NHHEAF Network College Glossary

Academic Advisor
A college professional (sometimes a professor) who helps college students choose classes and access resources like tutoring or internships.

Academic Support Services
Services provided to students to help them succeed academically. Examples include tutoring, writing centers, computer assistance, etc.

Admissions Office
The college office that provides information and assistance to students interested in applying to college. Admissions counselors read applications and interview potential students. Admissions counselors travel to many different locations to encourage students to learn more about the college they represent.

Admission Application
The formal application to attend college

Advance Placement Courses
Advanced Placement courses are college-level courses offered while you are in high school. AP classes are considered the most rigorous classes to take while in high school. There are 34 different AP exams a student can take. Doing well on the accompanying AP exams at the end of the course may result in college credit.

Acceptance Letter
A notification (online or paper) that congratulates the student for meeting the requirements for college admission and invites the student to be part of the college community

Application Fee
The fee charged by a college to process a student's admission application

Campus
A college’s buildings and grounds including dormitories (where students sleep), dining hall (where students eat), library (where students study), athletic facility (where students exercise and play sports) and other buildings.

Center for College Planning
A free college planning resource from the NHHEAF Network Organizations dedicated to providing students and families with valuable information about the college planning process – from savings options and college admissions requirements, to applying for financial aid and scholarships.

Class Rank
A rating which compares your cumulative grade point average to other members of your class. Class rank is often used to determine your eligibility for college admission and scholarships.

College
A College is an institution of higher education that grants degrees and certificates.

College Board
A non-profit membership organization composed of over 4,500 schools, colleges and universities that provides a number of services relating to college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, and enrollment. It is best known for administering the SAT, the PSAT and the Advanced Placement program.

College Fair
A special program that highlights college and university programs. Students and parents have an opportunity to speak with representatives from many different colleges and collect information about their campuses.

College Work-Study (CWS) Program
A form of financial aid where students work part-time at their college, for example in a library or dining hall.

Community College
A college that offers programs (usually two years) that prepare students for immediate employment, or for transfer to a four-year college or university.

Degrees
Degrees are rewards for the successful completion of a prescribed program of study.

Associate Degree
Generally a degree program completed over two years which is obtained by completing 60+ college credit hours. This degree may be used as a foundation to continue your education (if your goal is to get a bachelor's degree) or as a stepping stone to your first career (if your goal is to get a job immediately).

Bachelor's Degree
Generally a degree completed over four years which is obtained by completing 120+ credit hours. The first 60 hours are usually made up of general education classes (electives) and the final 60+ hours consist of courses that are especially geared towards your major.

Master's Degree
An advanced college degree earned after a bachelor's degree, which normally takes two years for a full-time student to complete.

Doctorate Degree
The highest degree offered by a university; also called a Doctorate or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Physicians receive a Medical Doctorate (M.D.), and lawyers receive a Juris Doctorate (J.D.).

Diploma
A formal document that recognizes a student’s completion of a specific program of study, usually of one to two years.

Dormitory
A building that houses students who live on a college campus; also called a residence hall. Some students live in singles (by themselves), doubles, triples or quads.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
The amount that, according to a government formula, your family should be able to pay toward college costs. For some families, there is a zero EFC. Financial Aid can make up the difference between the cost of college and the EFC.

Electives
Optional courses enrich your academic experience. (for example: A student majoring in English may take required classes like Women’s Literature, Creative Writing and American Literature, but could take elective courses like Politics, Art or Psychology.)

FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid; the federal form that students use to apply for financial assistance.

Financial Aid
Money offered to students to help them pay for educational expenses in college.

Grant
A financial award to a student; generally does not have to be repaid.

Internship
Internships allow students to have a work experience while they are still in school. Some college students receive class credit for working at jobs related to their major.

Liberal Arts
A course of study that focuses on general knowledge and reasoning ability instead of a specific career. Many students will take Liberal Arts courses as electives to complement their major program of study.

Loan
Financial aid that must be repaid with interest after a student leaves school.

Mascot
A person, animal, or object that represents an organization, school or a sports team.

NHHEAF Network Organizations
The largest source for college planning and funding within New Hampshire. The Organizations are comprised of four independent, nonprofit organizations. The interconnectedness of these four organizations provides students and schools with expertise in all aspects of the student loan industry.

Online Course
A course delivered through the Internet and Web-based software. Students interact with the instructor and other students via email.

Prerequisite Courses
Classes which must be taken prior to taking more advanced course. (Biology is a prerequisite class for students interested in Exercise Science.)

Private college
An independent college set up by individuals or organizations; receives little taxpayer support.

Public College
A college supported by a state government, which pays for part of the school's operational costs.

Room and Board
The cost for living in a college residence hall (room) and receiving meals in a college dining hall (board).

Standardized Tests

PSAT
The Preliminary SAT is a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test. The PSAT measures: critical reading, math problem-solving and writing skills. When students take the PSAT, they receive feedback on their strengths and weaknesses related to the skills necessary for college study. Students can then focus their preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.

SAT
The SAT is a college admission exam that measures critical reasoning, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills. the exam is nearly four hours, primarily multiple choice with a maximum score of 2400. Students usually take this exam in the junior or senior year of high school. Most four-year colleges require the SAT as part of their admission process.

ACT (American College Testing) Test
College entrance exam that tests students’ skills in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning. This exam is comparable to the SAT offered by the College Board.

529 Plans
An education savings plan operated by a state or educational institution designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs. 529 plans are usually categorized as either prepaid or savings, although some have elements of both. Every state now has at least one 529 plan available.