TERMS TO KNOW

ACT/SAT

College entrance exams used by most colleges and universities to determine college readiness and admissions.

Early Action (EA)

An option to submit your college application before the regular deadlines.

Early Decision (ED)

Fafsa

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a form completed by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid.

Associate's Degree

An academic degree awarded by a college after completion of two years of study.

Bachelor's Degree

An academic degree awarded by a college or university after completion of 4+ years of study.

Common Application

An undergraduate college admission application that students may use to apply to more than 900 member institutions.

Deferred Admission

An opportunity for a student who has been admitted to delay or defer enrollment for a year or a semester.

An option to submit an application to your firstchoice college before the regular deadline. ED plans are binding You agree to enroll in that college if admitted and offered financial aid that meets your needs.

Cfnc

The College Foundation of North Carolina is a free, comprehensive online resource designed to help all NC students and families plan, apply, and pay for college.

Countdown to College

North Carolina's annual campaign to support college access during the month of October, including Free College Application Week.

Financial Aid

Money that is given or loaned to you to help pay for college. Financial aid can include grants, scholarships, work study, and loans.

First-Generation College Students

Students whose parents do not have any postsecondary education experience or have not completed a college degree

Priority Date or Deadline

The date by which your application - whether it's for college admission, student housing, or financial aidmust be received to be given the strongest consideration.

Transcript

The official record of your coursework at a school or college. Your high school transcript is required for college admission.

Rds

The Residency

Determination Service is a centralized residency service for all students seeking admission and instate tuition to a North Carolina public college or university.

Ncaa

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the governing body of college athletics and is responsible for regulating studentathletes.

Hbcu

Historically Black Colleges or Universities are institutions that were originally founded to educate students of African American descent.

Fsa Id

The Federal Student Aid Identification is an electronic signature used to sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and federal education loan promissory notes. The FSA ID consists of a username and password

Scholarship

A financial award that is given to a student that does not have to be repaid.

Room and Board

The cost of having a place to sleep (room) and food to eat (board) while at school.

RCN Residency Certification

Number is a unique identifier that RDS assigns to you when you begin the RDS Interview. It may be requested by NC Colleges when applying.

Sar

The Student Aid Report is the electronic or paper report you receive summarizing your FAFSA and EFC information.

Tuition and Fees

The quarterly or semester charges imposed to attend an institution of higher education and required as a condition of enrollment.

Efc

The Estimated Family Contribution is an index number colleges use to determine how much financial aid they're eligible to receive.