Admissions Dictionary

College Terms Made Easy

Applying to college can be confusing, especially with unfamiliar terms. The Admissions Dictionary explains everything clearly, so you and your family feel confident from start to finish.

A

Accepted: When a student is officially allowed to enroll in a school or program after applying; can be used interchangeably with Admitted.
Accepted Student Checklist: A list of specific items needing completion in order for an incoming or returning student to enroll based on student type; the checklist is hyperlinked in the student’s acceptance letter.
Alternative Financial Aid Application: A confidential application that is used solely by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) to qualify students for state financial aid.
Alumni: Past graduated students often involved in supporting or networking with current students.
Application: The process of submitting personal information and documents to be considered for admission.
Application Fee: A fee applicants pay to have their application reviewed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Performing arts programs may require an additional audition fee in order for results to be released to the student.
Application portal: Where applicants can manage their application, check status, missing items, view admission-related decisions.
Apply: To submit an application to be considered for admission.
Athletics: Sports and physical activities offered.

C

Catalog: An online guide that lists all the courses and programs offered.
Certificate: A smaller program offered for a credential in a specific subject area; credits required are significantly less than a degree program.
Checklist: A list of items or tasks to help students ensure they complete everything needed for their application or enrollment.
College: A housing of majors based on subject; typically used in a degree audit or to categorize students for commencement
Commencement: The graduation ceremony for students who have completed all of their degree requirements.
Complete Application: Application is submitted and all required materials are received allowing for counselors to render an admissions decision.
Composite Score: A combined score from multiple tests or assessments used to evaluate a student’s overall performance.
Concentration: A subcategory of an academic program that provides a more specific focus within the major; not all majors have concentrations available.
Conditional: An admission status that requires a student to meet specific requirements before fully enrolling.
Credit Adjustment: Approval from the related academic department for a course to satisfy a degree requirement it would not normally satisfy on its own.
Credit Hours: The units used to measure each course. Typical courses are a total of three credit hours. The number of credit hours a student is registered for during an academic term determines if they are part-time (less than 12 credits) or full-time (12 credits or more).
Cumulative: The total amount or sum of grades and/or credits completed.
CWID: Campus Wide ID Number; a student identification number assigned to a student when they are admitted to the university allowing them to access students portal before they commit to the institution.

D

Degree: An award given to students after they successfully complete a specific program of study, like a bachelor’s or master’s.
Degree Audit: A tool a student uses that serves as a map and checklist of completed and pending degree items. Previously completed coursework is applied to this tool so that transfer students and/or those who have completed dual enrollment courses/exams can see how credits transfer to the university.
Degree-seeking: A student applying to the university with the intent of completing a degree program and not completing coursework to send to another institution or for personal interest.
Deposit: A tuition payment made in order for a student to commit to the university. This is separate from the application fee. Students wishing to live on campus would also pay a housing deposit to secure a living space on campus.
Dual Enrollment: College level courses or credit-bearing exams taken while a student is enrolled in high school.

E

Early Action: Allows students to apply and receive decisions to their chosen universities earlier than the regular decision deadline.
Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF): Program that provides quality academic support, leadership development, financial literacy, career enrichment, intentional counseling/advisement, and need-based financial assistance to maximize the intellectual and social growth of all participants. Financial information is reviewed to determine eligibility for the program.
Electives: Classes that students can choose to take, which are not required for their major. Electives can also be courses pre-chosen by the major that allow for students to explore various avenues and subjects within their academic program.
Enrolled: A student with courses on their schedule where a grade will be issued for the course regardless if the course was attended or not.

F

FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid; a form students fill out to apply for financial help for college from the Federal Government.
Final Deadline: The last date by which students must submit their applications, pay their enrollment deposit, register for courses, or any other enrollment item pending on the student’s account
Final High School Transcript: A complete record of a student’s high school grades and courses including a listed date of graduation
Financial Resources: As an Office, work with students to help connect them to different opportunities for financial assistance, also known as, Financial Aid.
First-time Student: A student who is entering college without matriculating at another college/university after earning their high school or general education diploma.
Full-time Student: A student who is enrolled in 12 credits per semester.

G

General Education Classes: State required classes that all students must take, regardless of their major, to ensure a well-rounded education. Transfer students can have these courses waived if they have earned their Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), or Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree.
Graduate Student: A student who has completed an undergraduate degree program, received their diploma, and is working toward a higher degree, such as a master’s or doctorate.
Graduate Program: Is an advanced course of study designed for students who have already completed an undergraduate degree.
Graduate International Students: Students from other countries who have completed a bachelor’s degree and are working toward a higher degree, like a master’s or doctorate.
Grants: Financial aid that does not need to be repaid, typically based on financial need.

H

HESAA: Higher Education Assistance Authority; New Jersey state agency that provides financial and informational resources to students and families to help them pursue education beyond high school.

I

In Progress Classes: Courses that a student is currently enrolled in and actively taking, but for which grades have not yet been finalized and reported. These classes are typically listed on transcripts as “IP” (In Progress) or similar, indicating that the coursework is ongoing.
Instant Decision Day: An event where college counselors meet with students one-on-one in person or virtually to receive a verbal decision as long as all materials have been received for the application.
In-State: A student who qualifies for the state rate of tuition based on specifically listed criteria. Living in New Jersey for one year does not grant in-state tuition if there are other factors such as Visa or Immigration Status.
International Students: Students who come from other countries to study who plan to use an F-1 visa, J-1 visa, or SEVIS transfer from another college/university.
International Undergraduate Student: A student from another country who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

M

Major: The primary subject area that a student focuses on in their degree program.
Matriculated: A student who is enrolled in a degree-seeking program
Meal Plan: A way to ensure students have access to food on campus for students living on campus with no kitchen; commuters also can have meal plans to have preset money for various food locations on campus
Minor: A secondary subject area that a student can study alongside their major.

N

NEST: (Network Engagement and Student/Staff Transactions) is the main online platform for students and faculty at Montclair State University and Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, providing centralized access to academic, financial, and personal information. It offers self-service tools, automated workflows, and role-based access to features like tuition payments, degree audits, and university communications.
NETID: Your University NetID comprises your last name, first initial, and a number, i.e., smitha1. This is the ID you will use to access most systems and online services on campus. This credential is generated once a student has committed to the university. Readmit students returning to the university would need to make sure the credential is still active.
Non-degree: A student who is not enrolled in a degree-seeking program; courses are taken for personal interest or reasons outside of completing a degree with our institution
Non-resident: Students domiciled outside of the state of New Jersey

O

Official Transcript: A record of a student’s grades and courses that is official due to being received directly from a previous institution electronically or in a sealed envelope.
Open House: A large-scale event where the entire campus is showcased where prospective students can attend overview presentations, academic sessions, tour residence halls, and interact with student organizations.
Orientation: Required programming for incoming students to get acclimated to campus, learn about different resources, and kick off the new academic semester.
Out-Of-State: Non-New Jersey residents or individuals not meeting established residency criteria will be charged the out-of-state tuition rates.

P

Placement Test: An assessment used to determine a student’s skill level in subjects like math and reading for proper course placement.
Postponement: A student deferring their application for one or two semesters to begin in a future academic term
Prerequisite: A required course or condition that must be completed before a student can take a more advanced course.
Priority Deadline: Unlike a final deadline, a priority deadline is an earlier deadline by which students should submit applications to receive priority consideration.

R

Reconsideration: The process in which a student is re-reviewed for admission to the university who was initially denied.
Red Hawk Central: Red Hawk Central is the front line service and support for the offices of Student Accounts, Financial Aid and the Registrar. The goal of Red Hawk Central is a centralized location for all student services. They are a one-stop shop for completing important student services and answering any questions or concerns students may have.
Registration: The process of signing up for classes or courses for a semester once a new student has committed to the university or is currently attending with no holds.
Registrar: Oversees systems for student registration, class scheduling and room assignments; create and maintain accurate academic records.
Residence Hall: A building owned by the university where a student can live on campus.
Returning Students: Readmitted Students; students who have attended previously without obtaining a degree or certificate, and are coming back, re-enrolling, with the intention of graduating. Students who completed non-matriculated courses would not be considered a Readmit.
Reverse Transfer: Allows students who have transferred to Montclair State University from a New Jersey community college to complete an associate’s degree back at their community college with coursework completed while currently attending this university. The permission for the course to be applied to the associate’s degree comes from the community college. Once the associate’s degree is earned, the student will send an official transcript to have their general education requirements waived.

S

Scholarships: Financial awards given to students based on various criteria, such as merit or need, that do not need to be repaid.
Semester: A half-year term in a school or university system labeled as Spring (starting in January) and Fall (starting in August/September).
Student Accounts: Office responsible for the timely dissemination of accurate information relating to a student’s financial account such as bills and any third-party scholarships being applied to an account.
Student Affairs: The department that helps students with non-academic needs, such as counseling, activities, and support services.

T

Tour: A student led experience where prospective students walk through campus to learn about what is offered and what it is like to attend offered on throughout the week.
Transfer Student: A student who moves from one college or university to another who has attempted 16 credits or more Students do not have the option to forgo credits to apply as a Freshman.
Transferrable courses: Courses that are level 100 or higher with a grade of C or better; courses that are level 100 or higher with a grade of D appearing on a transcript with an Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), or Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree posted; credit bearing exams with the minimum score met; coursework completed that is recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE).
Tuition: The amount of money charged by a school for classes that is impacted by the number of credits taken and residency status.

U

Undergraduate Student: A student enrolled in a program leading up to a bachelor’s degree.
Unofficial Transcript: A record of a student’s grades and courses that have not been provided directly by the Office of the Registrar of the originating institution or company where the exam results are held.

W

Waitlist: A list provided by faculty-reviewed majors where students have the potential to be admitted into their desired program after more extensive review; some lists also are created for programs with a high volume of applicants.
Withdraw: To formally leave a class or school before finishing a course(s) or degree program.

Z

ZeeMee: A social media platform where students can connect through various threads related to schools they are interested in/commit to, student type (Freshman or Transfer), and ask questions answered by an admissions counselor.