by Meggan Mattson & Mike Deutsch
You’re a high school senior. You are starting the college application process. How much do you really know about the process and college admissions in general? Take this quiz to find out (answers below)!
1) What is the difference between a college and a university?
2) What do ED and EA stand for in the college admissions world?
3) What is the difference between a major and a minor?
4) What does the “Middle 50%” mean?
5) Should you use fafsa.com or fafsa.gov to fill out your federal financial aid application?
6) What is the difference between the ACT and SAT?
7) What does it mean to “super-score” the ACT or SAT?
8) What NCAA-division sports can offer athletic scholarship? (D1, D2, D3, club sports, intramurals)
9) What is the difference between a federal grant and a federal loan?
10) What does “test-optional” mean?
ANSWERS:
1) Most of the time a college offers undergraduate degrees, leading to a bachelor’s degree. A university offers undergraduate degrees, along with graduate programs leading to a master’s degree or PhD. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but the majority of colleges and universities follow these definitions.
2) ED is “early decision,” which is a binding agreement if you are admitted to the school. EA is “early action” and is an earlier application deadline for incoming students, without the binding agreement.
3) Most of the classes to earn your degree will fall into your “major,” which is the specific area of focus for your bachelor’s degree. A minor requires fewer classes and often supplements your major in some way.
4) The “Middle 50% is the average student profile…most students admitted to that university fall into that range. It is typically used to show the ACT/SAT and/or GPA for the typical admitted student.
5) ALWAYS use fafsa.GOV. The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is a FREE application. If you are on a site that charges you to submit the application, you are on the wrong site.
6) The biggest differences between the two tests are in the content covered, timing, and scoring. The ACT has test sections in reading, math, science, English, and an optional writing section, with the composite score ranging from 1-36. The SAT has test sections in critical reading, math, and writing, with the composite score ranging from 600-2400. Kaplan puts out a more detailed comparison on their website.
7) “Super-score” means that the university takes the highest score in each section of the test, no matter which date you took it, to create a new composite score.
8) NCAA Division-1 and Division-2 teams may offer athletic scholarships.
9) A grant is free money that does not need to be paid back. A loan has interest accruing at some point and must be paid back.
10) “Test-optional” schools do not require ACT or SAT scores for admission purposes. If you choose NOT to send in your test scores, they will make their admission decision based on the other pieces of your application (typically GPA, strength of curriculum, grade trends, recommendation letters, essays, etc.)
http://www.kaptest.com/college-prep/test-information/sat-vs-act
Meggan Mattson and Mike Deutsch, both former high school counselors, created College Fit Counseling, LLC to help students and families navigate the college search and selection process. They assist with all pieces of the process: from creating a college list of “good fit” schools, through college applications and essays, and into applying for financial aid and scholarships. Visit our website at www.collegefitcounseling.com for more information on services offered. Or, contact us at meggan@collegefitcounseling.com or 773-807-4079 with further questions and to see how we can help you.
You’re a high school senior. You are starting the college application process. How much do you really know about the process and college admissions in general? Take this quiz to find out (answers below)!
1) What is the difference between a college and a university?
2) What do ED and EA stand for in the college admissions world?
3) What is the difference between a major and a minor?
4) What does the “Middle 50%” mean?
5) Should you use fafsa.com or fafsa.gov to fill out your federal financial aid application?
6) What is the difference between the ACT and SAT?
7) What does it mean to “super-score” the ACT or SAT?
8) What NCAA-division sports can offer athletic scholarship? (D1, D2, D3, club sports, intramurals)
9) What is the difference between a federal grant and a federal loan?
10) What does “test-optional” mean?
ANSWERS:
1) Most of the time a college offers undergraduate degrees, leading to a bachelor’s degree. A university offers undergraduate degrees, along with graduate programs leading to a master’s degree or PhD. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but the majority of colleges and universities follow these definitions.
2) ED is “early decision,” which is a binding agreement if you are admitted to the school. EA is “early action” and is an earlier application deadline for incoming students, without the binding agreement.
3) Most of the classes to earn your degree will fall into your “major,” which is the specific area of focus for your bachelor’s degree. A minor requires fewer classes and often supplements your major in some way.
4) The “Middle 50% is the average student profile…most students admitted to that university fall into that range. It is typically used to show the ACT/SAT and/or GPA for the typical admitted student.
5) ALWAYS use fafsa.GOV. The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is a FREE application. If you are on a site that charges you to submit the application, you are on the wrong site.
6) The biggest differences between the two tests are in the content covered, timing, and scoring. The ACT has test sections in reading, math, science, English, and an optional writing section, with the composite score ranging from 1-36. The SAT has test sections in critical reading, math, and writing, with the composite score ranging from 600-2400. Kaplan puts out a more detailed comparison on their website.
7) “Super-score” means that the university takes the highest score in each section of the test, no matter which date you took it, to create a new composite score.
8) NCAA Division-1 and Division-2 teams may offer athletic scholarships.
9) A grant is free money that does not need to be paid back. A loan has interest accruing at some point and must be paid back.
10) “Test-optional” schools do not require ACT or SAT scores for admission purposes. If you choose NOT to send in your test scores, they will make their admission decision based on the other pieces of your application (typically GPA, strength of curriculum, grade trends, recommendation letters, essays, etc.)
http://www.kaptest.com/college-prep/test-information/sat-vs-act
Meggan Mattson and Mike Deutsch, both former high school counselors, created College Fit Counseling, LLC to help students and families navigate the college search and selection process. They assist with all pieces of the process: from creating a college list of “good fit” schools, through college applications and essays, and into applying for financial aid and scholarships. Visit our website at www.collegefitcounseling.com for more information on services offered. Or, contact us at meggan@collegefitcounseling.com or 773-807-4079 with further questions and to see how we can help you.
