academic standards—measures of scholastic excellence held by a university; most require that students maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) to continue their studies.

ACT—ACT Assessment; one of two standardized achievement tests (the other is the SAT) taken by U.S. high school students and international students interested in university study in the United States. Many universities have a minimum ACT requirement for admission.

assistantship—A paid graduate appointment that requires part-time teaching or research duties. Offered by IU schools or departments, these positions usually include a fee scholarship too

bachelor's degree—go to American university overview.

bursar—the university office responsible for student tuition, fees, and bill paying.

credit hour—a unit counted toward completion of an academic program. Each course is worth a number of credit hours (also known as "credits") the number of credit hours reflects the number of hours a student spends in class for that course per week. A typical course offers 3 credit hours. Students typically take 12–15 credit hours per semester. A bachelor's degree typically requires a total of 120–124 credit hours.

doctoral degree—go to American university overview.

dorm—shortened form of "dormitory"; also known as "residence hall." A university building where students live while going to school, often with shared rooms.

extracurricular activities—organized student activities connected with school and usually carrying no academic credit, such as sports, clubs, volunteer activities. Many college applications request a list of high school extracurricular activities.

fellowship—Money awarded to help pay for graduate school; fellowships sometimes cover tuition and insurance as well as provide money in exchange for teaching and research duties.

financial aid—grants and loans made to students to help pay for tuition and other expenses while attending college. Also see assistantship and fellowship.

financial documentation—proof, often in the form of bank statements or certificates of deposit, that students have the necessary money to study in the United States.

financial statement—a document issued by banks or credit companies that tracks a person's finances, including credits and debits.

GPA—grade point average; an average of grades earned, weighted by the number of credit hours earned.

graduate degree—a degree earned after completing the bachelor's degree. Examples include master's degrees and doctorates (Ph.D.'s).

graduate student—a student, usually working toward a master's or doctoral degree, who has already completed a bachelor's degree.

Hoosier—slang for a resident of Indiana. IU students are also called "Hoosiers."

immigration—the act of coming into a country to live where one is not a native resident.

in-state (tuition fee)—the tuition fee charged to Indiana residents; also known as resident tuition fee. Residents of other states or countries pay out-of-state tuition. (See out-of-state.)

loan—money lent (usually by banks or the U.S. government) to be paid back with interest. (Note: Most U.S. banks will not give loans to non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents without a U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signing on the loan.)

major— an academic subject chosen as a field of specialization.

mandatory fees—required costs charged by the university in addition to tuition: examples include student activity fee, student health fee, technology fee, and transportation fee.

master's degree—go to American university overview.

merit-based scholarship—money awarded to students to attend college. It is usually based on a student's academic achievements.

minor— an academic subject chosen as a secondary field of specialization, less than a major.

minority—a person who is a member of an ethnic group that is small in proportion to other groups.

miscellaneous fees—extra costs charged by the university for services such as transcripts, admission applications, and independent study.

mile—a unit of distance equal to 1,609 meters.

need-based scholarship—financial aid granted to a student who lacks money to attend college based on income.

neighborhood—a district or section with distinct characteristics in which a group of people live; at IU, this refers to a grouping of two or more residence halls on campus.

nonresident (tuition fee)—the tuition fee charged to students whose permanent residence is outside of the state of Indiana; also known as out-of-state tuition fee.

off-campus housing—apartments and houses not located on campus premises.

on-campus housing—apartments, houses, and residence halls located on campus premises.

out-of-state (tuition fee)—the tuition fee charged to students whose permanent residence is outside of the state of Indiana; also known as nonresident tuition fee. (See in-state.)

reasonable living expenses—general estimated costs, including housing, personal expenses, and transportation, while attending college. Living expenses differ for each individual based upon personal choices so this might reflect a fairly comfortable lifestyle.

resident (tuition fee)—the tuition fee charged to Indiana residents; also known as in-statetuition fee.

SAT—Scholastic Assessment Test; one of two standardized achievement tests (the other is the ACT) taken by U.S. high school students and international students interested in university study in the United States. Many universities have a minimum SAT requirement for admission.

SSN—Social Security number; a number assigned by the government to U.S. residents at birth and used by many universities as the student identification number. International students are assigned a random student identification number.

TOEFL—Test of English as a Foreign Language; a test that measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to use and understand North American English. Many Indiana University academic programs have a minimum TOEFL score for admission.

top tier (university)—a university that is highly ranked and well-respected academically.

transcript—an official university record of courses, grades, and length of study.

tuition—the cost of college instruction based on the number of courses taken.

undergraduate student—a student working toward a bachelor's degree. A first-level university student.

waiver—a notice given which releases you from fees or courses. For example, if you receive a fee waiver, you do not have to pay that fee.

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