Confused About the Vocabulary in the College Application Process

Can anyone explain some of the common terms used in the college application process? I'm getting lost with all the jargon, like 'early decision' vs. 'early action' and others. Any resources or tips to understand these better?

Sure, it's understandable to get confused with all the terminology being tossed around. Here's a rundown on some of the most common terms you'll encounter during the college application process:

Early Decision (ED): This is a binding agreement which means if you are accepted, you commit to enrolling in the college that accepted you and withdrawing all your other applications. Keep in mind applying ED can boost your chances of admission at many schools. However, because it is binding, you should only apply ED to your absolute top-choice school and one where you've confirmed that you can afford the tuition.

Early Action (EA): This is a non-binding option which means you can apply early, hear back early, but you don't have to commit until the regular decision deadline (usually around May 1). You can apply EA to multiple colleges, but some schools have 'restrictive' or 'single-choice' EA policies, which means you can only apply to their school early.

Regular Decision (RD): The normal process by which students apply by published deadlines, with the promise of receiving an admissions decision no later that April 1.

Rolling Admission: Unlike ED, EA, and RD, colleges that use rolling admissions evaluate applications as they come in and often offer decisions within a few weeks. You can apply at any time within a large window, which opens in the fall and closes in the spring.

Academic Index: This is a value that represents the strength of a student’s grades, test scores (if available), and class rank (if available). It's used by selective schools to ensure a student meets a certain academic threshold before reviewing the rest of their application.

FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a form you fill out to apply for federal and state financial aid. It's an essential part of securing funding for college.

Net Price Calculator: This tool, which you can find on every college's website, gives an estimate of what you'll actually pay after financial aid is taken into account.

Early FAFSA: This is an older term from when the FAFSA started being available earlier in the year (October instead of January). Now, it's just the regular FAFSA process.

By learning these terms, you're already heading in the right direction. Don't hesitate to continue asking questions if you come across unfamiliar terms; this process is filled with jargon. Now, you should have a solid understanding of these common terms to navigate the college application process more easily.