College Survival Vocabulary
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Certification that a school or an instructional program meets standards set by an outside reviewing organization.
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accreditation
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Approval for a student to attend an educational institution.
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admission
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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.
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advisor
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A method of determining a student's knowledge or skill level.
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assessment
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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 fee to pay.
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application
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A student who attends a course formally registers for it and attends class sessions but earns no credit and has no obligation to complete homework projects or take tests.
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audit
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A college degree which can often be earned by following a four-year instructional program (in a 4-year college).
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bachelor's degree
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The land and buildings that a college or university uses for instruction or student services.
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campus
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The ceremony at the end of an academic year when students receive their degrees or diplomas (compare to graduation).
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commencement
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A unit of measure for college work. Generally speaking, one _____ hour represents one hour of classroom attendance each week for one term, plus the study time, homework, etc. that go along with it.
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credit
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An academic administrator or official at a school, college, or university, especially one with responsibility for students or faculty.
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dean
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A rank conferred by a college or university and earned by a student who has successfully completed specified courses and requirement.
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degree
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To cancel registration in a course after enrolling into it. Students often add and drop courses before settling on a class schedule for a particular quarter or semester. See also withdrawal.
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drop
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A course that is not required for a particular instructional program. Many programs require a certain number of complementary credits, and many recommend certain complementary courses for students to choose from.
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elective
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The process of signing up and paying for courses. See also registration.
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enrollment
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The instructors or teaching staff at a school.
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faculty
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A student in the first year of a typical four-year baccalaureate degree program (or one who has earned fewer than 45 quarter credits or 30 semester credits so far).
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freshman
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The _____ is computed by multiplying the number value of the grade earned in each course (generally, A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) times the number credits for each course, then dividing the result by the total number of credits taken.
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grade-point average
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A type of financial aid that does not have to be paid back after the student leaves school. They are available through the federal government, state agencies, and educational institutions.
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grant
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A supervised short-term apprenticeship or temporary job in a real-world setting closely related to a student's field of study. The student may or may not be paid but earns college credit for the work experience. See also practicum.
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internship
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A student in the third year of a typical four-year baccalaureate degree program (or one who has earned 90-135 quarter credits or 60-90 semester credits so far).
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junior
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A type of financial aid that must be repaid to the government agency or other lending organization when the student leaves school.
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loan
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Specialization in one academic discipline or field of study.
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major
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A course that must be completed (often with a certain minimum grade) or a skill that must be demonstrated before a student can enroll in a more advanced course.
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prerequisite
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Some schools organize the academic year into three main periods - Fall, Winter, and Spring _____ - plus a shorter Summer _____ (compare to semester).
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quater
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Refers to all the information the college might keep regarding a student; it includes registration activity (enrollment, withdrawal, etc.), grades, payments, awards received, financial aid applications and award notices, and notes on disciplinary actions, as well as address, phone number, and student identification number.
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records
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A type of financial aid. Organizations may give these according to academic achievement, financial need, or any other basis. Usually there is a competitive application process.
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scholarship
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Some schools organize the academic year into two main periods-Fall and Spring _____ -plus a shorter Summer _____ (compare to quarter).
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semester
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A student in the fourth year of a typical four-year baccalaureate degree program (or one who has earned 135-180 quarter credits or 90-120 semester credits so far).
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senior
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A student in the second year of a typical four-year baccalaureate degree program (or one who has earned 45-90 quarter credits or 30-60 semester credits so far).
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sophmore
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An outline plan for a particular class, including textbook requirements, class meeting dates, reading assignments, examination dates, the instructor's grading standards, etc.
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syllabus
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A unit of time that can refer to either a quarter or a semester, depending on which system the college or university follows.
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term
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An official record of the courses and semester or quarter credits a student has taken at a college or university, the grades and degrees or certificates earned, and any awards and honors received.
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transcript
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A student's basic payment towards the cost of instruction at a college or university. Most institutions also charge these for laboratory equipment and materials, computer use, parking, and other miscellaneous costs.
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tuition and fees
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A student who has not yet earned a bachelor's degree; also refers to the courses and instructional programs such a student enrolls in.
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undergraduate
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The process of formally dropping a class or classes after the term has started.
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withdrawal
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A type of financial aid which pays students to work part-time, often on campus, during the academic year.
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work-study
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Money available from various sources to help students pay college expenses These funds come as loans, grants, or scholarships from the state or federal government or other organizations. Work-study is also a form of this.
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financial aid
