Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 4942 ACT (American College Test): A national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in English, mathematics, science and reading as well as a writing test. Admissions Counselor: A college or university employee who advises students during the admissions process. AGI (Adjusted Gross Income): Most financial aid forms require parents or students to state their taxable AGI based on income minus maximum allowable adjustments. Alternative Loans: These private student loans from banks or other lending institutions are not federally supported nor guaranteed. Students must be enrolled to apply for these loans. AP: Advanced Placement classes let high school students study college level subjects for advanced placement and/or credit upon entering college. Associate Degree: Awarded after 60 credit hours, usually two years of study. ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery): Used by all branches of the military to determine how qualified you are to enlist, as well as your qualification for certain military jobs and your signing bonus. Bachelor’s Degree: Generally awarded after a minimum of 120 credit hours, usually four to five years of study. Capitalized Interest: Unpaid interest that is added to the original amount of a loan. Capitalized interest increases the size of a loan, because the borrower is paying interest on their interest. Certificate: (1) Given in a non-degree program, usually in a vocational or technical area to prepare for a specific occupation. Certificate programs generally last 6 to 12 months. (2) Given in specialized areas to people who have completed master’s, doctorate or professional degrees. COA (Cost of Attendance): The total cost of attending a college or university including tuition, room and board, books, lab fees, transportation and basic living expenses. “Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity.” -Penelope Ward CSS Profile: The College Scholarship Service Profile is a financial aid form many colleges and universities use to determine how much non-federal financial aid a student may be eligible for. Community College: Sometimes called junior college or two-year college. Students can take classes and then transfer to a four-year school, or they can earn certificates, diplomas or associate degrees. Credit Hour: Credit hours are units of value given to classes. Some classes may be worth two or three credits, while others are worth four credits. Credits vary by class and by school. Many schools base tuition costs on the number of credit hours taken. Some charge a specific dollar amount per credit hour. Glossary