College Information
- Majors and educational programs
- Type of school and degrees offered
- Admission Policy
- Location and size
- Costs and financial aid
- College affiliation and accreditation
- Campus activities
- Support services
- Are there additional requirements for the desired major? How many students apply each year, and how many are accepted into the Program?
- What is the professor to student ratio at the school? How many classes are taught by teaching assistants?
- Does the program have a co-op or intern program? When can students begin those programs?
- Is the intended major a four or five year program? What is the actual amount of time it takes students to complete the major?
- If it is a pre-program, what are requirements for entering the program. How many enter each year of the number of applicants?
- What is the placement rate for the major?
- Are there any special housing options available to students? (Majors living in the same dorm, etc..)
- Does the housing officer offer special payment plans of any kind?
- Are students ever offered housing scholarships?
- When are students able to move off-campus?
- Are there any special tuition payment plans offered by the school?
- What is the campus crime rate, and how does it rank with other colleges in Illinois?
- Does the college rent textbooks or require students to buy them? Will the college buy used textbooks from students?
- Bethel College
- Chicago State University
- Eastern Illinois University
- Governors State University
- Illinois State University
- Murray State University
- Northeastern Illinois University
- Northern Illinois University
- Southeast Missouri State University
- Southern Illinois Univ.-Carbondale
- Southern Illinois Univ.-Edwardsville
- Southwest Baptist University
- St. Louis University
- University of Evansville
- University of Illinois-Chicago
- University of Illinois-Springfield
- University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
- University of Southern Indiana
- Western Illinois University
Associate Degree - A two-year college degree earned at a community college or technical school. This degree can be transferred to a university or college to complete a degree.
Applied Associate Degree - A two year college degree earned at a community college or trade school that is intended to train the person for a career. This degree will not be transfer to a university or college.
Bachelor's Degree - A four-year college degree earned at a university or college.
Community College - A two-year public college for vocational training or academic transfer courses. Ex. Rend Lake College
Technical School - Private schools that train students in a variety of vocational fields. Ex. ITT
University - An institution of higher education with many different areas of study. Can be public or private. Ex. University of Illinois
Private - An institution that receives no tax support from any state. The schools can be small or very large. Ex. McKendree College
Admission Policy - The method and process of accepting students into an institution. (a) Open- all students are accepted. (b) Selective- the top ten percent are selected
College Night - A program in which representatives of colleges and universities are available to talk with students and parents.
Transfer Student - A student that has attended a community college or another college prior to enrollment at another school.
ACT Exam - A standardized test taken by juniors and seniors, and used by colleges to help select incoming freshmen for admission. This test covers English, Math, Science Reasoning and Reading.
PSAT - A test taken in the fall of the junior year. This standardized test is part of a national scholarship program. English and Math are covered on this test.
SAT - A standardized test used the same way as the ACT. This test is primarily used by colleges in the eastern part of the country.
Major - The primary field of study. Ex. Computer Science, Education
Minor - The secondary field of study. Not all majors require a minor field of study.
Semester - A 15 to 18 week grading period that begins in mid August and ends in mid December. Semester classes generally meet one hour three days per week.
Quarter - A 12 week grading period that begins in mid August and ends in late November. Classes meet one hour four days per week. August to November = Fall; December to March = Winter; March to May = Spring.
Credit - The numerical worth of a class. Ex. Semester System - English 101 - 3 credit hours. Under this system a student earns between 12 and 18 credit hours per semester. To receive a bachelor's degree a student will earn about 120 credit hours. Ex. Quarter system - English 101 - 4 credit hours. Under this system a student earns between 12 and 16 credit hours per quarter. To receive a bachelor's degree a student will earn about 192 quarter hours.
Advisement - The process of selecting the courses for the upcoming term. Students generally are required to meet with an assigned advisor to discuss their schedule. Incoming freshmen will do this during the summer.
Registration - The process of paying for tuition and other fees for the upcoming term.
CLEP and AP - These two tests can be taken by certain high school seniors to help them earn college credit.
Tuition - The cost of taking classes at college. Ex. $50.00 per credit hour = $150.00 for 3 hour courses.
Out of State Tuition - The common practice of charging non residents of a state additional tuition fees.
Room and Board - The cost of living and eating in an approved housing arrangement.
Financial Aid Office - The office on campus that deals with scholarships, loans, and grants for the students.
Pell Grant - A federal program that provides money to eligible students. Does not have to be paid back.
Loans - The process of borrowing money from a certain source to pay college costs. Many loans have low interest and give several years to repay. Ex. Stafford Loan Program
Scholarships - Money awarded on a competitive basis by a particular group. Ex. Elks, Rotary
College Work Study - A financial aid program that requires a student to work on campus for 2 or 3 hours per day for a certain wage.
Acceptance Form: This form documents the student's receipt of an award letter, The form usually includes a space to indicate acceptance of offered aid, declination of all or part of the package, and some means for requesting an appeal to modify the award, Acceptance letters and award letters are frequently combined Into a single document,
Admit-Deny: Some schools will admit marginal students. but not award them any financial aid. Very few schools use admit-deny. Because studies have shown that lack of sufficient financial aid is a key factor in the performance of marginal students,
Associate Degree: A degree which is granted to a student who has completed a two-year program (64-66 credits) and is equivalent to the first two years of study for a Bachelor degree, An Associate degree may be further specified as an Associate of Arts (AA) (granted to students who have completed a two-year program in Liberal Arts) or an Associate of Science (AS) (granted to students who have completed a two-year program in the Sciences).
Associate of Applied Science (AAS): A degree that is granted to students, who have completed a technology or vocational program, it is generally considered a terminal degree as it prepares students for immediate employment upon graduation. In some cases, the credits earned while completing an AAS can be transferred to a Bachelor degree, but only when specified by the school or program in question.
Award Letter: The form that notifies the student that financial aid is being offered. The award letter usually provides information about the types and amounts of aid offered. as well as specific program information, student responsibilities, and the conditions which. govern the award. The Award Letter often includes an Acceptance Form,
Bachelor or Baccalaureate Degree: A degree that is granted to a student who has completed a four-year program (120-128 credits). The most common types of Bachelor degree programs include the Bachelor of Arts [BA) (for students of Liberal Arts) and the Bachelor of Sciences (BS) (for students of Science).
Campus-based Programs: The term commonly applied to those U.S. Department of Education federal student aid programs administered directly by Institutions of postsecondary education. Includes. Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and Federal Work-Study (FWS) programs,
Cooperative Education: In a cooperative education program, the student spends some time engaged in employment related to their major in addition to regular classroom study.
Commuter Student: A student who does not live on campus, typically, " commuter" refers to a student living at home with his or her parents, but can also mean any student who lives off-campus.
Credit (or Credit Hour): The unit of measurement some institutions give for fulfilling course requirements,
Early Action: An early action program has earlier deadlines and earlier notification dates than the regular admissions process, Unlike the Early Decision program, the early action program does not require that a student commit to attending the school if admitted
Early Admission: refers to a program that allows gifted high school juniors to skip their senior year and enroll instead in college. The term "Early Admission" is sometimes used to refer collectively to Early Action and Early Decision programs.
Early Decision: Some colleges offer the option of an early decision to students who meet all entrance requirements, are certain of the college they wish to attend, and are likely to be accepted by that college. Students participate in the Early Decision plan by indicating their desire to participate an their college application. The decision regarding admission is made by mid-December of the student's senior year in high school, as opposed to the regular admissions notification of mid-April. A drawback of the Early Decision program is that students will have to commit to a school before they find out about the financial aid packet. A student can apply early decision to only one school.
Open Admissions: Students are admitted regardless of academic qualifications, The school may require an additional probationary period during which the student must earn satisfactory grades to ensure continued enrollment
Out-of-State Student: This term generally applies to students applying to a public college or university. Tuition rates are lower for state residents; out-of-state students must pay a higher rate of tuition until they have established the legal residency requirements for the state.
Remediation: Students who are not fully prepared for college academically are often required to complete remedial classes, The courses are designed to bring the student up to the level required for satisfactory college-level performances, Such courses are usually not granted credit towards graduation.
Rolling Admissions: Students' applications are considered when all required credentials have been submitted. There is either no deadline or a very late deadline; qualified students are accepted unit! classes are filled. Applicants are notified of admission continuously throughout the enrollment period.
Selective Admissions: Procedure used by colleges and universities who admit a set percentage of their applicants for admission, A minimum standard of