College and Admission Terms
College Terms Explained
Your guide to college language.
College applications, financial aid, academics, and enrollment can introduce unfamiliar language. Explore the categories below to understand common terms you may encounter while preparing for McMurry University.
Applying to McMurry
Terms related to applying, admission decisions, transcripts, and applicant types.
Admission Counselor
An admissions staff member who helps students navigate the application, admission, and enrollment process.
Admission Decision
The official result of an application review, such as admission, conditional admission, or denial.
Admitted
The university has reviewed your application and offered you enrollment for a specific term.
Admitted on Probation
Admission with academic conditions that must be met during the student’s first term or another specified period.
Applicant
A prospective student who has submitted an application for admission.
Application Portal
The online system used to submit an application, review required materials, check status, and complete enrollment steps.
Articulation Agreement
An agreement between institutions identifying how specific courses or programs transfer toward a degree.
Class Rank
A student’s academic standing compared with other students in the same graduating class.
Dual Credit
College-level coursework completed during high school that may count toward both high school and college requirements.
Entrance Exam
A standardized assessment, such as the ACT or SAT, that may be considered during admission or placement.
First-Time Freshman
A student entering college for the first time after high school, even if the student previously earned dual credit.
Gap Year
A planned break between high school graduation and beginning college.
GPA
Grade point average: a numerical calculation that summarizes a student’s academic performance.
International Student
A student who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and generally requires an appropriate visa to study in the United States.
Official Transcript
A verified record of coursework, grades, and academic standing sent through an approved service or directly by the issuing institution.
Post-Baccalaureate Student
A student who has already earned a bachelor’s degree and is completing additional undergraduate coursework.
Prospective Student
Someone considering enrollment who has not yet enrolled at McMurry.
Readmit Student
A student who previously attended McMurry, stopped attending, and is applying to return.
Rolling Admission
A process in which completed applications are reviewed as they are received.
Student Visa
Federal authorization permitting an eligible international student to study in the United States under specified conditions.
Transfer Credit
Credit earned at another institution that McMurry accepts toward a student’s degree after evaluation.
Transfer Student
A student who attended another college after high school and is applying to continue at McMurry.
Transient Student
A student enrolled at another institution who receives permission to take McMurry courses temporarily.
Weighted GPA
A GPA calculation that may assign additional value to advanced coursework such as AP, IB, honors, or dual-credit classes.
Financial Aid and College Costs
Terms related to the FAFSA, financial-aid eligibility, scholarships, loans, and educational costs.
Aid Offer
A notice outlining the financial aid offered to a student, which may include scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study eligibility.
Contributor
A person required to provide information and consent on a student’s FAFSA. A contributor is not automatically responsible for paying college costs.
Cost of Attendance
An estimate of educational expenses for an academic year, including tuition, fees, housing, food, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.
Entrance Counseling
Required information that helps first-time federal student-loan borrowers understand borrowing, repayment, and their responsibilities.
Exceptional Circumstances
Unusual financial circumstances that may justify requesting a review of financial-aid eligibility. Documentation may be required.
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, used to determine eligibility for federal and other financial-aid programs.
FAFSA Submission Summary
A summary available after a FAFSA is processed that includes submitted information, estimated eligibility, and the Student Aid Index.
Federal Direct Loan
An eligible student loan borrowed through the federal Direct Loan Program that must be repaid with interest.
Fees
Required charges in addition to tuition that support specific services, programs, courses, or facilities.
Financial Aid
Funding that helps cover educational expenses, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities.
Financial Need
An amount calculated using a student’s cost of attendance, Student Aid Index, and other financial assistance.
Grant
Financial aid that generally does not need to be repaid, provided eligibility requirements are maintained.
Independent Student
A student who meets federal criteria allowing the FAFSA to be completed without parent information.
Interest
The cost of borrowing money, usually calculated as a percentage of the unpaid loan balance.
Master Promissory Note
A legal document in which a federal student-loan borrower agrees to repayment terms and conditions.
Merit-Based Aid
Aid awarded according to achievements or qualifications such as academics, leadership, athletics, or fine arts.
Need-Based Aid
Aid awarded according to demonstrated financial need and the requirements of a particular program.
Net Price
The estimated cost of attendance remaining after scholarships and grants are subtracted.
Net Price Calculator
An online planning tool that estimates college costs and potential grant or scholarship assistance.
PLUS Loan
A federal loan available to eligible parents of dependent undergraduate students or eligible graduate students.
Scholarship
Financial aid that generally does not need to be repaid and may be based on merit, talent, service, affiliation, need, or other criteria.
Student Aid Index
A number calculated from FAFSA information that schools use when determining eligibility for need-based aid. It is not a bill or the amount a family must pay.
StudentAid.gov Account
A personal account used to access and sign federal student-aid forms. Each student and required contributor must use a separate account.
Subsidized Loan
A need-based federal student loan for which the federal government pays interest during certain qualifying periods.
TASFA
The Texas Application for State Financial Aid, available to certain Texas residents who are not eligible to submit the FAFSA.
Tuition
The amount charged for instruction and enrollment in courses. It does not necessarily include fees, books, housing, or other expenses.
Unsubsidized Loan
A federal student loan that begins accruing interest when it is disbursed.
Verification
A review process that may require documentation confirming information reported on the FAFSA.
Work-Study
A financial-aid program that allows eligible students to earn wages through qualifying part-time employment.
Academics and Enrollment
Terms related to courses, degree requirements, registration, housing, and the student experience.
Academic Advisor
A faculty or staff member who helps students understand degree requirements, select courses, register, and monitor academic progress.
Academic Year
The annual period in which courses are offered, commonly consisting of fall, spring, and summer terms.
Commuter Student
A student who attends classes but does not live in university housing.
Core Curriculum
A group of foundational courses that undergraduate students complete as part of their degree requirements.
Credit Hour
A unit used to measure academic coursework and progress toward a certificate or degree.
Double Major
Completing the requirements for two majors within one degree program.
Elective
A course selected by the student that may satisfy an elective requirement within a degree plan.
Enrollment
The process of registering for and attending courses during an academic term.
First-Generation Student
Generally, a student whose parent or guardian did not complete a four-year college degree. Program definitions may vary.
First Flight
McMurry’s transition experience that welcomes new students and helps them prepare for classes and campus life.
Full-Time and Part-Time
Enrollment classifications based on the number of credit hours taken. Requirements may differ by program, academic level, and financial-aid rules.
Graduate Student
A student enrolled in coursework or a program beyond the bachelor’s degree level.
Intramural Sports
Recreational sports organized for members of the university community rather than intercollegiate competition.
Major
A student’s primary field of academic study.
Minor
A secondary area of academic study requiring fewer courses than a major.
Orientation
Programming that introduces new students to academic expectations, campus resources, technology, and the McMurry community.
Placement Assessment
An assessment used to help determine the appropriate starting level for certain courses.
Prerequisite
A course, skill, score, or other requirement that must be completed before enrolling in another course.
Residence Hall
University housing where students live as part of the residential campus community.
Resident Assistant
A trained student leader who supports residents and helps build community within a residence hall.
Resident Director
A professional staff member who oversees a residence hall and supports its residents and student staff.
Semester
An academic term during which students complete a scheduled set of courses.
SOAR
Student Orientation and Registration: a program through which new students complete important enrollment and academic-planning activities.
Undergraduate Student
A student pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree.
Offices and Student Support
McMurry offices and programs students may contact during admission and enrollment.
Admissions Office
Assists prospective students with applications, admission requirements, campus visits, and enrollment steps.
Financial Aid Office
Helps students understand the FAFSA, scholarships, grants, loans, work-study, and financial-aid requirements.
Registrar’s Office
Maintains academic records and assists with registration, transcripts, enrollment verification, degree requirements, and graduation records.
Student Accounts Office
Manages student billing, account balances, payment processing, payment plans, and related account questions.
TRIO Student Support Services
A federally funded program offering eligible students academic support, advising, mentoring, financial-literacy education, and other services that promote degree completion.
War Hawk Success Center
Connects students with academic support, tutoring, accessibility services, counseling, career resources, and other success services.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Explore McMurry’s admission process or begin your free application.