Authorized international admissions office — students & agents worldwide
Glossary
The words that appear in an offer letter, on an I-20 or in an email from the university — each with a direct answer and a note on what people most often misread.
The Dean's List is a per-semester honour roll published by each college for students with a high grade point average. The GPA threshold and minimum credit load are set by each college, commonly around a 3.5 GPA and at least 12 credits in the term.
Commonly misunderstood
It is a per-semester honour, not a graduation classification. A student can make the list one semester and not the next, so a CV entry should name the term.
The Chancellor's List is the tier above the Dean's List, for students with near-perfect results in a semester — at many universities a 4.0 GPA. It is also published each term.
Academic probation is a formal warning applied when a student’s cumulative GPA falls below the university’s minimum — commonly a 2.0. The student may continue studying but must raise the GPA within a set period or face suspension.
Commonly misunderstood
For an international student this is more serious than for a domestic one: suspension means you are no longer enrolled full time, and F-1 status depends on full-time enrolment. Speak to an academic adviser as soon as grades slip — not at the end of term.
Academic standing is a student’s official status at a point in time: good standing, probation, suspension or dismissal. It is reassessed each semester from the cumulative GPA.
An Honors College is a college within the university for high-achieving students, offering smaller classes, more demanding coursework, dedicated advising and often its own residence hall. Students still major within their own college — the Honors College is an addition, not a replacement.
Commonly misunderstood
Families often assume an Honors College is a separate institution with its own application. In practice you apply to the university first and are then considered for Honors — and can often join later once your grades qualify.
An honor roll is a list recognising students with high grades (a Dean’s List is one form of it). An honors program is an enhanced course of study for strong students, smaller in scope than an Honors College. An honor student is someone in either group.
Form I-20 is the Certificate of Eligibility issued by a US university to an international student, used to apply for an F-1 visa. It records the student, the programme, its duration and the estimated cost you must show you can cover.
Commonly misunderstood
An I-20 is not a visa. It lets you book a visa interview, and the consulate can still refuse. Keep the original and carry it when you enter the US.
F-1 is the non-immigrant visa for full-time study at an approved US institution. It permits study, up to 20 hours a week of on-campus work during term, and off-campus work through CPT or OPT once eligible.
F-2 is the visa for the spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an F-1 holder. F-2 holders may not work in the US; children may attend public school, while a spouse may study only part time.
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is the US government database that tracks international students throughout their studies. The SEVIS ID is the identifier printed on the I-20, beginning with N. The SEVIS fee must be paid before the visa interview.
Form I-94 is the electronic arrival record created by US Customs and Border Protection each time you enter the country, showing the entry date and how long you may stay. F-1 students usually see “D/S” in the duration field.
Commonly misunderstood
“D/S” means Duration of Status — you may remain as long as you maintain valid student status, not until a fixed date. Check your I-94 online after each entry; data-entry errors do happen.
Form DS-2019 is the equivalent of the I-20 but for J-1 exchange programmes, not F-1. If you are enrolling in a degree programme as a fee-paying student, the document you receive is an I-20.
OPT (Optional Practical Training) lets an F-1 student work in the US for up to 12 months after graduation in their field of study. CPT (Curricular Practical Training) is work placement during the programme and must be tied to the curriculum. STEM-designated majors qualify for a 24-month OPT extension, giving 36 months in total.
Commonly misunderstood
The gap between 12 and 36 months is why many students choose STEM majors. But the major must appear on the official STEM designated degree list by CIP code — a technical-sounding name is not enough.
Mechanical engineering is the design, analysis and manufacture of mechanical systems: engines, machinery, thermal systems and robotics. A practitioner is a mechanical engineer.
Commonly misunderstood
Do not confuse it with “mechanic”, which means a repair technician rather than an engineer. A “mechanical design engineer” is a specialisation within the field.
Public health is the study and protection of the health of whole populations rather than the treatment of individual patients. It covers disease prevention, epidemiology, health policy, environmental health and health education.
Commonly misunderstood
Public health is not a route to becoming a physician. If your goal is clinical practice, this is not the major to choose.
Information systems is about how organisations use technology to operate and make decisions — sitting between technology and management. Business analytics is the analysis of data to support business decisions. Many universities combine the two into a single major abbreviated ISBA.
Commonly misunderstood
This differs from computer science, which focuses on building software and algorithms, while information systems focuses on applying technology to business processes. Several quantitative business majors carry STEM designation, worth checking if the 36-month OPT matters to you.
A BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) is an undergraduate degree concentrated on studio practice: painting, sculpture, graphic design, photography or theatre. Unlike a BA in art, most of a BFA is studio work rather than theory.
A.A.S.N is an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, typically two years. M.S.E is a Master of Science in Engineering. M.M.E is a Master of Music Education.
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. For an international student, whether a major carries official STEM designation decides whether OPT lasts 12 or 36 months.
An English Language Academy (ELA) is an academic English programme based inside the university for international students who have not yet met the TOEFL or IELTS entry score. Completing it at the required level allows direct progression into the degree without retaking a test.
Commonly misunderstood
This is the point most people miss: not yet meeting the English score does not mean you cannot go. The ELA pathway is an official route, not a fallback.
ELL (English Language Learner) describes someone learning English as an additional language. ESL (English as a Second Language) is the name of the programme that teaches them. Language arts is the English subject in US schools, covering reading, writing, speaking and literature.
The Duolingo English Test is an online English test accepted by many US universities in place of TOEFL or IELTS. It is taken at home, returns results in about two days and costs considerably less.
A student union is the building at the centre of campus life: dining, club rooms, group study space, the bookshop, and often a cinema or games area. Outside class hours it is usually the busiest place on campus.
A recreation centre (or rec centre) is the campus sports facility: gym, pool, courts, climbing wall. Campus Recreation is the department running it. Intramural sports are informal leagues between students within the university, distinct from varsity teams that compete against other universities.
Commonly misunderstood
Full-time students usually already have free access because the cost sits inside the mandatory fees — there is no need to buy a separate gym membership.
Greek life is the system of fraternities and sororities named with Greek letters. They run social events, charity work and alumni networks; joining is entirely optional and usually carries membership fees.
Campus life covers everything outside class: residence halls, clubs, sport, events and dining. Campus wellness refers to the university’s physical and mental health services: the clinic, counselling, and nutrition and fitness programmes.
On-campus means living or working within the university grounds; off-campus is outside it. For an F-1 student the distinction matters: you may work on campus up to 20 hours a week during term without extra authorisation, while off-campus work requires CPT or OPT.
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