Glossary

The following glossary is a work in progress. If any reader comes across a mystery term not listed here, please contact us and we'll define it or clarify it immediately.

Accreditation (US)-  recognition of a college or university by any of the regional or national accrediting bodies indicating that the institution as a whole has been judged as meeting accreditation objectives.  

ACT (US)- American College Testing Programme, required by some US colleges and universities as one of their entrance requirements (sometimes in lieu of the more widely used SATs).

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) (US)- Term found on US financial aid forms. All taxable income minus Internal Revenue Service allowable adjustments to income.  This figure is from IRS Tax Forms -- Form 1040, Form 1040A or Form 1040EZ,

Admission Testing (US): The two major testing programs that are utilized for admission purposes are (1) the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and (2) the ACT (American College Testing Program).  Students should consult the individual college catalog to determine which test(s) the college or university requires.  It is the student's responsibility to have his scores sent directly from the testing agency to the colleges of his choice.

Advanced Placement (US)- College-level courses taught as a part of the high school curriculum… Once the student completes an advanced placement course, he may elect to take the AP exam.  Depending upon the score, the student may be awarded college credit at the institution he chooses to attend.

Aid Package (US)-  A combination of aid (scholarship, grant, loan, and work) determined by the financial aid office.

Allophone (Quebec)- Montréalers who speak neither French or English as their first language

Anglophone (Quebec)- Montréalers who speak English as a first language

Application Fee (US)- a nonrefundable fee for processing applications. It is recommended that this fee be paid by check or money order.

Assistance Needed (US)-  The amount of money a student needs, in addition to the Expected Family Contribution, to attend a particular institution.

Bank Holiday Weekend- generic British term for any national holiday, always including a Monday; most offices, banks, government offices and schools are closed (usually no mail delivery), but shops use them as great excuses for huge sales; would be similar to a federal holiday in the US.

Brevet- short for French Diplôme National de Brevet; the Brevet is an externally marked national exam taken at age 16, and is the same test whether taken in France or anywhere else in the world. It's offered at Lycees, and in the French sections of some schools, and is aimed at students who leave school at 16 so they have some sort of certificate. A Lycee gives it as an end-of-year exam for students who are going on to study for either the academically rigorous Bac or, in France, attending a technical high school.  

Association for independent schools that operate within Canada or offer a curriculum leading to a Canadian diploma in a location outside of the country. Member schools are non-profit institutions with volunteer Boards of Governors who are responsible for hiring a Head to manage the daily operation of the school. To qualify for membership, schools must offer an academic program that will prepare students for entrance to institutions of higher education.

CEGEP  (Canadian)- Collège d’enseignement général et professional  Quebec general and vocational colleges; two year courses prior to university. 

CESI- Canadian Educational Standards Institute  www.cesi.edu

Mission of CESI is to promote educational excellence through a rigorous school accreditation process. CESI recognizes and celebrates the independence, integrity and unique character of each school and the students whom it serves; and has developed rigorous educational and operational standards and evaluates the performance of member schools in meeting those standards in the fulfillment of their missions. Member schools are corporations with Boards that operate at arm's length from the administration of the school and which maintain high educational and personal standards for their students while providing preparation for higher education. The schools' statements of purposes and objectives reflect legitimate educational and social goals. Schools must have five years of experience and must, within three years, be ready to undergo the full evaluation and accreditation process.

CLSC- Centres Locals de Services Communitaires, the health centres in Québec. Now called the CSSS (Centres de Santé de Services Sociaux.) College Work-Study Program (CWS)(US): Provides part-time jobs to assist students who need help to pay the expenses of higher education.  Work-study jobs are awarded to the student by the institution's financial aid office.

CNED (Centre National Enseignement a Distance)- Distance learningsystem wherein the students spend little time in school.

College- In the US, this always applies to post-secondary institutions, is usually small and specializes in one area of study, ie a liberal arts college. They are only called universities when there are two or more (College of Architecture, College of Engineering). In the UK, a college always refers to pre-university level, ie Eton College, although it can be a middle school or a high school (NB when someone goes “off to university”, that is not going “off to school” – school means sub-university level. “University”, or “uni” (repeat, never “college” is the generic term for post-secondary institutions.

College Application(US)- application for admission to a university, college or tech school.  It can be as simple as requiring only your name, address, telephone number, and the term you desire admittance on a single sheet of paper or as complex as detailed information such as references, letters of recommendation and/or an autobiographical sketch.  Applications should be typed or printed in dark ink, never completed in pencil.  Students should consult their guidance counselor for the procedure for mailing transcripts with their applications.

College Catalog (US)- a vital source of information for students looking at US universities or colleges.  It describes the college's physical plant, campus, admission policies, costs, programs of studies, and individual courses.

College Visitation (US)- a visit to the campus by student and/or parent.  These visitation days are normally scheduled on a weekend so that students will not be absent from high school classes.  Students desiring to visit a college or university should contact the office of admissions for details.

Cooperative work-study education (US)-  A program in which the student alternates between full-time college study and full-time paid employment related to the area of study.  Under this plan, a  bachelor's degree often requires five years to complete.

Cost of Attendance (US):  Tuition, Fees, Room & Board, Books, Supplies.

Credit by examination (US): A program through which some colleges/universities  grant course credit based on results of ACT scores or SAT Achievement scores, the ACT Proficiency Examination Program (PEP), the CEEB College-level Examination Program (CLEP), or other examinations.

Deferred admission (US)- university/college enrollment postponed for one year.

Dependent Students (US)-   Students who do not meet any of the definitions of an independent student.  Parents of dependent students must submit parental information on the FAFSA in order for the students to be considered for financial assistance.

Diplôme National de Brevet- Also known as the Brevet; an externally marked national exam taken at age 16, it is the same test whether taken in France or anywhere else in the world. Offered at Lycees, and in the French sections of some schools, and aimed at students who leave school at 16 so they have some sort of certificate. A Lycee gives it as an end-of-year exam for students who are going on to study for either the academically rigorous Bac or, in France, attending a technical high school

Dual Enrollment (US)-  high school courses and college courses taken during high school senior year.  Concurrent credit will be awarded for credit earned in these courses.  Dual enrollment students must request that the college or university at which they are jointly enrolled forward a transcript to the college or university they plan to attend after graduation if it is different from the one in which they are jointly enrolled.

Early Decision (US)-  The application procedure of applying early in the fall and receiving an answer from the college/university by mid-December. Only one early decision (E.D.) application is allowed. The agreement is that the student will not apply to any other colleges/universities.  If admission is granted the student must reply with deposit soon after.

Early Admission (US)-  Early admission programs give eligible eleventh-grade students the opportunity to elect to leave high school prior to graduation and enroll full time in a college or university.  Students desiring early admission status should consult their high school counselor and the catalog from the college or university.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) (US)-  Term found on financial aid forms. For dependent students, it is the sum of the Parents' Contribution and the Student's Contribution, calculated by the Federal Methodology.  It is the total amount of money a family can be expected to contribute to the student's education for the award year.  For independent students, it is the Student's (and spouse's, if any) contribution calculated by the Federal Methodology.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) (US)- The form that must be completed by all students and parents who apply for Federal Title IV student aid.  It is the only form that can be used to apply for Federal financial aid agencies and colleges.  There is a new FAFSA each year.

FAFSA Express (US)-  The U.S. Department of Education's electronic FAFSA application process.

Federal Methodology (FM) (US)-  The need analysis formula mandated by Federal law to determine a student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Federal Pell Grant Program (US)-  Largest of the Federal grant programs. Federal Pell Grant ensures that all eligible students have at least some of the money they need to continue their education after high school.  Initial eligibility is determined by the Federal government, but the award amount and final eligibility are determined by the college based upon Federal guidelines.

Federal Perkins Loans (US)-  Loans funded by the Federal government and awarded by the institution.  The loans feature low interest rates and are repayable over an extended period.

Federal PLUS Loans (US)-  A loan program through which eligible parents can borrow from a bank or other lending institutions for their son's or daughter's college costs.  The exact amount a parent may borrow is determined by the college. In addition, parents have to be approved by the lender.

Federal Stafford Loans (US)-  A subsidized loan program through which a student may borrow from a bank or other financial institution.  The Federal government will pay the interest on the loan while the student is in college.  Eligibility is based on need -- borrowers must pay the interest during in-school and deferment periods.  These loans may be provided in excess of a student's calculated financial need, but not beyond the difference between the cost of attendance and other financial aid resources.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (FSEOG)(US)-  Federal grant funds made available through some institutions to a limited number of undergraduate students with financial need.

Federal Work-Study Program (US)-  Provides part-time jobs to assist students who need help to pay the expenses of higher education.  Work-study jobs are awarded to the student by the institution's financial aid office.  Funding for this program is a combination of Federal and institution dollars.

Francophone-  People who speak French as their first language

Fraser Institute (Montreal)- an independent public policy organisation, famous for the annual school Report Cards they produce, together with the Montreal Economic Institute, which provide their own rankings and comparisons amongst Montreal secondary schools.  

French Diplôme National de Brevet- The Brevet is an exam taken at age 16, and is the same test whether taken in France or anywhere else in the world. It's offered at Lycees, and in the French sections of some schools, and is aimed at students who leave school at 16 so they have some sort of certificate. A Lycee gives it as an end-of-year exam for students who are going on to study for either the academically rigorous Bac or, in France, attending a technical high school.  

Grants:   Awards based on Financial need that do not require repayment.  Grants are available through the Federal government, state agencies, and many colleges.

GST (Singapore): Goods and Service Tax

Grade point average (GPA)(US):  An indicator of the student's overall scholastic performance.  The GPA is computed by totaling the number of grade points earned in each course (generally: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) and then dividing the sum by the total number of courses carried.

High School Certificate (HSC) (Australian)-HSC courses are taken over the last 2 years of school and generally, each subject comprises 2 units, 1 taken in year 11 and 1 in year 12. To be eligible for the HSC, a student must have obtained the requisite number of units as well as meeting additional requirements eg. must have at least 2 English units

High School Certificate (HSC) Extension courses (Australian)- These are advanced versions of the normal courses.   Extension courses, each with a value of 1 unit, may be included in a students study programme which means that a subject can have up to 4 units eg. English Advanced (2 units), English Extension 1 (1 unit) and English Extension 2 (1 unit).

Honors program(US)-  Any program offering opportunity for superior students to enrich their educational experience through independent, advanced, or accelerated study.

Housing Deposit (US)-  Housing deposits are paid to reserve a room in a college or university dormitory.  This fee is usually paid after acceptance to a college or university.  Deadlines for housing deposits are usually strict.  Students should respond promptly to requests for housing deposits.

Independent Schools- Independent schools do not receive funds from the government or local authorities, but they are not necessarily private schools (which in England is any school which is run to make a profit). Independent schools charge school fees (some based on scholastic merit, some on need), and select students by using an entrance exam to determine ability. They are often single-sex schools, although many boys' schools accept girls in the sixth form (between the ages of 16 and 18). A number of schools accept a varying arrangement of boarders (full: those who live in the school grounds full time; weekly: those who go home for weekends; dayboys/daygirls: those who go home at night.

Independent study (US):  An arrangement which allows the student to earn college credit through individual study, usually planned with and supervised by a faculty advisor.

Independent Students (US):  Students who need not submit parental information on the FAFSA (Federal Aid For Students Application).  Under the Federal definition, an independent student is one who:

Has legal dependents other than a spouse, or

Is 24 years old,  or

Is a graduate or professional student, or

Is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, or

Is an orphan or ward of the court, or

Is married, or

Is, through documentation by the college Financial Aid Administrator, determined to be independent by reason of unusual circumstances.

International Baccalaureate Diploma- Rigorous exam in 6 subjects with a maximum score of 7 points plus a maximum of 3 bonus points for the 4,000 word dissertation and a Theory of Knowledge paper.

IGSCE (UK): International General Certificates of Secondary Education

KS (Key Stages)- The National Curriculum is divided into four key stages according to pupils’ ages: KS 1 for 5-7 year olds, KS 2 for 7-11, KS 3 for 11-14, KS 4 for 14-16.

Kindergarten-  Nursery and non-compulsory schooling in the UK; the first compulsory year in the US, and often the first year (but not grade);  not compulsory in parts of Canada (for example, Quebec).

Livre Scolaire - Standard record keeping throughout the French System; remains with a child throughout his French school life.

LCC- Lower Canada College- day school in Montreal that offers 12th grade

Loans(US)-  Funds provided to qualifying students through a lending institution or college that must be repaid.  Interest rates and repayment schedules for college loans are usually reasonable.

NAIS- The National Association of Independent Schools www.nais.org Membership organization and the national voice of independent education. It represents nearly 1,200 U.S. independent schools, including day, boarding, and day/boarding schools; elementary and secondary schools; boys', girls', and coeducational schools. NAIS offers a variety of products and services to member schools and associations. Members are non-profit independent schools in the United States that have been in operation at least 5 years, belong to a state or regional independent school association, are accredited by a NAIS-recognized independent school accrediting agent, and demonstrate financially sound operations and nondiscriminatory hiring and admissions practices. NAIS members agree in spirit with the NAIS Principles of Good Practice.

National Merit^® Scholarship Program - an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT^®)—a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.4 million entrants each year—and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements

Need Analysis (US)-  A technique used to determine a student's need for financial assistance to help meet educational expenses.  It consists of three steps: (1) determining the student's educational expenses  (2) determining the family's ability to contribute to educational expenses, and (3) subtracting #2 from #1.

Major (US)-     The subject of study in which the student chooses to specialize: a series of related courses, taken primarily in the junior and senior years.

Open admission (US)-  The policy of some colleges of admitting virtually all high school graduates, regardless of academic qualifications such as high school grades and admission test scores.

Oxbridge- verbal shortcut lumping together Oxford and Cambridge

Parents' Contribution (PC) (US)-  The yearly amount a student's parent(s) can be expected to contribute to their student's education, as determined by the Federal Methodology from FAFSA data.

PG or Post Graduate Year (US)- one extra year between high school and university, attending a boarding school, usually and often to beef up a student's academic or athletic CV, or just allow an extra year for maturation.     

Prep school - (short for preparatory school) In the UK, refers to schools preparing little students (aged about 8 and girls aged about 11) not for University but for taking the Common Entrance Exam at 13 and going to a public school (Eton, Harrow, Winchester – ie. almost a feeder school); for US, this usually refers to boarding schools (high school level), although some country day schools may include “Preparatory” in the name; means preparing students for university. 

 Public schools (UK)- Some private schools in the UK are known as “public”(“independent” schools are also private or non-state schools, but that does not necessarily make them "public schools" in the English sense of the word); a public school in this case is an independent secondary school which is a charitable (not profit-making) entity; most belong to a public school association, the largest of which are the Headmasters' Conference (HMC) and the Girls' School Association (GSA). This is unlike other countries where a "public school" is a state school run by the government. Famous examples of public schools would be Eton or Harrow. 

Public schools (US)- Public schools are, without exception, open to the general public and supported by the taxpayer; all children living within that school’s district (the neighborhood around the school with strict and specific boundaries established by the local school board), are guaranteed a place at that school.

Renewal FAFSA (US)-   A pre-printed application form sent to eligible FAFSA filers which substitutes for the previous year FAFSA.  It is pre-printed with some of the information from the previous FAFSA.  Students and parents will update, provide required data, sign and submit the Renewal FAFSA to the Federal processor.

QAIS - Québec Association of Independent Schools www.qais.qc.ca  Organization consisting of English elementary and secondary independent schools licensed in the public interest and located in Québec, Canada. Member schools, represented by the Head of School, are not for profit, fiscally sound educational institutions governed by, and responsible to, an arm's length Board of Governors. Member schools have adopted The QAIS Principles of Good Practice that elaborate on the acceptable manner in which a member school conducts itself. The QAIS promotes collaboration, provides services that further educational leadership and advocates independent English language education in Quebec on behalf of its member schools.

Rank-In-Class (US)-  Students are ranked at the end of the seventh (7th) semester (middle of senior year) based on their weighted GPA.

Reception (UK)- Ages 5-7 years, the first compulsory year in the UK.

Recommendations (US)-  Many colleges and universities require that students submit letters of recommendation with their application.  These recommendations should include reference to the student's distinctive qualifications and academic ability.  Students who request others to complete letters of recommendation for them should allow sufficient time for the individuals to complete them.

The “Régie”- Régie de l’assurance maladie de Québec www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca Body responsible for Québec’s public health system

ROTC -Reserve Officers Training Corp-  Air Force, Army, and Navy programs that combine military education with baccalaureate degree study, often with financial support for those students who commit themselves to future service in the Armed Forces.

SAQ- Société des alcohols du Québec  www.saq.com -Québec state liquor stores

SASE (US): Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (abbriviation found on US college/university applications).

SATs (UK) -Standard Attainment Tests. Taken by English state (and some independent) school children at 7, 11 and 14 (end of each key stage)

Scholarships- Non-repayable awards to students based on merit (academic achievement, standardized test scores, special talents, etc.) or merit plus need.

SAT (US)- Scholastic Aptitude Test, required by most US colleges/universities (or alternatively but slightly less often, the ACT) 

SSAT (US)- required by most US private schools as one of their entrance requirements.

SSIG (US)- State Student Incentive Grants - Federal funds allocated to state scholarship and grant agencies to encourage expansion of state scholarship and grant programs.  Eligible undergraduate students may receive these grants directly from a state agency or through a college, awarding procedures vary from state to state.

SAR- Student Aid Report (US)- This report is sent to the student by the U.S. Department of Education's Central Processing System contractor.  It shows all the information from the student's FAFSA enabling that information to be reviewed and, if necessary, corrected.  The instructions should be carefully followed.  It tells the student whether he/she is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and is used by the institutions to determine eligibility for other Federal student aid.  Some colleges process students applications and/or corrections electronically.  When this occurs, the student will receive a SAR Information Acknowledgement rather than a SAR.

Student Contribution (SC) (US)-  The yearly amount a student may reasonable be expected to pay toward his or her educational expenses as determined by the Federal Methodology from FAFSA data.

Student Expense Budget (US) -  The cost for a student to attend a specific institution.  The budget includes either in-state or out-of-state tuition and fees, room and board, allowances for books and supplies, transportation, personal and miscellaneous expenses.

TABS -  The Association of Boarding Schools www.schools.com

Non-profit voluntary membership organization for 300 boarding schools in the United States, Canada, and abroad. 

Transcript (US)- A transcript is a copy of a student's high school record.  This document usually includes a copy of the test scores.  It must be mailed directly to the college admissions office from the high school.  Students must make the request for a transcript to be mailed.

Transcript (Final) (US)-  A final transcript is a copy of the student's record that includes all grades earned.  It also identifies the date of graduation, final GPA and official class rank  The student must inform the guidance office where and if a final transcript needs to be sent.

Uniting Church (Australia) - Union of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Congregational Union of Australia, and the Presbyterian Church of Australia.

UWC (United World College)- Led by Queen Noor of Jordan and Nelson Mandela, the UWC movement “strives to promote international understanding through education.”

Verification Worksheet  (US) -  A form sent by the college to students who are selected for verification by the Department of Education's Central Processing System. It is used by colleges to comply with Federal verification requirements.  It includes the request for IRS tax forms.

Verification (US)-  The process of checking the accuracy of the information students (and parents) provide when they apply for Federal student aid.  Verification is usually completed by the college, but may also be performed by the state financial aid agency.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loans (US) -  Some institutions will participate in this program.  Students or parents of students at participating institutions will borrow under the  Stafford or PLUS programs directly from the institution, using funds provided by the Federal government, rather than from a commercial lender.

Work-study programs (US) - Jobs, provided by colleges, that allow students to earn money toward their education while they are enrolled in college.