Jargon

Demonstrated Interest: Some colleges try to gauge your interest in that school and use it as a factor in the admissions process. For more information, including schools that use demonstrated interest in the application process, see here.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): A form required by the government for application to any federal education aid program. A FAFSA determines the specific federal student aid programs that contribute to a student’s total college financial aid package and in what proportions. High school seniors should submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1.*

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

Superscore: Colleges have the option to take the best section scores for ACT or SAT, even if they are from different tests. For instance, you re-take the ACT and score better on the reading section, but lower on the math section. A college might take your superscore - the best of your two reading scores and the best of your two math scores to consider in the application process.