Guidance Definitions ACCREDITATION Official approval by regional agencies for maintaining quality standards. Credits from a non-accredited school may not transfer to another college. (ACH)  Achievement Tests A testing program used primarily for placement; tests level of knowledge in specific academic subjects. (ACT) American College Test Most widely used college entrance exam in the Midwest. Four-section test in English, mathematics, reading comprehension and science reasoning. (AP) Advanced Placement A high school program of college equivalent course work evaluated by exam at the end of the school year. Exam scores may be used to grant college credit or advanced standing. Credit acceptance varies among universities. ASSET On campus placement test used by many local community colleges. (CLEP) College Level Examination Program A testing program for earning college credit via a general exam and a variety of subject exams. Individual tests and scores accepted for credit vary among universities. CREDIT HOUR A unit of academic credit representing one hour of class time per week for one semester. Thus, a three-hour credit course meets for three hours each week for the term. DEGREE A title earned for the completion of an academic program. Associate degrees are granted for two-year programs and bachelor degrees for four-year programs. Post-graduate degrees (master, specialist, and doctorate) recognize advanced work beyond the bachelor level. EARLY DECISION A college admission plan whereby the student applies early in the senior year to a first choice college and is notified of acceptance usually by December. If admitted, the applicant agrees to attend that college. This plan is most useful to students applying to highly competitive institutions. (FAFSA) Free Application for Federal Student Aid A form required by federal agencies, schools and lending institutions to determine financial need. MAJOR An academic subject chosen as a field of specialization or concentration. Double major refers to two majors in separate subject fields; an interdisciplinary major refers to a major that combines course work in subjects from different fields. PLAN A college aptitude test taken most widely by high school sophomores and used as a predictor of potential ACT scores. PSAT/NMSQT A preliminary SAT taken in the fall of the junior year; the qualifying exam for National Merit Scholarships. ROLLING ADMISSIONS A college admission plan whereby applicants with complete folders are reviewed and notified of acceptance on a continuous basis. (SAT) Scholastic Aptitude Test A college entrance exam. (SAT I): Two-section test in verbal and mathematics areas. (SAT II): Subject tests UNDERGRADUATE The academic programs leading to a Bachelor degree