college vocabulary

Question 1

Advisor

Answer 1

A member of the college faculty or staff who assists students with planning quarter or semester schedules as well as their overall programs of study. Advisors may also help with career planning.

Question 2

Application

Answer 2

The first step in requesting admission to an institution of higher education. Usually there is a form to fill out by a certain deadline; sometimes there is an application fee to pay.

Question 3

Bachelor’s Degree

Answer 3

Bachelor’s degrees are awarded by a college, typically after satisfactory completion of a four- or five-year, full-time program of study.

Question 4

Bursar

Answer 4

The bursar is the college official responsible for handling billing and payments for tuition, fees, housing and other related expenses.

Question 5

Catalog

Answer 5

A comprehensive resource listing college regulations, program and course descriptions, degree and graduation requirements, transfer requirements, and other essential information.

Question 6

Chancellor/President

Answer 6

The leader of a university.

Question 7

Cost of Attendance

Answer 7

The cost of attendance is the sum of the total amount of money spent while attending college. It includes money spent on tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.

Question 8

Consortium

Answer 8

A consortium is group of colleges that offer joint programs that allow students to share facilities and course offerings at member campuses.

Question 9

Dean

Answer 9

A Dean is someone traditionally in charge of a major area of a college. For example, there may be a Dean of Students, a Dean of the Faculty, and a Dean of Arts & Sciences

Question 10

Degree

Answer 10

A rank conferred by a college or university and earned by a student who has successfully completed specified courses and requirements.

Question 11

Elective

Answer 11

A course that is not required for a particular instructional program. Many programs require a certain number of elective credits.

Question 12

Financial Aid

Answer 12

Anything related to the way you are paying for school. Loans, scholarships, grants, work awards, and any other resource you use are all considered part of your financial aid.

Question 13

FYE (First Year Experience)

Answer 13

A new-student orientation designed to welcome students and give them information on how to succeed in college.

Question 14

Grade Point Average

Answer 14

The GPA indicates a student’s overall academic performance. It is computed by assigning a point value to each grade.

Question 15

Grants

Answer 15

Similar to scholarships in that you don’t need to pay them back.

Question 16

Independent Study

Answer 16

This program allows a student to earn credit through self-designed course work, which is usually planned and evaluated by a faculty member.

Question 17

Loan

Answer 17

Money that you must pay back.

Question 18

Minor

Answer 18

Students may minor in a subject different from the one they major in. They take course work that is not as extensive as that in a major.

Question 19

Need-Based Financial Aid

Answer 19

This means financial aid that is awarded on the basis of a family’s inability to pay the full cost of attending a particular college.

Question 20

Office Hours

Answer 20

Professors are usually required to hold office hours on a regular basis throughout the semester, which is when students are able to drop in or make an appointment to meet with them.

Question 21

Postsecondary

Answer 21

Refers to all educational programs for students past high-school age; it includes community and technical colleges and job training programs as well as baccalaureate colleges and universities.

Question 22

Practicum

Answer 22

A course that includes job-related activities and stresses the practical application of theory in a field of study.

Question 23

Prerequisite

Answer 23

A requirement which must be met before a certain course can be taken.

Question 24

Provost

Answer 24

A provost is the senior academic administrator in a college.

Question 25

Resident Adviser

Answer 25

Usually an undergraduate student, an RA is in charge of smaller sections of a residence hall. You can go to them for help with adjusting to college, problems with your roommates, and advice on just about anything.

Question 26

Rolling Admission

Answer 26

Colleges with this type of admission procedure consider each student’s application as soon as all the required credentials have been received (e.g., high school record, test scores).

Question 27

Room and Board

Answer 27

The cost of having a place to sleep (room) and food to eat (board) while at school.

Question 28

Scholarship

Answer 28

Money being given to you for your studies. You do not need to pay scholarship monies back. Scholarships can come from your school, an organization, or a contest.

Question 29

Student Loan

Answer 29

Is a loan that must be repaid.

Question 30

Transcript

Answer 30

The official record of a student’s academic performance.

Question 31

Tuition

Answer 31

The cost of your classes. Some schools charge tuition based on how many units you are taking, while others charge a base rate per semester as long as you stay within a certain range of units.

Question 32

Waiver

Answer 32

An exception from a requirement, rule, or penalty.