades that does not consider the difficulty of the courses taken. It represents a straightforward average of grade points earned across classes, and may be computed for core academic classes, or for all classes taken by the student including electives and requirements like Physical Education.

Closing Thoughts
Understanding the language of college admissions is a crucial first step in navigating this complex journey. By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you can approach the process with greater confidence and clarity. Whether you’re weighing application deadlines or exploring different types of degree programs, this glossary will serve as a valuable resource. Remember, the journey to college is a marathon, not a sprint, and informed decisions will pave the way to your success.