Glossary of Terms

Admissions' Criteria: The information a college or university uses when considering whether to admit a student. Criteria may include: overall average in specific courses, GPA, strength of subjects, portfolio's, test scores, recommendations, personal essay, interviews, activities/awards, class rank.

Bachelor's Degree: A degree granted by four-year institutions after completing four years (or in some cases, five years) of study. A student may earn a Bachelor of Science or Arts degree depending on the course of study.

Class Rank: A student's standing based on his or her academic record as compared with that of other members of the class is known as class rank. In a class of 100, the student with the highest grade point average would be # 1; the lowest grade point average would be #100.

Post Secondary Fair: A gathering of college/University representatives at a central location. Students can walk from booth to booth gathering information.

University Major: Field of study chosen as an academic specialty.

University Minor: A secondary area of academic study.

Common Application: An application that is accepted by colleges and universities. A student may complete it once and copy it to the schools that accept it. Some schools that accept the common application have a supplemental essay specific to their school. This can be accessed through commonapp.org. Colleges prefer on-line applications.

Community Service: As a requirement for the Career Development 2201 course, students are required to complete 30 hours of community service. Please see community services opportunities in the guidance department.

Cooperative Education: Known as Co-op, this is a program in which the student alternates between full-time college or university study and full-time paid employment related to the area of study. Under this plan, the bachelors’ degree often requires five years to complete. MUN school of Business and Engineering offer Co-op degree programs.

Core Curriculum: A group of courses, in varied areas of the arts and sciences, designated by a college as one of the requirements for a degree is called a core curriculum.

Dean: The college administrator that is head of a division or college within a university or college.

Deferred Admission: This is an admissions plan whereby a student applies to a college and is notified of acceptance during the senior year of high school. The student then may take off a year for travel, work, or other projects before attending.

Early Decision: Some colleges offer to notify applicants of acceptance or rejection during the first semester of their senior year. Under this plan, applicants agree to attend the institution if they are accepted and must withdraw applications from all other colleges. EARLY DECISION – A student applies early (usually November 1 of the senior year and if accepted is legally bound to attend that college. Student will usually be accepted by January 1.

Electives: Courses that are chosen by the student to meet the criteria for the degree.

Federal Work-Study Program: Work study is a government-supported financial aid program coordinated through financial aid offices whereby eligible students (based on need) may work part-time while attending class at least half-time, generally in offices/services on campus.

Fee Waiver: This program permits eligible students to submit college applications or test registration forms without the fee. A limited number are available through your guidance counselor and educational agencies.

Student Financial Aid: Money that is given or lent to students to help pay for their education. i.e. grants, scholarships, loans, work study.

Gap Year: Taking a year off between high school and college.

General Educational Development Examination (GED): The GED is a series of tests that adults take to qualify for a high school equivalency certificate or diploma. Many colleges will accept satisfactory GED test results in place of a high school diploma.

Grade Point Average (GPA): An indicator of the students 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 dividing the sum by the total number of courses carried.

Grant: Monies that are given to a student that does not have to be repaid.—usually given because of financial need.

Internship: An opportunity for a student to work under supervision of a professional. Internships are referred to as “hands on experience.” These may be required by the college and are usually given credits toward graduation.

Language Proficiency Examination: This is an examination in a foreign language to determine whether a student has satisfied a college’s foreign language requirement and, if not, into which level he or she should be placed.

Loan: Borrowed money that must be repaid.

Official Transcript: Most colleges and universities will only accept an transcript available to Newfoundland graduates by contacting the Department of Education. At the end of each high school year the Dept. mails students their HS transcript.

Registrar: The person on a college or university campus who is responsible for all the grades and credits given by the institution. Students register for courses and receive their grades from the Registrar.

Resume: A summary or outline of the student’s achievements, activities, employment, and awards/honors.

Scholarships: Money that is awarded usually for academic merit. This does not have to be paid back.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL1): A test offered to assess knowledge of written and spoken English for students whose native language is not English. May be taken by students living in the US for less than five years. TOEFL results are accepted in lieu of SAT at some schools. More competitive colleges will require the SAT as well.

Waiting List: If the student has been wait-listed, this means the decision for admission has not been finalized. Many programs at the College of The North Atlantic have waitlists. This means that the earlier you apply the better chance you have of gaining admission into the program of your choice.