Glossary

Predominantly White Institution - a college where the majority of students are white.

Students in their first year of law school.

Designated hours when college professors are in their office to meet with students to clarify class material or discuss matters that may have nothing to do with the class.

Geoffrey Canada Scholars, an enrichment program at Bowdoin College specifically for selected first-generation college students.

What is your vision…why are you here?

Harlem Children's Zone - an afterschool, wrap-around program in Harlem, NY.

Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a college program that prepares students to become officers in the U.S. military while earning their degrees.

Many colleges will have campus visitation days/weekends for accepted students. At Yale, these are called “Bulldog Days.” At Harvard, it’s “Visitas”; at Princeton, it’s “Princeton Preview.” Search “accepted student campus visit programs” for more.

https://www.aclu.org/2025-aclu-national-advocacy-institute

JKC is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. 

K-12 schools/districts comprised largely of low-income families. These under-resourced schools may qualify for additional federal funding but often still lag behind well-funded districts.

An undergraduate or graduate student who assists a professor in a class by providing tutoring, running review sessions, or reviewing problem sets.

MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science pre-college programs for grades 7-12.

Empowering high-achieving, underserved young leaders to thrive in college and beyond.

General Education Development - an alternate credential for individuals who do not complete high school. It is not the same as a high school diploma.

A financial aid term formerly used in FAFSA; now replaced by the SAI (Student Aid Index).

A formula-based index number ranging from –1500 to 999999. Colleges use the SAI to determine how much financial aid a student may receive.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Required for students seeking financial aid; some schools may also require the CSS Profile.

Required coursework at many colleges, including categories such as foreign language, writing-intensive classes, or humanities.

Programs allowing students (usually from low-income backgrounds) to visit colleges for free. Google “College fly-in programs” for specific opportunities.

Providing financial services for corporate and institutional customers, such as raising capital and arranging mergers and acquisitions.

The study of human behavior, biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics.

A type of investment involving the purchase and management of private companies to increase their value before selling for profit.

The study of how people use resources and make decisions in the face of scarcity.

An educational non-profit that aims to close the opportunity gap for underserved students.



A program that connects diverse students to top-tier firms in consulting, finance, and technology.

An educational program designed to increase business education opportunities for high-potential college students.


Need is determined by FAFSA and sometimes an additional financial aid form like the CSS Profile. The college covers the difference between the Cost of Attendance and the student’s ability to pay.

The financial aid amount a college determines is required for affordability, calculated as Cost of Attendance (COA) minus Student Aid Index (SAI).


A law degree required to practice law in the U.S.


A graduate degree for professionals in the business sector.



A standardized test required for law school admissions, though some schools also accept the GRE.



A college application portal allowing students to apply to multiple schools with a single application.


A UChicago summer institute.