ACT Test: the group of tests administered by American College Testing and required or recommended by many colleges as part of the admission process. The tests measure educational development in English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning. Given at specific test centers throughout the year.

Advanced placement: granting of credit and/or assignment to an advanced course on the basis of evidence that the student has mastered the equivalent of an introductory course.

Aid Package: A combination of aid (scholarship, grant, loan, and work) determined by the financial aid office.

ASSET: A group of tests developed by American College Testing and required at many two-year colleges as part of the course placement and advising process. The tests measure a student's reading, writing, and mathematical skills and are administered by the college.

Candidates Reply Date Agreement: An agreement by participating colleges allowing students to defer attendance decisions until May 1, enabling them to hear from most colleges they apply to before selecting one.

College calendar: Common systems of instruction time:

• Traditional semester—two approximately equal semesters
• Early semester—two semesters, the first ending before Christmas
• Quarter—three equal terms of about 12 weeks each
• Trimester—calendar year divided into three equal semesters, the third semester replacing summer school
• 4-1-4— two equal terms of about 16 weeks each, with a 4-week interim term

Cooperative work-study education: a program in which the student alternates between full-time paid employment related to the area of study. Under this plan, the bachelor's degree often requires five years to complete.

Early admission: admitting students of superior ability into college courses and programs before they have completed the standard high school program.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): the application for federal student financial aid, processed at no cost to the applicant. It is used to determine a student's eligibility for federal grant, loan, and work funds. Some schools may require an additional form for which there is a processing fee.

Grade point average: an indicator of the student's overall scholastic performance. The GPA is computed by totaling the number of grade points earned in each course (generally, A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) and then dividing the sum by the total number of courses carried.

Grants: awards based on financial need that do not require repayment. Grants are available through the federal government, state agencies, and educational agencies.

Honors program: any program offering opportunity for superior students to earn college credit through individual study, usually planned with and supervised by a faculty advisor.

Major: the subject of study in which the student chooses to specialize; a series of related coursed, taken primarily in the junior and senior years of college.

Rolling admission: an admission procedure by which the college considers each application as soon as all required materials have been received. The college then notifies each applicant of acceptance or rejection as soon as possible.

Scholarships: Non-repayable awards to students based on merit or merit plus need.

Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT): test of verbal and mathematical abilities given by the College Entrance Examination Board at specific test centers throughout the year. Required or recommended by colleges as part of the admission process.

Transcript: official record of high school or college courses and grades generally required as part of the college application.

Wait list: a term used by institutions to describe a process in which they may initially delay offering admission. Colleges offer admission to wait list candidates if insufficient number of regularly admitted candidates accept their offers of admission.