Admissions·United States· 7 min read

US College Admissions Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the key terms you will encounter when applying to US colleges — from ED and EA to FAFSA, COA, SEVIS, OPT, and more.

Application process terms

US college admissions has its own vocabulary. Understanding these terms before you start will save confusion later.

Common App — Common Application (commonapp.org): the shared online platform accepted by more than 1,000 US colleges. You complete one profile and submit it to multiple schools.
Coalition App — a second multi-school application platform used by some selective universities as an alternative to the Common App.
Supplement / Supplemental essays — additional short-answer essays required by individual colleges on top of the main personal statement.
ED (Early Decision) — a binding early-application round. If a college admits you ED, you are obligated to attend and must withdraw other applications. Typically due November 1–15.
ED II (Early Decision II) — a second binding early round with a later deadline (often January 1), for students who were deferred or declined elsewhere, or who did not apply ED I.
EA (Early Action) — a non-binding early round. You hear back early but are free to apply to other schools and compare offers before committing.
REA / SCEA (Restrictive / Single-Choice Early Action) — a non-binding early round that restricts you from applying ED or EA to other private colleges simultaneously. Used by a small number of highly selective schools.
RD (Regular Decision) — the standard application round, with deadlines typically in January and decisions in late March or April.
Rolling admissions — some colleges review and release decisions as applications arrive, rather than holding all decisions to one date.
Deferred — your ED/EA application was not admitted or rejected; it was moved to the Regular Decision pool for further review.
Waitlisted — after reviewing all applicants, the college may offer you a spot on a waitlist; admission from the waitlist depends on whether enrolled students decline offers of admission.

Standardised testing terms

Test requirements vary by college and can change each cycle — always check the specific school's current admissions page.

SAT — a standardised test used in US college admissions, administered by College Board. Sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math.
ACT — a competing college admissions test covering English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science; administered by ACT, Inc.
Test-optional — a policy under which a college does not require SAT/ACT scores for admission, though applicants may still choose to submit them.
Test-blind / Test-free — a policy under which a college will not consider SAT/ACT scores even if submitted.
Superscore — the practice of combining the highest sub-section scores from multiple test sittings into a single composite score. Not all colleges superscore.
AP (Advanced Placement) — College Board's advanced secondary-school courses and exams. High AP scores can earn college credit or placement at many US colleges.
IB (International Baccalaureate) — an internationally recognised pre-university programme; high scores on Higher Level (HL) courses may earn credit at US colleges.
TOEFL / IELTS / Duolingo English Test (DET) / PTE Academic — English language proficiency tests often required of international applicants whose secondary schooling was not primarily in English.

Financial aid and cost terms

Understanding financial aid terminology helps you compare offers accurately.

COA (Cost of Attendance) — the official total estimated annual cost of attending a college, including tuition, fees, room, board, books, personal expenses, and transportation. Published annually by each college.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) — the form at studentaid.gov used to determine a domestic student's eligibility for US federal grants, loans, and work-study funds.
CSS Profile — College Board's financial aid application form used by many private colleges and universities to determine eligibility for institutional (non-federal) aid.
EFC / SAI (Expected Family Contribution / Student Aid Index) — the figure used to assess how much a family can contribute toward college costs; the basis for calculating need-based aid.
Need-blind admissions — a policy under which a college does not consider a student's financial situation when making its admission decision.
Need-based aid — financial assistance awarded based on demonstrated financial need.
Merit-based aid / scholarships — financial assistance awarded based on academic, athletic, artistic, or other achievements, regardless of financial need.
Work-study — a federally funded programme allowing eligible students to work part-time jobs (often on campus) to help cover educational costs.
PLUS Loan — a federal loan available to parents of undergraduate students (Parent PLUS) or to graduate students (Grad PLUS) to help cover education costs beyond other aid.

Visa and immigration terms for international students

These terms are particularly relevant for students applying from outside the United States. For current official rules, always verify with the US Department of State (travel.state.gov) and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (studyinthestates.dhs.gov).

F-1 visa — the standard US student visa category for international students enrolled full-time in an academic programme at a SEVP-certified school.
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) — the US government's online system used to maintain information on international students and exchange visitors. Your school issues a SEVIS record (Form I-20) before you apply for an F-1 visa.
Form I-20 — the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status issued by the US school. You need this document to apply for the F-1 visa.
SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) — the US Department of Homeland Security programme that certifies schools to enrol F-1 students and oversees SEVIS.
OPT (Optional Practical Training) — temporary work authorisation available to F-1 students to gain practical experience in their field of study, typically for up to 12 months after graduation (or up to 36 months for STEM graduates under a STEM OPT extension). OPT is authorised by USCIS.
CPT (Curricular Practical Training) — work authorisation available to F-1 students for internships or co-ops that are an integral part of their academic programme, authorised by the school before starting work.
EAD (Employment Authorisation Document) — the official card issued by USCIS that permits eligible non-citizens (including OPT participants) to work in the United States.
STEM OPT extension — a 24-month extension of the standard 12-month OPT period available to graduates in qualifying Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics fields who receive a qualifying job offer from an E-Verify employer.
I-94 — the arrival/departure record issued when you enter the United States, showing your authorised period of stay.

Academic and enrolment terms

These terms describe how US higher education is structured and how students progress through their degree.

Major — your primary field of study at university, leading to the degree designation (e.g. Bachelor of Science in Computer Science).
Minor — a secondary concentration of study requiring fewer credits than a major.
GPA (Grade Point Average) — the numerical representation of a student's academic performance, typically on a 4.0 scale in the US.
Credit hour — the unit measuring academic workload; a typical US bachelor's degree requires around 120 credit hours.
Semester vs quarter system — most US colleges operate on a two-semester academic year; some use a quarter system with three or four terms per year.
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) — US federal law protecting the privacy of student education records.
Liberal arts — an educational philosophy emphasising breadth across humanities, sciences, and social sciences; many US undergraduate programmes, especially at smaller colleges, follow this approach.
Undeclared / Undecided — a student who has not yet formally chosen a major; many US colleges allow students to explore before declaring a major.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ED and EA in US college admissions?

Early Decision (ED) is binding: if admitted, you must attend and withdraw all other applications. Early Action (EA) is non-binding: you receive a decision early but remain free to apply to and compare other colleges before committing by the national deadline (typically May 1).

What is SEVIS and why does it matter for international students?

SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is the US government database used to track international students on F-1 visas. Your US school issues a SEVIS record and a Form I-20 after you are accepted and have paid the SEVIS fee, and you need both to apply for your F-1 visa at a US embassy or consulate.

What does test-optional mean — should I still submit my SAT or ACT scores?

Test-optional means the college will not penalise you for not submitting scores, but you may choose to include them. Whether to submit depends on how your scores compare with the college's published score ranges. Check each college's specific test policy and published score percentiles on its admissions page, as policies differ and can change each year.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: US Department of State — Student Visas; Federal Student Aid glossary — studentaid.gov.

Last verified: 2026-06-09.