Admissions Glossary

A

ACT 

The ACT (American College Testing) is a standardized test used for college admissions and scholarship decisions across the United States. It is comprised of English, Reading, Math, and Science section. At Penn, the Science section is optional, and applicants can choose to submit either SAT or ACT scores with their applications. 

Admissions Officer / Counselor (AOs) 

Admissions officers are the people responsible for reading and evaluating your application. They may also be the people representing their institution at college fairs, info sessions, and other events, and are knowledgeable about the application process at their school. 

Advanced Placement (AP) Credits  

Some high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which give students the chance to tackle college-level work while they're still in high school. Some colleges will grant college credit and/or advanced placement based on students’ AP scores. See Penn’s credit and advanced placement guidelines > 

Application/Applicant Portal 

Your Applicant Portal is the best place to stay up-to-date with your application status. It’s where you’ll be able to see which required documents we’ve received from you and any action you may need to take. You can access your portal via application-related emails you’ve received from us, which will contain a link to your portal. If you have questions about your application status, please check your portal first before reaching out to us. 

C

Community-Based Organization (CBO) 

Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are typically non-profit entities that operate within a specific geographic area or community to address local needs and improve the well-being of residents. They are often driven by community members and play a crucial role in empowering communities by providing services, advocating for residents, and fostering collaboration.  

Coordinated Dual-Degree Program 

Penn offers interdisciplinary programs that allow you to obtain bachelor’s degrees with coursework from two different schools within the University. You can apply to these programs when you submit your application for first-year admission. Some of the programs will require additional essays as part of the application for admission. Learn More > 

Cost of Attendance 

The Cost of Attendance is our estimate of how much it will cost overall for you to attend Penn for a year, and it's an important factor in your financial aid eligibility. Penn’s “cost of attendance” or “sticker price” can be very different from your actual cost thanks to our grant-based financial aid program. Penn’s total cost of attendance includes both direct costs that appear on your student bill such as tuition, fees, housing, and dining, and indirect costs that are not billed by Penn, such as books, school supplies, transportation, and an allowance for personal expenses. Learn More >  

Common App 

The Common App is one of three application platforms you may use to apply to Penn. Most schools accept the Common App. Students should only submit one application through one platform.  

Coalition App 

The Coalition App is one of three application platforms you may use to apply to Penn. Schools must meet certain requirements demonstrating a commitment to graduating students on time and with low or no debt in order to offer the Coalition Application. Students should only submit one application through one platform. 

College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile 

The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. Students applying for financial aid from Penn should fill out a CSS Profile as part of their financial aid application. 

D

Deferred Admission 

A “deferred” decision may be extended to Early Decision applicants whose applications we would like to consider again during Regular Decision. It is not an offer of admission. Deferred applicants are released from the binding commitment of Early Decision once they are moved to Regular Decision consideration and will receive a final decision in March. 

Demonstrated Interest 

Some colleges and universities may track demonstrated interest, or actions taken by a student to show they are genuinely interested in attending a school, such as visiting campus, attending college fairs, engaging with the school's online content, and more. Penn does not track demonstrated interest. 

Duolingo English Test  

The Duolingo English Test is an online English language proficiency test, and is one of three tests Penn accepts from international students whose native language is not English and for whom English has not been the primary language of instruction for the duration of high school. Learn more about the Duolingo English Test > 

E

Early Action  

Early Action (EA) is a non-binding college admissions process where students apply earlier than the regular decision deadline and receive a decision sooner, typically in December or January. Unlike Early Decision, which is binding, EA allows students to apply to multiple schools and doesn't require a commitment to attend if accepted. Penn does not offer Early Action, and offers Early Decision instead. 

Early Decision 

Early Decision (ED) is a binding college admission process, where students apply earlier than the regular decision deadline and receive a decision sooner, typically in December or January. As a binding commitment, if you are admitted, you are required to accept your offer of admission and enroll, making it a good choice for when you are certain a school is your top choice. Penn’s early decision deadline is November 1, and applicants are notified of our decision in mid-December. 

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)  

Your EFC is the amount that you and your family are expected to contribute toward the overall cost of your education each year, and is a component of every financial aid package at Penn. To determine your demonstrated financial need, Penn reviews the financial information you supply via the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and other supporting financial documents. This assessment leads to a calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC). For families with the highest financial need, the EFC may be very small. Please note, the EFC you see on your Penn financial aid award notice will very likely be different than the Student Aid Index (SAI) you'll get after completing the FAFSA, as we consider additional factors when determining institutional financial aid. 

F

Fee-Waiver 

A fee-waiver is a code you can enter when applying to schools via platforms like the Common App or Coalition App to waive paying a school’s application fee. 

The application fee to apply to Penn is $75. If paying the application fee is a significant financial burden for you and your family, please request an application fee waiver through either your Common App or the Coalition Application in the “fee waiver” section. 

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

The FAFSA is a form students must fill out to be eligible for federal student aid such as federal grants, work-study funds, and federal loans. Many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid. Penn uses an institutional methodology to determine your eligibility for additional institutional grant funding beyond the federal or state funding you may receive. This means the information we get from the FAFSA is only part of what we use to determine your overall aid eligibility. 

First Generation Limited-Income (FGLI) 

First-Generation to College and/or Limited Income (FGLI) pronounced FIG-lee refers to students whose parent or parents did not complete a four-year college or university degree and/or who come from modest financial means. At Penn, we expand this definition to acknowledge students of all backgrounds who have limited familiarity with highly selective, well-resourced institutions like Penn. 

Financial Aid Award 

Your Financial Aid Award is the amount of aid Penn will provide for one year. All Penn financial aid awards are need-based, not merit-based and are made up of grants and work-study funds you don’t have to pay back. You can still choose to borrow additional funding to supplement your award if you like. Students typically receive their aid awards around the same time they are extended an offer of admission to Penn. 

G

Gap Year 

A Gap Year is a year taken by a student either as an admitted high school senior prior to matriculating, or between years at Penn to pursue travel, work, volunteer opportunities, or engage with other interests. Students interested in taking a gap year between finishing High School and beginning their first year at Penn must first accept Penn’s offer of admission, then submit a Gap Year Form through their Penn Applicant Portal. 

Grant 

At Penn, Financial Aid packages are created with grants and work-study funds. Unlike loans, grants are funds you do not have to pay back, meaning it’s possible to graduate from Penn debt-free! 

I

IELTS 

The IELTS, which stands for the International English Language Testing System, is an English language proficiency test, and is one of three tests Penn accepts from international students whose native language is not English and for whom English has not been the primary language of instruction for the duration of high school. Learn more about the IELTS > 

Interdisciplinary

Now, that's a term you'll hear a lot at Penn! An interdisciplinary approach is one involving two or more academic, scientific, or artistic disciplines. Here, we encourage you to explore and study across disciplines. Our students will often approach subject through the lens of multiple branches of knowledge, or combine different areas into a research project or field of study. For one of our students that looked like combining engineering, food science, and business to start a 3D printed chocolate company, but there is truly no limit!

International Baccalaureate Credits 

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credits are college credits awarded to students who have successfully completed IB Diploma Program courses and exams, typically with qualifying scores. View IB Credits at Penn > 

Interschool Minors 

Interschool Minors are specialized minors that combine disciplines from more than one of the University’s 12 Schools. This enables students to pursue individualized interests and to interact with students and professors from beyond their primary area of study, and/or outside of their undergraduate school. Learn more about interschool minors > 

Institutional Aid 

Institutional Aid refers to financial aid provided directly by the college or university you plan to attend. This differs from federal aid which comes from the government. At Penn, students applying for financial aid may be eligible for Institutional Aid from Penn in addition to Federal Aid they may already be receiving. Penn’s Institutional Aid is comprised of grants and work-study, which are funds you don’t have to pay back. 

J

Joint Ivy League Agreement 

The Ivy League agreement refers to a set of agreements among the eight Ivy League Universities regarding the timing of admissions decisions, early evaluation, and financial aid, in order simplify the process through more uniform admissions procedures. Read the Joint Ivy League Agreement > 

L

Liberal Arts  

Penn's curricula are based in the liberal arts—meaning you will acquire a foundation for analytical and creative thinking with coursework across disciplines to enrich your learning experience along with a specialized education in a major subject area. 

M

Merit-Based Aid 

Merit-Based Aid is financial aid granted based on a student’s skill or ability, such as strong academic performance. This aid may be contingent on a student’s continued academic performance. Penn does not offer merit-based aid, and only provides aid based on financial need. 

Mid-Year Report 

The Mid-Year Report is a form submitted by your school counselor or another school official when your grades for the first half of your senior year become available.  

N

Need-Based Aid 

Need-Based Aid is financial aid which is awarded solely on the basis of financial need. Undergraduate financial aid at Penn is entirely need-based, meaning students who are admitted to Penn and apply for financial aid will be awarded financial aid packages that cover their financial need. 

Need-Aware Admissions 

When a student's financial need, or ability to cover the cost of attendance, is considered as part of their admissions decision, the process is considered need-aware. At Penn, admissions are need-aware for international students. 

Need-Blind Admissions 

When a student's financial need is not considered when considering their admission, the process is considered Need-Blind. At Penn, admissions are need-blind for citizens and permanent residents of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. 

Net Price Calculator 

The Net Price Calculator is a tool that allows students to enter information about themselves to gain a general idea of their potential cost of attendance after taking scholarships, grants, and financial aid into account. Please note, the Net Price Calculator provides an estimate based on the information you provide, and does not guarantee a financial aid amount.  

O

Official Transcript 

An official transcript is a certified record of a student’s course of study, including courses taken, grades earned, and awards and degrees conferred. The official transcript is sent directly by a school official. 

P

PEEP – Penn Early Exploration Program 

PEEP is a three-week online workshop-based virtual program designed to help get high school seniors ready to apply to college and thrive once there.  

Personal Statement 

The Personal Statement is a writing prompt students answer as part of their college application. Unlike supplemental or school-specific prompts, this broader short essay is sent to most schools you apply to. The personal statement is an opportunity to highlight an aspect of yourself you want to ensure all schools you apply to know about – such as your background, goals, interests, beliefs, experiences, or accomplishments. 

Q

QuestBridge 

QuestBridge is a platform that connects the nation's brightest students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education. Through QuestBridge, students can be matched with a participating school to receive full four-year scholarships to cover their cost of attendance. Learn more about QuestBridge > 

R

Regular Decision 

Regular Decision is a non-binding college admissions process where students apply by the regular deadline and may choose whether or not to accept an offer of admission. At Penn, our Regular Decision deadline is January 5th, and applicants hear from us in late March. Please note that if you are accepted by another school under a binding Early Decision program, you must inform the Office of Admissions and withdraw your Regular Decision Penn application.  

Research University 

A research university is an institution that emphasizes research as a central part of its mission, prioritizing the advancement of knowledge through scholarly investigation. A research university typically has significant funding for research activities, and often awards doctoral degrees. 

S

SAT 

The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test used for college admissions and scholarship decisions across the United States. It is comprised of Writing, Reading, and Math sections. At Penn, applicants can choose to submit either SAT or ACT scores with their applications. 

Score Choice 

Some Universities and standardized testing organizations allow students to choose which test score to send to colleges, meaning students are not obligated to share scores from every test sitting. Students have this option when applying to Penn. 

Scholarship 

A scholarship is a type of financial aid that does not need to be repaid. Scholarships may be awarded based on merit or financial need, and can be awarded by universities, private organizations, the government, or other sources. 

School Report (also known as Counselor Report) 

A School Report, sometimes called a Counselor Report, is a comprehensive document submitted by a school official as part of a college application. The school report includes a student’s transcript, school profile, counselor recommendation, and other information, and provides information about a student’s academic performance and context. The school report is typically compiled by a school counselor or other official. 

Submatriculation 

Some schools or programs allow submatriculation, where a student may take graduate-level courses while still an undergraduate, thus working toward obtaining a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree at the same time.  

Super Scoring 

Some schools, including Penn, allow “Super Scoring” of standardized testing scores, where the highest composite score across multiple sittings is recognized. For example, a student’s math score from one test date and writing score from a different test date may be combined to give a student’s highest possible score. 

Supplemental/School-Specific Prompt 

Schools often provide their own prompts for applicants to answer in addition to their personal statement. Unlike the personal statement, the supplemental or school-specific prompt is only sent to the school that provided the prompt, and usually asks students to articulate why they are interested in a particular school or what they hope to pursue there. 

Sticker Price 

When looking at the cost of attendance for a particular school, you will likely see the “sticker price” or the full cost of tuition and fees (potentially including the cost of housing and dining as well). This cost does not take into account any financial aid, scholarships, or other financial assistance that may reduce your personal net price. If you are eligible for aid, what you ultimately pay WILL look different from the sticker price. 

T

TOEFL 

The TOEFL is an English language proficiency test, and is one of three tests Penn accepts from international students whose native language is not English and for whom English has not been the primary language of instruction for the duration of high school. Learn more about the TOEFL > 

W

Waitlist 

Students applying under Regular Decision may be placed on the waitlist. This means you have not yet been admitted to Penn, but may still be considered for admission should space become available. 

Work-Study 

Work-Study is a component of most financial aid packages. It is earned as part of an approved job you obtain, either on- or off-campus, and can typically be used to generate income that helps pay for indirect costs of attendance such as personal expenses, course materials, and travel throughout the academic year. Learn More >