A
Accreditation
The process of recognizing an educational institution as maintaining standards that qualify graduates for admission to higher or more specialized practice or for professional practice. Learn more about accredited schools.
ACT Test
An exam that measures your readiness for college by testing your knowledge of English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning. It is required and preferred by more four-year public universities and private colleges than other entrance exam. Practice this test.
Admissions Office
The department at a particular school that is responsible for accepting or approving your application.
Alumni
Those who have attended or graduated from a particular school, college or university.
Associate Degree
The degree awarded when you successfully complete a two-year program at a community or junior college. Available as an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS). With this degree, you can transfer to a four-year college or university and earn a bachelor's degree.
B
Bachelor Degree
The degree awarded when you successfully complete a four-year college or university program. It is available as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree.
C
Coeducational
The term describing a school that allows both women and men to study there. Most US colleges and universities are now coeducational. There are some colleges that admit only women (e.g. Smith College) and some that admit only men (e.g. Pope John XXIII National Seminary)
College
A higher education institution offering a four-year course of general studies that leads to a bachelor's degree. Can also mean an institution providing instruction in professional, vocational or technical fields, such as a business college or technical college. Some colleges also offer graduate programs leading to a Masters Degree. Learn more.
Community college
A publicly-funded higher education institution providing only a two-year academic or technical program that leads to an associate's (AA) degree. Sometimes referred to as a junior college. Learn more.
Curriculum
The courses that comprise a particular field of study, for example, a course in Life Drawing would be part of the Fine Arts curriculum.
D
Degree
In education, An academic title awarded by a college, university or professional school to a student who successfully completes a particular academic program.
Doctorate
The degree awarded to graduate students who have earned one the highest possible academic degree awarded by a university. Doctoral degrees are commonly entitled Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), however, other doctoral degrees, such as Doctor of Education (EdD) are also conferred.
E
ESL
English as a Second Language. If your English skills are not sufficient for US studies, you should consider taking an ESL course.
F
F reshman
A student in the first year of college or university studies.
Football
A popular American game played between two teams in which an oblong ball is in possession of one side at a time, and is advanced to a goal by running or passing. Not to be confused with "soccer," which is called "football" in some other English-speaking countries, Soccer is the World Cup sport, which involves propelling a round ball into an opponent's goal by kicking it or by hitting it with any part of the body except the hands and arms.
G
GMAT
Graduate Management Admissions Test. A standardized test required by most graduate business (MBA) programs.
Graduate
N.1. Someone who holds an academic degree or diploma.
N.2. Advanced studies beyond a bachelor's degree, such as masters or doctoral studies.
V. To conclude one's studies and receive a degree and diploma from an academic institution.
GRE Graduate Record Examination. The standard test required for admission to graduate study. A series of three different exams: the GRE general test, the subject test and the writing assessment test Most graduate schools require the GRE, however graduate programs in business usually require the GMAT and medical schools require the MCAT.
H
Homecoming
An annual celebration typically held in autumn, to which a school's alumni are invited to share hospitality and entertainment (often an important football game ) with current students, faculty, and friends.
I
Intercollegiate
A term describing activities between colleges or universities, such as intercollegiate sports.
Ivy League
Eight prestigious colleges and universities in the Northeastern US Learn more.
J
Junior
A student in his or her third year of undergraduate studies.
L
LSAT
Law School Admissions Test. A standardized test required for admission to nearly all accredited law schools in the United States.
Land Grant
A grant of land made by the government for a public college or university. Land grants were established by the United States Federal government in 1862 with the mission to provide higher education in practical fields, such as agriculture and engineering. Most state agricultural and engineering colleges were created through these grants. Some 72 campuses and more than 50 state universities are members of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. Together, these institutions award about 450,000 degrees each year-including 60 percent of all US doctorates.
Liberal Arts
As opposed to practical subjects, such as agriculture. The distinction between the liberal arts and the practical arts originated in Greece. Traditionally, the liberal arts included grammar, logic, rhetoric, geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, and music. In modern times, the tern has come to include any non-technical subject taught at college or university.
M
MCAT
Medical College Admissions Test. A standardized test required for admission to nearly all medical schools in United States.
Major
The primary area of specialized study undertaken by a student.
Minor
The secondary area of specialized study (less than a major) undertaken by a student.
Masters Degree
A degree awarded after a student has completed approximately two years of work beyond a bachelor's degree and usually has written a thesis on the subject. There are two types of masters. Master of Art (MA) and Master of Science (MS).
P
Private School
A college or university that is not financially supported by the government, but instead depends on tuition, fees, private gifts, corporate contributions and endowments. Approximately half of the accredited schools in the US are private.
Public School
A college or university that is partially funded by taxpayers who live in the school's state. Approximately half of the US schools are public.
S
SAT
This two- part standardized aptitude test is required by many colleges and universities for applicants to an undergraduate program. The SAT 1 consists of objective questions. There is a verbal and a math portion. The SAT 2 is a test of English composition and is required by some, but not all, colleges and universities. The STA is typically an important part of your application package. To practice.
Scholarships F
inancial support awarded to students by a school or organization to help pay for their education. Unlike education loans, scholarships do not have to be re-paid.
Senior A student in his or her fourth year of college or university studies.
Sophomore
A student in his or her second year of college or university studies.
Symposium
A formal meeting during which several speakers deliver talks about a certain subject.
T
Transcripts
An official copy of a student's educational record.
TOEFL
Test of English as a Foreign Language. A standardized test required of university applicants whose native language is not English. Learn more.
Tuition
The price or cost of an education at a college or university. Tuition refers only to the cost of academic study. It does not include the cost of housing, food, books, medical insurance, or other costs.
