Definition: Someone is considered “matriculated” once they’ve enrolled as a student at a college or university. This means they’ve completed the “matriculation” process by registering and signing up for classes, and they now count as a student at that college or university.

Definition: College “credits”, also called credit hours, are used to measure the amount of time spent in a class, or contact hours. Each class you take will give you a certain number of credits, and that number relates to a calculated amount of hours you’ll spend for that class (more credits = more hours). Usually, your college program decides how many credits you need to take in order to graduate, which translates to how many hours of classes you’ll need to complete to get your degree. You can think of credits like the ending credits of a movie, but in this case it’s a list of all of your time spent in courses that all ends in graduation!

Definition: During the start of a semester, there’s lots of talk about “add/drop deadlines,” so let’s break down the terms “add,” “drop,” and “withdrawal.” To “add” a course is to register for a course and include it in your schedule for the semester. To “drop” a course is to unregister from that course and remove it from your schedule for the semester. Matriculated students usually add and drop courses through a College or University’s preferred software/website. Deadlines to add and drop courses without any dropped courses showing up on your academic record are typically within the first 1-2 weeks of the semester, but be sure to check for your specific add/drop deadlines each semester to prepare! To drop a course after the add/drop deadline, you’ll have to go through your College or University’s “withdrawal” process before the withdrawal deadline. The course you withdraw from will show up on your academic record with a grade of “W,” and you may or may not be eligible for refunds for withdrawn courses depending on your College or University and the time of your withdrawal. To help guide your course selections, make sure to check on the add/drop and withdrawal deadlines, your major/program course requirements, and any financial aid and scholarship requirements. You can also speak to advisors for help along the way!

Definition: The process of selecting and testing out classes during the add/drop period is often called the "shopping period" where students "shop" for classes. This means trying out classes to find the right fit before you solidify your schedule by the add/drop deadline. 

Definition: FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It's a form completed by students in the United States to apply for financial aid in college. There is a federal deadline to fill out the form each academic year, and states and colleges set their own priority deadlines to fill out the form to be considered for their financial aid. Be sure to check on all deadlines to make sure you submit your FAFSA form on time to be eligible for aid! 

Definition: Latin phrases are often used by colleges and universities to indicate a level of distinction earned with an academic degree. Cum Laude is Latin for "with praise" or "with honor." Graduating "cum laude" signifies academic achievement, usually tied to your GPA. Having a certain GPA (typically a minimum of 3.0) would make a student eligible to graduate with honor, or "Cum Laude." 

Definition: Latin phrases are often used by colleges and universities to indicate a level of distinction earned with an academic degree. Magna Cum Laude is Latin for "with great praise," and signifies academic achievement that is usually tied to your GPA. Having a certain GPA (typically a minimum of 3.4) would make a student eligible to graduate with the great distinction of "Magna Cum Laude."

Definition: Latin phrases are often used by colleges and universities to indicate a level of distinction earned with an academic degree. Summa Cum Laude is Latin for "with highest honor," and signifies academic achievement that is usually tied to your GPA. Having a certain GPA (typically a minimum of 3.7) would make a student eligible to graduate with the highest distinction of "Summa Cum Laude."