TIGER ATHLETICS
Congratulations! You’re thinking about college! Or, maybe you’re already going to college. Either way, there’s an abundance of new words and acronyms that nobody outside of the higher education world seems to talk about.
Suddenly experiencing them when you come to college can make the whole experience feel confusing and overwhelming. Here are the college terms you need to know:
#1 Financials Terms
FAFSA - What’s a FAFSA anyway?
“Free Application for Federal Student Aid,” this is a form you fill out to help determine your eligibility for financial aid.
Financial Aid
Money to help pay for college. Can come in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans.
- Grant – Financial aid usually provided based on financial need, such as federal grants. Does not need to be paid back.
- Scholarships – Financial aid usually provided based on merit, such as athletic participation or high-level academic performance.
- May also be awarded as a competition prize (e.g. essay writing contest), or involvement with a group or club (e.g. honor societies). Does not need to be paid back.
- Student Loans – Financial aid intended to be paid back upon completion of degree or when a student stops taking classes.
- Subsidized Student Loans – Interest does not begin accumulating until after graduation.
- Unsubsidized Student Loans – Interest begins accumulating as soon as the loan is taken out.
Financial Need
Determined by comparing the cost of college to a student’s ability to pay, often considering the student’s parents as well.
Work-Study
A program allowing students to work for the institution as part of their financial aid.
#2 Enrollment Terms
Credit Hours
Roughly translates to the number of classroom hours per week (not always a perfect 60 minutes). This may vary by class.
The Difference Between Full-Time and Part-Time
- Full-Time – 12 or more credit hours per semester.
- Part-Time – Less than 12 credit hours per semester.
Major or Minor
- Major – A focus of study.
- Minor – A secondary focus of study, usually has relevance to a major.
Elective(s)
Courses student chooses from a list (opposed to required courses for a student’s major), usually related to their field of study.
Dual-Enrollment (Concurrent-Enrollment)
Being enrolled in two institutions at the same time. Most commonly for high school students taking college courses.
#3 Degrees Term
Undergraduate Degree
Can refer to an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree.
Associate’s Degree
Traditionally completed in 2-3 years, generally consists of general education with some major-specific courses.
Bachelor’s Degree (Baccalaureate)
Traditionally completed in 4-5 years unless an Associate’s Degree has already been completed, generally focuses on a specific area of specialization or study.
Graduate Degree (Postgraduate Degree)
Could be referencing a Master’s degree or Doctorate.
Master’s Degree
Traditionally completed in 2-3 years, an in-depth focus on a specific area of specialization or study.
#4 College and Class Terms
Pass/Fail Course
A course in which the student does not receive a letter grade, they either pass or fail.
Transfer Credits
Courses taken at one institution to be applied towards a degree at another institution.
Remedial Course
A low-level course (usually numbered below “100”) intended to help students build their skills in particular areas before entering college-level courses. Usually pertaining to math, writing, or reading.
Prerequisite
A course necessary before beginning another course. Example: Composition I is a prerequisite for Composition II.
Semester
Usually about 16 weeks, makes up half of a college year.
General Education
Most majors require some general education courses, this ensures that students receive a broad education, with knowledge from topics outside their chosen field.
#5 Classroom Terms
Syllabus
The thing your instructors will know you didn’t read when you start asking questions about the homework. Also, a professor’s outline for class structure, assignments, required textbooks, and institution-wide and classroom specific rules and regulations.
Plagiarism
Copying someone else in part or total and claiming their work as your own. Will result in academic repercussions such as failing the assignment, failing the course, or dismissal from the college/university. (Don’t do it!)
Commencement
Graduation ceremony.
Dissertation
Generally in reference to a doctoral dissertation. An original contribution to a student’s field of study as a result of academic research.
Thesis
Similar to a dissertation (some use the term interchangeably). A research paper covering a student’s chosen topic of study.
Citation Style
The formatting style of how writers give credit to references. MLA, APA, and Chicago are college terms that are the most frequently used styles in academia.
- MLA Style – Citation style created and published by the Modern Language Association. Frequently used in the humanities field for reference citation.
- APA Style – Citation style created and published by the American Psychological Association. Frequently used in education and science fields for reference citation.
- Chicago Style – Sometimes referred to as “Turabian Style.” Frequently used by business, history, and fine art fields for reference citation.
#6 Important Information Terms
Transcript
Outlines a student’s academic progress including grades, GPA, credit hours, and completed courses.
Add/Drop - Related to courses
A student may decide to start a new course “Add” or leave a course “Drop” with no penalties during an Add/Drop “grace period” (generally the first couple weeks of classes).
Withdrawing
After the Add/Drop grace period is passed, a student may withdraw from (or leave) a class. This usually results in a withdrawal fee, and may leave a withdrawal mark on the student’s transcript though it doesn’t usually impact their GPA.
GPA
Grade Point Average. Generally on a 4-point scale.
Dean’s List
A regularly released list of students who have a high academic standing, qualifications vary by institution.
Independent Study
Non-traditional course in which a student develops a topic they wish to pursue outside of the classroom.
Internship
A short-term job to help gain experience and connections in a desired field of work can sometimes lead to job offers. Different from Work-Study. Can be paid or unpaid.
Accreditation
An accredited college/university has been reviewed and found to meet certain criteria, including fulfilling its stated mission and providing quality education.
FERPA
Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Students, even under the age of 18, have the right to privacy over their school records (such as grades).
First-Generation College Student
These college terms Indicate that a student’s parents did not earn a college degree.
#7 Office Terms
Registrar
Person/department responsible for academic records.
Advisor (Academic Advisor)
Person who understands the requirements for students’ majors/minors and helps students choose courses accordingly.