Financial Aid Process: Glossary of Terms

Dependent Student:

A student who relies on parental financial support and must provide their parents' financial information when applying for

FAFSA.

DACA (Differed Action for Childhood Arrivals):

Federal program that provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization for undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children.

Extracurricular Activities:

Non-academic activities such as sports, volunteering, or clubs that are considered in scholarship applications.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid):

A form used to apply for federal and state financial aid, including loans, grants, and work-study programs.

Felony conviction:

a person has been found guilty of a serious crime in a court of law and is subject to a sentence of one year or more in prison.

First - Generation High School Student:

Students are considered first-generation if their parents did not graduate from college.

FSA ID:

A username and password used by students and parents to log into the FAFSA portal and submit applications.

Grant:

Financial aid that does not need to be repaid, often provided by governments or private organizations.

Independent Student:

A student who provides only their own financial information for FAFSA and does not rely on parental support.

Merit-Based Aid:

Scholarships or grants awarded based on academic, athletic, or artistic achievements, regardless of financial need.

Minority Scholarship:

Scholarships offered to students from underrepresented ethnic or cultural groups (e.g., African American, Hispanic, or Native American students).

Need-Based Aid:

Financial aid awarded based on a student’s financial need, often determined by information provided on the FAFSA form.

Pell Grant:

A federal grant awarded to undergraduate students with financial need. It does not require repayment.

QuestBridge:

A non-profit organization that provides low-income, high-achieving students with full scholarships to top U.S. colleges.

Recommendation Letter:

A letter written by a teacher, mentor, or supervisor to support a student’s scholarship or college application.

Scholarship Essay:

An essay that students submit as part of scholarship applications to share their goals, challenges, and achievements.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math):

Academic fields that often offer specialized scholarships to encourage students to pursue careers in these areas.

Work-Study Program:

A federal program that allows students to work part-time to earn money for college expenses.