College Readiness Information Sheet
What is college? College and
university are often used to mean
the same thing, though a college
usually offers mainly
undergraduate degrees, or can be a
part of a larger institution. Colleges
may or may not offer masters or
doctorate degrees.
What does it mean to be an
undergraduate student? An
undergraduate student is someone
pursuing a 2 year associates or a 4
year bachelors degree at an
institution of higher learning.
What does it mean to be a
graduate student? A graduate
student is someone who has
already acquired a bachelors
degree and is pursuing a masters
or doctorate degree at a college or
university that offers graduate
degrees.
What is a degree? Most students
attend the University to earn a
degree. In simplified terms, a
degree is an award given based on
completion of specific
requirements. Students essentially
enter into a contract with the
University and agree to complete
these requirements in exchange for
a degree (University of Nevada,
Reno, 2017).
What is a major? A main area of
study based on your career goals.
What is a minor? A minor is an
additional specialization or
concentration that may or may not
be required depending on your
degree.
What are the types of
degrees? Associate, bachelors,
masters, doctorate, (professional,
certificates, and diplomas).
How long does it take to gain an
associate, bachelors, masters, or
doctorate degree?
Associate degree usually takes two
years.
Bachelors degree usually takes
four years (or two if you already
have an associates degree).
Masters degree can take from 1
year accelerated to 5 years,
(depending on the institutions
requirements), but is usually
completed in 2 years.
Doctorate degree can take from
two years (if you already have a
masters degree), to 7 years
depending on the field of study.
What is a transcript? A transcript
is a detailed record of your marks
or grades that has been generated
by your current or former
university. Usually this will be a
document, either on paper or
online, with a list or table of the
individual modules, papers or
courses you have completed with a
numerical and/or letter grade
against each. It may also give an
overall grade for your qualification
(University of Oxford, 2017). An
unofficial transcript is one that is
not in a sealed envelope from the
institution, and official transcripts
must be sent electronically to the
prospective institution from the
issuing institution, mailed directly
to the prospective institution from
the issuing institution, or delivered
in the original unopened envelope
to the prospective institution.
How do you acquire a
transcript? By contacting the
administration office of your high
school and requesting that they
send a copy of your transcript to
the college of your choice (this is
usually free of charge). If you have
attended college you can contact
the Registrars Office at the college
you have attended and have an
official transcript sent
electronically, or via USPS to the
college of your choosing (there is
usually a charge to do so, which
varies depending on the
institution). Most institutions of
higher learning offer an option to
request official transcripts online.
What is a GRE score? If you're
planning on going to graduate
school, you'll probably need to take
the GRE test (or the "Graduate
Record Exam"). It's the most
commonly required admission test
for grad school. Much like the SAT
and ACT, the GRE exam is a broad
assessment of your critical
thinking, analytical writing, verbal
reasoning, and quantitative
reasoning skills all skills
developed over the course of many
years. Some schools may also
require you to take one or
more GRE Subject Tests (Peterson,
2017).
 College Readiness Information Sheet

What is FAFSA? The FAFSA,
officially known as the Free
Application for Federal Student
Aid, is the form that families fill
out to apply for federal grants,
loans, and work-study funds for
college students. It is administered
by the U.S. Department of
Education, which provides more
than $150 billion in student aid
each year. Your eligibility for
federal grants (which dont have to
be repaid) and federal loans (which
do) will generally be based on your
financial need, as determined by
the information you supply on your
FAFSA (Money, 2015).
Scholarships: Scholarships are
financial aid awards designed to help
students pay for college. They are
based on students maintaining a high
GPA. Sometimes a scholarship is a
one-time check. Other college
scholarships are renewable and
provide money for students each
semester or school year. Students
may receive the money directly as a
check in their name. In other cases
the money is given to the students
college. In these cases, the student
would then pay the college for the
difference on any money owed for
tuition, fees, room and board. If the
scholarships and other forms of
financial aid are enough to cover the
direct college costs, the excess
money is refunded to the student
(Cappex.com, 2017).
Grants: Grants are often called
gift aid because they are free
moneyfinancial aid that doesnt
have to be repaid, and are
often need-based (Federal student
aid, 2017).
Work study: Federal Work-
Study provides part-time jobs for
undergraduate and graduate
students with financial need,
allowing them to earn money to
help pay education expenses. The
program encourages community
service work and work related to
the student's course
of study based (Federal student aid.
2017).

(The information in this document is in no way to be deemed exclusive, and is meant for
information purposes only.)
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References

Cappex (2017). How do scholarships work? Retrieved from https://www.cappex.com/hq/articles

and-advice/financial-aid/scholarships/How-Do-Scholarships-Work

Federal student aid (2017). Grants and scholarships are free money. Retrieved from
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships

Money (2015). What is fafsa and who should fill it out. Retrieved from
http://time.com/money/4108122/what-is-fafsa-and-who-should-fill-it-out/

Petersons (2017). The gre test: what you need to know. Retrieved from
https://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/gre-test-description.aspx#/sweeps-modal

University of Nevada, Reno (2017). What is a degree? Retrieved from

https://www.unr.edu/academic-central/academics-101/what-is-a-degree

University of Oxford (2017). What is a transcript? Retrieved from https://uni-of-

oxford.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/76/~/what-is-a-transcript%3F

(BGCHFB003)