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College Admissions Lingo
A Glossary from Early Action to APs, SATs and the FAFSA

By , About.com Guide

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Coping with the college admissions process is hard enough without having to decipher all the acronyms and jargon too. So here's the lowdown on the most frequently encountered college admissions lingo.

1. Rolling Admission

Most college admissions decisions arrive in early spring. But there are three ways to get a decision earlier, starting with rolling admissions...

2. Early Decision

Students who know exactly where they want to go might want to consider an Early Decision option.

3. Early Action

And students who are fairly sure they know their top choice school, but not 100% committed, might want to check out Early Action options.

4. College Schedules & the Quarter System

Colleges typically run on a quarter or semester system. Here's what a typical quarter looks like, along with its pros and cons.

5. The Semester System

... And here's what a typical semester looks like, along with its pros and cons.

6. Jan Term & May Term

Some colleges take the best of both worlds by adding a January or May term to a modified semester schedule. Here's how that plays out on the calendar, and what it means for your child academically.

7. Advanced Placement

AP courses - blessing or curse? Here's what they are and what they do to a college application.

8. SAT vs. ACT

The SAT and the ACT are the granddaddies of college admissions exams. Here's the difference between the two.

9. The Lowdown on the SAT II & Subject Tests

What's the SAT II or College Board subject test? And who has to take it?
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