First of all, what is a U.S. graduate school?

In the context of the US education system and for the purpose of this guide, a graduate school (or grad school) is a school that awards advanced academic degrees like master’s degrees (MSc., MA, etc.) and doctoral degrees (PhD).

Most times, you’d need to have completed an undergraduate degree (e.g. BSc.) before you can start graduate school.

In U.S. graduate schools, some commonly used terms include:

Tests, also known as Exams; Faculty, also known as Professor; Program, also known as Department.

Here are common terms or words used in the context of admissions and study for US undergraduate and graduate studies:

1. Application timeline: The time between your intent to pursue graduate studies till you submit your applications.

2. College: Generally means the same thing as a university.

3. CPT: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a required internship program offered by participating employers to students to satisfy the requirements of the students’ curriculum. CPT is similar to OPT, except that you typically qualify for CPT while you’re a student.

4. Diploma: Means the same as a “certificate.” This is issued to prove the successful completion of a course of study.

5. Documents: The various materials required from you to be submitted for admission.

6. F-1 Visa: It allows you to enter the US as an academic student.

7. Faculty: Means the same as the body of professors or the teaching staff. For instance, “our engineering faculty are the best in the country.” In Nigeria, “faculty” generally means a university division comprising various subject areas.

8. Fall: One of three semesters in the US higher education calendar. It typically runs from late August to mid December of the following year. The other semesters are spring and summer. Most US schools admit the majority of their new students in the fall semester.

9. Fellowship: A short-term opportunity provided to students by various sources that may include money, mentorship, internship, etc. – all as an opportunity for professional development.

10. Financial Aid: Money made available to students in US institutions of higher education from various sources.

11. Form I-20: A document issued to you, a student on F visa status, by your school to provide additional information on your F visa status. You need a Form I-20 in order to study in the US. Another name for the Form I-20 is the “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.”

12. Graduate Assistantship: A student employment opportunity in a department or school for graduate students. Students who get graduate assistantships are known as graduate assistants (GA). You are expected to work for a certain number of hours per week and in return, you typically do not pay tuition and also get some monthly salary.

13. Graduate School: Commonly known as postgraduate school in Nigeria. Graduate school is a post bachelor institution that awards degrees beyond the BSc. Examples of such degrees are MSc, MA, PhD.

14. High school: Means the same thing as a secondary school.

15. Higher ed: In full, means higher education. Higher education is the education provided beyond the secondary school level.

16. Internship: The opportunity given by employers to current students (undergraduates and graduates) to spend a specific time at their companies. The goal is to build connections, learn more and gain professional experience about the employer’s company and industry.

17. Letter of Recommendation: A letter written by a respected professor or industry professional to add extra merit or weight to the other parts of your application.

18. OPT: Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the time during which international students in the US with F-1 visa status are permitted by the US government (through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services – USCIS) to gain practical experience in their field of studies.

19. Paperwork: Official written documents such as letters, time sheets, reports, etc.

20. Port of Entry (POE): Usually an international airport in the US. This is your initial entry point into the US, where you present yourself to border officials to be assessed on whether you should be allowed into the US.

21. Program: Means the same thing as a department. For instance, “the environmental engineering department or program.”

22. Research Assistantship: A form of graduate assistantship in which the work you do is academic research.

23. SEVIS Receipt: This is your proof of payment for the fee you need to pay before you appear for your visa interview. Without your SEVIS fee receipt, you won’t be allowed to interview and you won’t be issued a visa. You must bring this to your visa interview, alongside your I-20 and other documents.

24. Spring: One of three semesters in the US higher education calendar. It typically runs from early January to early May of the same year. The other semesters are fall and summer. Compared to the fall, fewer students are admitted in the spring.

25. Staff: Refers to the administrative staff of the university like the registrar, bursar, and secretary, etc.

26. Standardized test: Standardized test is an exam that is conducted in a consistent or “standard” way. In other words, the conditions under which students take the exam are fairly the same, so that some students are not at a disadvantage compared to the others. Such conditions are: difficulty of the questions, time allowed, scoring procedures, etc. Examples of standardized tests for US schools are the GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc. Most standardized tests are usually taken multiple times a year. For example, you can take the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times in a year.

27. Statement of Purpose: An essay, part of your application materials, that tells schools about your background, experiences, interests, and future goals. Depending on the school or department, some call it the “Personal statement”, “SOP”, “Application essay”, “Personal background”, “Objectives for graduate study”, “Cover letter”, etc.

28. Summer: One of three semesters in the US higher education calendar. The summer semester is the shortest of the three semesters. It typically runs from late May to late July of the same year. The other semesters are fall and summer. Very few students are admitted in the summer.

29. Teaching Assistantship: A form of graduate assistantship in which the work you do is to teach students (typically undergraduates).

30. Transcripts: Your certified record from your university showing courses attempted, grades scored, and cumulative grade point average (CGPA).

31. Visa Officer (VO): The person who interviews you on the day of your visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate.

How about you? What other terms used in U.S. grad school admissions have you come across?

Post: https://beyondbsc.com/glossary-2/

Check out more useful articles on MS & PhD graduate school admissions in the U.S.: https://thenaija.us/ms-phd-us/

Cc: Lalasticlala & Mynd44.