Study in the US: Key Application Terms

• American College Testing (ACT): The ACT is a college admissions exam testing English, Math, Reading, and optional Science/Writing, featuring an enhanced format starting in 2025/2026 with fewer questions, more time per question, and a digital option. It is scored from 1-36, covers high school curriculum, and is used for US/Canada university admissions. 

• Advanced Placement (AP): Advanced Placement (AP)s are college-level courses and exams offered in high school, administered by the College Board. Strong AP scores can earn college credit or advanced placement at many US universities.

• ApplyTexas: ApplyTexas is an online application platform used by many public universities in Texas, allowing students to apply to multiple institutions through one portal.

• Coalition Application: The Coalition App is an online college application platform designed to make the admissions process more accessible, especially for first-generation and low-income students. Like the Common App, it allows you to apply to multiple schools at once but emphasizes affordability and support through features like an online document locker and collaboration space for recommendations. 

• College Board: The College Board is a nonprofit organization that administers several services used in college admissions, including the SAT, AP exams, and the CSS Profile.

• Common Data Set (CDS): The Common Data Set initiative is a collaborative effort among data providers in the higher education community and publishers as represented by the College Board, Peterson’s, and U.S. News & World Report. The combined goal of this collaboration is to improve the quality and accuracy of information provided to all involved in a student’s transition into higher education, as well as to reduce the reporting burden on data providers.

• Common Application (Common App): The Common App is one of the most widely used undergraduate application platforms. Students can complete one application and submit it to thousands of participating colleges and universities.

• Cost of Attendance (COA): Cost of Attendance (COA) is the total estimated yearly expense to attend college, covering tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

• CSS Profile: The CSS Profile is an electronic application provided by the College Board that some institutes use to determine eligibility for their need-based grant funding. 

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT): CPT is defined as employment which is an integral part of an established curriculum, including: “alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.

• Direct Costs: Direct costs are those paid directly to the college and include tuition and fees, housing, and meal plan. 

• Deferral: A deferral in US college admissions is a decision where an Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) applicant is not admitted immediately but is moved into the Regular Decision (RD) pool for reconsideration. It is not a rejection, but rather a “hold” that allows colleges to review applications against a wider, more competitive pool before making a final decision. 

• Demonstrated Interest: Demonstrated interest refers to the ways applicants show enthusiasm for a university, such as attending information sessions, visiting campus, or communicating with admissions officers. Some universities consider this factor when reviewing applications.

• F-1: The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows you to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program. You must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate and your school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept foreign students.

• Indirect Costs: Indirect costs are expenses associated with being a student that are not paid directly to the college. Indirect costs can include, but are not limited to Books and supplies, Travel expenses, Bills, Entertainment.

• I-20: The I-20 is a multi-purpose document issued by a government-approved, U.S. educational institution certifying that you have been admitted to a full-time program of study, and have also demonstrated sufficient financial resources to stay in the U.S. The I-20 is officially titled the “Certificate of Eligibility” because with it, you are “eligible” to apply for an F-1 student visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

• Early Action (EA): Early Action (EA) is a non-binding college application process allowing students to apply early (usually by Nov 1) and receive admissions decisions sooner (often by mid-December).

• Early Decision (ED): Early Decision (ED) is a binding agreement between you and a college. If you’re accepted, you commit to attending that school and must withdraw all other applications. Applicants must withdraw applications to other institutions if admitted under Early Decision.

• Early Decision II (ED II): Some universities offer Early Decision II, a second binding application round with a later deadline, usually in January.

• FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): The FAFSA is the official form used by U.S citizens and eligible non-citizens to determine eligibility for US federal financial aid, including grants, loans, and work-study programs. 

• Georgetown Application: Georgetown University requires applicants to submit a university-specific application, rather than using the Common App.

• Grade Point Average (GPA): GPA measures a student’s academic performance based on grades earned in high school courses. It is typically calculated on a 4.0 scale in the United States.

• Merit Scholarships: A merit scholarship is a type of financial award given to students based on their achievements, not their financial need. Unlike need-based aid, which considers your family’s income or assets, merit-based scholarships reward students for accomplishments such as high GPAs, standardized test scores, leadership experience, artistic talent or community involvement.

• MIT Apply: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) application portal requires applicants to submit applications through its own application portal instead of the Common App.

• Need-Based Financial Aid: Need-based aid is a broad category of financial aid that is awarded based on factors such as income level, personal assets, family size, and more. The goal of need-based aid is to help prospective students pay for their higher education.

• Need-Aware Admissions: Need-aware admission is a college admission policy where an applicant’s ability to pay for tuition is considered during the decision process, potentially disadvantageous to students requesting financial aid. While it may hurt admission chances for borderline candidates, these schools often offer strong financial aid packages to admitted students.

• Need-Blind Admissions: Need-blind admission is a college admission policy where an institution evaluates applicants without considering their financial situation, ensuring that a student’s ability to pay tuition does not impact their chances of acceptance. Instead, decisions are based solely on merit, such as academic performance and extracurriculars.

• Optional Practical Training (OPT): Optional practical training is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.

• Recommendation Letters: Recommendation letters are written by teachers, counselors, or mentors who provide insight into a student’s academic ability, character, and achievements.

• Regular Decision (RD): Regular Decision is the standard college application timeline. Applications are usually due in January, and admissions decisions are typically released between March and April.

• Restrictive Early Action (REA): Restrictive Early Action (also called Single-Choice Early Action) allows students to apply early to one private university but restricts them from applying early to other private institutions. The plan is non-binding, but limits early applications elsewhere.

• Rolling Admissions: Under rolling admissions, universities review applications as they are received and release decisions on an ongoing basis until all places are filled.

• SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test): The SAT is a standardized, digital, 2-hour 14-minute exam used for undergraduate college admissions in the U.S. and globally to measure reading, writing, and math skills. Administered by the College Board, it assesses readiness for college through two main sections- Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math, with a total score range of 400–1600.

• Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS:) This is your identifying number in the U.S. government’s international student database, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Activate your SEVIS ID by paying the SEVIS I-901 Fee, and save a copy of your payment receipt in your records. If you begin a new academic program in the United States, you can request to transfer your SEVIS record and ID to the new program. 

• Supplemental Essays: Many universities require additional essays beyond the main application essay. These help admissions officers learn more about an applicant’s interests, experiences, and fit for the institution.

• University of California Application: The University of California (UC) system uses its own application platform rather than the Common App. Students can apply to multiple UC campuses using a single UC application.

• Waitlist: A waitlist means the university has not initially offered admission but may admit the student later if space becomes available in the incoming class.

• Yield Rate: A yield rate is the percentage of admitted students who accept an offer of admission and decide to enroll. It measures a school’s popularity and desirability, with higher rates indicating greater selectivity and student commitment.