Important Terms to Know

This term is used mainly in the US. In an undergraduate degree program, the major is the area of concentration or focus. Some universities provide more flexibility in choosing a major than others in terms of electives, core curriculum required and even when the major needs to be declared. It is best to carefully course guides regarding the requirements for choosing a major program of study.

Early Decision

This is a program under which the student receives early notification regarding the admission decision from a college or university. The student must agree in advance to enroll if accepted, so a student may apply to only one college or university under the early decision status. Application deadlines are usually early to mid-November with notification by mid-December. Students who apply early decision are advised to complete all SAT and TOEFL testing by the end of junior year.

Early Action

This plan is similar to early decision in terms of the timeline, but early action programs are not binding. This means the student has until May 1, the common reply date in the US, to decide whether to enroll if offered admission. Students may apply to more than one school under the early action plan and do not have to enroll if offered admission.

Rolling Admissions

A college using the rolling admissions policy begins to review application files as soon as they are complete. Admissions decisions are usually sent within one month of receiving the completed application file. It is best to apply as early as possible to colleges that use a rolling admissions policy because once the class fills, students can no longer be admitted. 

Open Admissions

Open Admission is a policy under which any candidate with a high school equivalent diploma is admitted. Some two-year colleges use this policy.

Predicted Grades

Universities in Canada, the UK, Australia, and Hong Kong request predicted grades in November of the senior year in order to help them determine whether or not a conditional offer of admission can be made.

Deferred Status

Students who apply under an early program sometimes receive notification from the college that they are in a deferred status. This means the student has not been admitted under the early program, but the college has not denied admission and will re-evaluate the candidate under the regular admission timeline. If admitted later, the requirement to enroll under early decision no longer stands.

Waiting List

Colleges sometimes place students on the waiting list. This means a student may be offered admission later, usually in May – June, depending on the number of accepted students who actually enroll at an institution. Student should bear in mind that colleges accept only a small number of students from their wait list. Students who have been placed on a wait list must inform their counselor.

Types of Institutions

These colleges offer Bachelor’s Degree programs in a wide variety of subjects. The primary goal is to offer a broad based education in the areas of history, literature, mathematics, social sciences, natural sciences, world languages and the arts with the intention of developing critical thinking and communication skills rather than training for a career. Students who graduate from liberal arts colleges often go on to graduate school to earn a Master’s Degree.

University

Universities grant undergraduate and graduate degrees and are comprised of faculties or colleges that are dedicated to a particular discipline, for example, “faculty of science” or “college of business”. Universities are generally larger in student population and often have research facilities on campus. A common concern among undergraduate university students is that the emphasis is too focused on research and graduate education. Undergraduate students at universities may not have as much access to their professors as students in smaller colleges.

Public Universities

These universities are funded by state government and, as such, often have lower tuition fees for in-state residents. Out-of-state fees are often less expensive than private colleges or universities, but international students are usually not considered for financial aid awards at a public university. State universities vary in terms of selectivity and are often required to save seats for in-state residents.

Private Universities

Private colleges and universities usually have higher tuition fees, but it is important to note that these schools often have more generous financial aid awards available for international students. 

Engineering or Technical Institutes

Often called Institutes of Technology or Polytechnic Institutes, these schools offer training programs and degrees in the fields of engineering and technology.

Professional Degree Granting Schools

These schools offer a combination of liberal arts courses and intensive training in a specialized field such as fine arts. Rhode Island School of Design and Berklee College of Music would be examples of schools in this category.

Community College

These colleges offer 2-year degrees to prepare students for immediate entry into the workforce. Students who enroll in community college often transfer later to a 4-year college or university in order to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. The majority of community colleges have an open admission policy, but international student considering community colleges often need to find their own housing since few community colleges offer student dormitories.

Foundation Program

Because the UK, Australia and Hong Kong universities offer three year degree programs, they require an IB Diploma for entry. If the student has not earned an IB Diploma, he or she may need to do a foundation year before entering a Bachelor Degree program. This extra year is to prepare students for the demands of a rigorous university course of study and can be a great option for students who did not take the IB Diploma program while in high school.