• Early Action: A type of application deadline which is earlier than usual (usually between November 1 and December 15, depending on the college). Students can apply to more than one school's early action plan. Early action admission plans allow students to receive admission decisions sooner. It is not binding, meaning if a student is accepted, they are not required to attend. **For early action, financial aid is usually due earlier than normal, too!**

• Early Decision: A type of application deadline which is early than usual (usually between November 1 and December 15, depending on the college.) Students can only apply to one school's early decision plan. Early decision plans allow students to receive the admission decision sooner. It *is* binding, meaning that if a student is accepted they are required to attend. **We usually advise students against this plan so they can have the flexibility to choose a college after seeing every financial aid award.**

• Regular Decision: The regular admission deadline for the college (usually between December 15 and February 15, depending on the college). Students can apply to more than one school's regular decision plan.

• Rolling Decision/Admissions: A type of application that doesn't have a firm deadline. Usually there is a priority deadline, but if the college has this type of plan, they will accept applications until all of their slots are full.

• Admissions for a Specific Major: Some majors have specific application deadlines which are earlier than the college's regular admission deadline. If you know which major you would like to apply to, look for specific application deadlines. This is most common for programs such as engineering, nursing, performing arts requiring auditions, or other very selective programs.

• College Scholarship Deadlines: Some colleges have scholarship deadlines that are are quite early. Review your intended major at the schools you're interested in to make sure you are aware of which scholarships are available, if you need to apply specifically for them, what their requirements are, and when they are due.

• College Fee Waiver: In most cases, students in TRIO Upward Bound will not need to pay for college application fees because they will be waived (i.e. not charged by the college to the student)

• Common Application: Also known as the "Common App." A type of application that hundreds of colleges use. It is helpful because it reduces the number of times basic information needs to be entered. Maine's community colleges don't use the Common Application; they use one that can be accessed from their own websites.

• Coalition Application and Universal Application: Two types of applications which are similar to the Common Application. Fewer colleges accept these applications. Before you use one of them, please discuss the decision with your advisor.

• Recommendations: Recommendations are letters usually written by teachers and school counselors. Be sure to request these at least 2-3 weeks before the due date. These letters are sent directly to colleges (usually with Common App/Naviance).

  • • • Counselor Recommendation: Students usually must submit a "brag sheet" or "student summary" to their school counseling office so their counselor has plenty of information to use to write the student a counselor recommendation. These brag sheets should be turned in by the end of September of senior year.

      • Teacher Recommendations: We encourage students to request recommendations from two teachers they've had in junior or senior year. They should usually be teachers from core academic subjects who can speak well of the student's school work habits, effort, academic ability, and character.

• SAT: A type of standardized test administered by College Board. Many colleges require students to submit SAT or ACT scores. Official scores usually need to be sent directly from College Board, something you can request right on their website. *Upward Bound* students are eligible for fee waivers (which means students can take the test up to two times for free). Contact your advisor for a fee waiver.

  • • • SAT Registration Dates & Deadlines (students using a fee waiver can register up until the Late Registration Deadline without any late fees)

• SAT Subject Tests: A type of standardized test that may be required in addition to the SAT. Official scores usually need to be sent directly from College Board, something you can request right on their website. A fee waiver can be used for these tests. Contact your advisor for a fee waiver.

• ACT: A type of standardized test that some students choose to take in addition to the SAT. Your advisor can help you decide if you should take it. Official scores usually need to be sent directly from College Board, something you can request right on their website. Contact your school counselor to see if you are eligible for a fee waiver.

• Accuplacer: A type of standardized test used to assess college readiness. It is not required by all colleges, but is often used by community colleges and others to assist with course placement. Your advisor can help you determine if you need to take it. The test can often be arranged with the high school counseling office and be taken free of charge.

• Transcript: A list of all your final grades for each class in each year of high school. High schools will send out official transcripts to all of your colleges you're applying to. To do this, though, you need to send a request. Depending on the school this is usually done via a form or email and should be requested about three weeks before the college deadline.

• Tuition: The cost of classes. This is an expense that the college will bill you. Financial aid can help cover some of these costs.

• Fees: Typically these refer to additional costs that are linked to student activities, health expenses, and course expenses. Some schools charge different amounts depending on the programs that the student is in. This is an expense that the college will bill you. Financial aid can help cover some of these costs.

• Room: The cost of living on campus. This may vary depending on which residence hall (dorm) you are assigned to. It may cost more to have a single or a double compared to a triple (three people in a room).

• Board: The cost of a meal plan on campus. Each college has different types of meal plans from which you can choose. They also may have special meal dollars that can be used in the college's convenience store/snack bar. They are usually described as the number of meals and/or dollars allowed. Example: 19 meals per week plus 150 Husky Bucks

• Direct Costs: Costs that the college bills you. Examples: tuition, fees, room, board.

• Indirect Costs: The other costs that you can expect to pay as a college student. Examples: transportation to/from college, books, personal items (notebooks, shampoo, etc.)

• Cost of Attendance (COA): This is the total estimated cost of going to a specific college. Direct Costs + Indirect Costs = Cost of Attendance

• Health Insurance: Most colleges require students to have health insurance while they are attending their school. If you don't already have health insurance, you can purchase it through the school. If you already have health insurance, you will need to waive the school insurance to avoid paying it. This form is usually available during the summer before college (and needs to be completed every year you're in college).

• Financial Aid Award: The letter from a college which lists all the scholarships, grants, loans, and work study the student is eligible for. There is a different Financial Aid Award for each college.

• Need-based Aid: Financial aid that is provided based on a family's need (based on factors such as income).

• Merit-based Aid: Financial aid that is provided based on a student's achievements (such as grades, test scores, or leadership/volunteer experience).

• Scholarships: "Gift money," or financial aid that doesn't need to be paid back.

• Grants: "Gift money," or financial aid that doesn't need to be paid back.

  • • Federal Pell Grant: A type of federal grant. The award amount is related to your EFC (see term in "Applying for Financial Aid). The maximum award is $6,095 for the 2018–19 award year.

• Loans: Financial aid that needs to be paid back, usually with interest. There are federal loans and private loans.

  • • Direct Subsidized Loans: A type of federal loan. The federal government pays for the interest while the student is attending college at least half-time as well as during the six month "grace period" (the amount of time between when a student graduates or drops below half-time enrollment and when the first payment is due, usually six months).

    • Direct Unsubsidized Loans: A type of federal loan. The interest begins accumulating as soon as the loan is taken out.

    • Direct PLUS Loan: A type of federal loan. This type of loan can be taken out by a parent. Speak with your advisor for additional information. *Typically, we try to avoid this type of loan because we prefer to limit the amount borrowed by parents and students.*

• Master Promissory Note: A legal document in which you promise to pay back your student loans and any accrued (added) interest.

• Institutional Aid: Financial aid that is provided by the college instead of the federal government. Example: a specific scholarship for students majoring in math at the college

• Work Study: Money a student is eligible to earn by working for the college. The money is earned as the hours are worked, just like in a regular job. The money is not provided upfront. It is paid directly to the student.

• FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID; https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm): A legal signature for signing the FAFSA. Both the student and one parent need a FSA ID. (If the parent already has an FSA ID, don't create another.)

• Custodial Parent: The parent with whom the student lives for more than 50% of the time.

• Noncustodial Parent: The parent with whom the student lives for less than 50% of the time.

• FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid; https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa): The application for federal grants and loans. You choose which colleges will receive the results of this application.

• SAR (Student Aid Report): The report that shows how you answered on the FAFSA. It will include your EFC.

• EFC (Expected Family Contribution): The amount of money your family is expected to be able to afford according the the federal government. It is not necessarily the amount you will pay for college. Your college will use your EFC to determine your financial aid.

This number will be on your SAR. It is a dollar amount, but it will be printed in a different format.

For example, your EFC may be: 000000 (which means $0); or 000543 (which means $543); or 007853 (which means $7,853).

• CSS Profile: Some colleges use this College Board financial aid form in addition to the FAFSA. It is usually due between November and February, depending on the college. For many UB families, the form will be free to complete (see your advisor to for additional info). Noncustodial parent info is often required for the CSS Profile.

• Institutional Forms: Some colleges have additional financial aid forms that need to be completed before you can receive your award.

• Verification: After filing the FAFSA, sometimes families are selected for verification, meaning they need to verify some of the documents that are used to complete the FAFSA. You will know if you have been selected for verification if there is an asterisk (*) next to your EFC. UB staff and/or your college can help you complete this. If you need a tax transcript or proof that you didn't file taxes, you can request it from the IRS here.