<p>It’s that four letter work starting with F … and then My Life.</p>
<p>As in, “It’s almost midnight of Dec 31 and I still have two essays to complete and submit my application. ■■■!”</p>
<p>Yup-- thats one definite acronym. Fortubnately there are lots of others, in other contexts, of course 
[■■■</a> - Definition by AcronymFinder](<a href=“http://www.acronymfinder.com/■■■.html]■■■”>■■■ - Definition by AcronymFinder) My personal favorite is the Ferret mailing list !</p>
<p>lol! thanks.</p>
<p>new one!
FAF-Financial Aid Fairy</p>
<p>Cute, Rocket. You have definitely been visited by the FAF!</p>
<p>WASP - Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona</p>
<p>Useful abbreviations pertinent to college planning process
LAC - liberal arts college
COA - Cost of Attendance (Direct billable expenses tuition, fees room & board plus Indirect expenses, books, supplies, personal expenses, travel, computer)
FA - Financial aid
FAO - Financial Aid Officer
RAR - Regional Admissions Representive
WL - Wait List
RA - Rolling Admissions (non-binding)
ED-Early Decision (binding)
ED, EDII - two different deadlines for schools which have them; usually around Nov 1 for ED1, Jan ? for ED2
EA-Early Action (non-binding)
SCEA-Single Choice Early Action (non-binding but applicant can apply to only one early school)
FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid - the form for fin. aid
CSS Profile - the form you fill out for aid in addition to FAFSA
URM-under-represented minority
AA - Affirmative action
ADCOM- Admissions Committee
BWRK - Bright, well-rounded kid
NMF- National Merit Finalist
NMSF -National Merit Semifinalist
EFC - Estimated Family Contribution
FM - Federal Methodology
IM - Institutional Methodology, varies (also Instant Messaging)
ECs - Extra curricular activities, like volunteer activities or school clubs
Stats - a student’s GPA, test scores, curriculum and extracurriculars
ACT - standardized test that tests academic knowledge
SAT - Reasoning Test developed by College Board
SAT II - Standardized Achievement Test in specific subjects
GC - guidance counselor
OOS - Out of state
APUSH - Advanced Placement, United States History
HS - high school
PG - post graduate (HS + an additional year of school before college)
GTO - Guaranteed Transfer Option (into UC after community college)
IB - International Baccaulaureate
USAMO - United States of America Mathematics Olympiad
PA - Peer Assessment</p>
<p>Colleges
HYP - Harvard/Yale/Princeton
Little Three = Amherst, Wesleyan, Williams
HBCU-historically black colleges/universities
AWS - Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore meaning specifically those three or a stand-in for most selective LACS
WASP - Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona (originally White Anglo Saxon Protestant)
CSU- California State university system
CUNY- City University of New York system
SUNY- State University of New York system
UNC - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
U of C - University of Chicago
SU - Syracuse University (but also Seattle U)
JHU - Johns Hopkins University
CMU - Carnegie Mellon U
NYU - New York U
SDSU - San Diego State University
SMU - Southern Methodist U
UCB - University of California, Berkleley, also known as “Cal”
UCLA - University of Calif, Los Angeles
UCR - University of Calif, Riverside
UCSD - University of Calif. San Diego
UCSB - University of Calif, Santa Barbara
UCSC - University of California, Santa Cruz
UCD - University of California, Davis
UCI – University of California, Irvine
UCSF – University of California, San Francisco (has no undergrad programs)
UCM - University of California Merced (opening next year)
USD - University of San Diego (but also University of South Dakota)
WUSTL - Washington U - St. Louis
The Seven Sisters(all girls schools):
(most of the co ed now) were the female equivalent: Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Wellesley, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Vassar, and Radcliff.
Ivy League: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, (lower ivies:) UPenn, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell
PLME - Program in Liberal Medical Education
TASP - Telluride Association Summer Program
WPI - Worcester (WHUS-ter) Polytechnic Institute (MA)
RPI - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)
RIT - Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) </p>
<p>General computer-speak Abbreviations
CC College Confidential (also Community College)
OP - original post(er)
OT = off topic
lol = Laughing out loud
Mod or Mods – the forum moderators.
aka – also known as
DD- Dear Daughter
DS- Dear Son
DS1, DS2 - First dear son, second dear son
IMO- In my opinion
IMHO - In my humble opinion
BTW - by the way
BUMP - bring up my post
D - Daughter
S - Son
DD / DS - Dear or Darling Daughter/Son
DH or DW (darling husband/wife)
SIL/BIL - Sister/Brother in Law
FWIW - For what it’s worth
YMMV = your mileage may vary
ROFL - Rolling on the floor
SES - Socioeconomic status
GF/BF - girl friend / boy friend
OTOH - On the other hand
jk -just kidding
idk - I don’t know
TTFM - Too tough for me
PLOS - Parent Looking Over Shoulder (POS - Parents over shoulder)
TTFN - Tata for now
nvm - Never mind
IIRC - If I recall correctly
■■■ - F*@% my life</p>
<p>Useful abbreviations pertinent to college planning process
LAC - liberal arts college
COA - Cost of Attendance (Direct billable expenses tuition, fees room & board plus Indirect expenses, books, supplies, personal expenses, travel, computer)
FA - Financial aid
FAO - Financial Aid Officer
RAR - Regional Admissions Representive
WL - Wait List
RA - Rolling Admissions (non-binding)
ED-Early Decision (binding)
ED, EDII - two different deadlines for schools which have them; usually around Nov 1 for ED1, Jan ? for ED2
EA-Early Action (non-binding)
SCEA-Single Choice Early Action (non-binding but applicant can apply to only one early school)
FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid - the form for fin. aid
CSS Profile - the form you fill out for aid in addition to FAFSA
URM-under-represented minority
AA - Affirmative action
ADCOM- Admissions Committee
BWRK - Bright, well-rounded kid
NMF- National Merit Finalist
NMSF -National Merit Semifinalist
EFC - Estimated Family Contribution
FM - Federal Methodology
IM - Institutional Methodology, varies (also Instant Messaging)
ECs - Extra curricular activities, like volunteer activities or school clubs
Stats - a student’s GPA, test scores, curriculum and extracurriculars
ACT - standardized test that tests academic knowledge
SAT - Reasoning Test developed by College Board
SAT II - Standardized Achievement Test in specific subjects
GC - guidance counselor
OOS - Out of state
APUSH - Advanced Placement, United States History
HS - high school
PG - post graduate (HS + an additional year of school before college)
GTO - Guaranteed Transfer Option (into UC after community college)
IB - International Baccaulaureate
USAMO - United States of America Mathematics Olympiad
PA - Peer Assessment</p>
<p>Colleges
HYP - Harvard/Yale/Princeton
Little Three = Amherst, Wesleyan, Williams
HBCU-historically black colleges/universities
AWS - Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore meaning specifically those three or a stand-in for most selective LACS
WASP - Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona (originally White Anglo Saxon Protestant)
CSU- California State university system
CUNY- City University of New York system
SUNY- State University of New York system
UNC - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
U of C - University of Chicago
SU - Syracuse University (but also Seattle U)
JHU - Johns Hopkins University
CMU - Carnegie Mellon U
NYU - New York U
SDSU - San Diego State University
SMU - Southern Methodist U
UCB - University of California, Berkleley, also known as “Cal”
UCLA - University of Calif, Los Angeles
UCR - University of Calif, Riverside
UCSD - University of Calif. San Diego
UCSB - University of Calif, Santa Barbara
UCSC - University of California, Santa Cruz
UCD - University of California, Davis
UCI – University of California, Irvine
UCSF – University of California, San Francisco (has no undergrad programs)
UCM - University of California Merced (opening next year)
USD - University of San Diego (but also University of South Dakota)
WUSTL - Washington U - St. Louis
The Seven Sisters(all girls schools):
(most of the co ed now) were the female equivalent: Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Wellesley, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Vassar, and Radcliff.
Ivy League: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, (lower ivies UPenn, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell
PLME - Program in Liberal Medical Education
TASP - Telluride Association Summer Program
WPI - Worcester (WHUS-ter) Polytechnic Institute (MA)
RPI - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)
RIT - Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) </p>
<p>General computer-speak Abbreviations
CC College Confidential (also Community College)
OP - original post(er)
OT = off topic
lol = Laughing out loud
Mod or Mods – the forum moderators.
aka – also known as
DD- Dear Daughter
DS- Dear Son
DS1, DS2 - First dear son, second dear son
IMO- In my opinion
IMHO - In my humble opinion
BTW - by the way
BUMP - bring up my post
D - Daughter
S - Son
DD / DS - Dear or Darling Daughter/Son
DH or DW (darling husband/wife)
SIL/BIL - Sister/Brother in Law
FWIW - For what it’s worth
YMMV = your mileage may vary
ROFL - Rolling on the floor
SES - Socioeconomic status
GF/BF - girl friend / boy friend
OTOH - On the other hand
jk -just kidding
idk - I don’t know
TTFM - Too tough for me
PLOS - Parent Looking Over Shoulder (POS - Parents over shoulder)
TTFN - Tata for now
nvm - Never mind
IIRC - If I recall correctly
■■■ - F*@% my life
IRL - In real life</p>
<p>Added AMC and AIME </p>
<p>Useful abbreviations pertinent to college planning process
LAC - liberal arts college
COA - Cost of Attendance (Direct billable expenses tuition, fees room & board plus Indirect expenses, books, supplies, personal expenses, travel, computer)
FA - Financial aid
FAO - Financial Aid Officer
RAR - Regional Admissions Representive
WL - Wait List
RA - Rolling Admissions (non-binding)
ED-Early Decision (binding)
ED, EDII - two different deadlines for schools which have them; usually around Nov 1 for ED1, Jan ? for ED2
EA-Early Action (non-binding)
SCEA-Single Choice Early Action (non-binding but applicant can apply to only one early school)
FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid - the form for fin. aid
CSS Profile - the form you fill out for aid in addition to FAFSA
URM-under-represented minority
AA - Affirmative action
ADCOM- Admissions Committee
BWRK - Bright, well-rounded kid
NMF- National Merit Finalist
NMSF -National Merit Semifinalist
EFC - Estimated Family Contribution
FM - Federal Methodology
IM - Institutional Methodology, varies (also Instant Messaging)
ECs - Extra curricular activities, like volunteer activities or school clubs
Stats - a student’s GPA, test scores, curriculum and extracurriculars
ACT - standardized test that tests academic knowledge
SAT - Reasoning Test developed by College Board
SAT II - Standardized Achievement Test in specific subjects
GC - guidance counselor
OOS - Out of state
APUSH - Advanced Placement, United States History
HS - high school
PG - post graduate (HS + an additional year of school before college)
GTO - Guaranteed Transfer Option (into UC after community college)
IB - International Baccaulaureate
AMC - American Mathematics Competitions
AIME - American Invitational Mathematics Examination
USAMO - United States of America Mathematics Olympiad
PA - Peer Assessment</p>
<p>Colleges
HYP - Harvard/Yale/Princeton
Little Three = Amherst, Wesleyan, Williams
HBCU-historically black colleges/universities
AWS - Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore meaning specifically those three or a stand-in for most selective LACS
WASP - Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona (originally White Anglo Saxon Protestant)
CSU- California State university system
CUNY- City University of New York system
SUNY- State University of New York system
UNC - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
U of C - University of Chicago
SU - Syracuse University (but also Seattle U)
JHU - Johns Hopkins University
CMU - Carnegie Mellon U
NYU - New York U
SDSU - San Diego State University
SMU - Southern Methodist U
UCB - University of California, Berkleley, also known as “Cal”
UCLA - University of Calif, Los Angeles
UCR - University of Calif, Riverside
UCSD - University of Calif. San Diego
UCSB - University of Calif, Santa Barbara
UCSC - University of California, Santa Cruz
UCD - University of California, Davis
UCI – University of California, Irvine
UCSF – University of California, San Francisco (has no undergrad programs)
UCM - University of California Merced (opening next year)
USD - University of San Diego (but also University of South Dakota)
WUSTL - Washington U - St. Louis
The Seven Sisters(all girls schools):
(most of the co ed now) were the female equivalent: Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Wellesley, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Vassar, and Radcliff.
Ivy League: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, (lower ivies UPenn, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell
PLME - Program in Liberal Medical Education
TASP - Telluride Association Summer Program
WPI - Worcester (WHUS-ter) Polytechnic Institute (MA)
RPI - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)
RIT - Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)</p>
<p>General computer-speak Abbreviations
CC College Confidential (also Community College)
OP - original post(er)
OT = off topic
lol = Laughing out loud
Mod or Mods – the forum moderators.
aka – also known as
DD- Dear Daughter
DS- Dear Son
DS1, DS2 - First dear son, second dear son
IMO- In my opinion
IMHO - In my humble opinion
BTW - by the way
BUMP - bring up my post
D - Daughter
S - Son
DD / DS - Dear or Darling Daughter/Son
DH or DW (darling husband/wife)
SIL/BIL - Sister/Brother in Law
FWIW - For what its worth
YMMV = your mileage may vary
ROFL - Rolling on the floor
SES - Socioeconomic status
GF/BF - girl friend / boy friend
OTOH - On the other hand
jk -just kidding
idk - I dont know
TTFM - Too tough for me
PLOS - Parent Looking Over Shoulder (POS - Parents over shoulder)
TTFN - Tata for now
nvm - Never mind
IIRC - If I recall correctly
■■■ - F*@% my life
IRL - In real life</p>
<p>Seems like CalAlum, FallenChemist and LimaBeans are all working from the same study sheet…</p>
<p>^ Far from it; I just cut and pasted to preserve the list! </p>
<p>Actually, there are many more acronyms from the engineering schools I could add, but it would probably make the list too long: SPS, RSI, IPO (& all other olympiads), STS, etc. etc.</p>
<p>Thanks, as a new person to CC (and a nontexting adult) this list is very helpful (imho!)</p>
<p>Added AICE: Advance International Certificate of Education (AICE) from University of Cambridge International Examinations (an international high school degree standard, comparable to IB)</p>
<p>Useful abbreviations pertinent to college planning process
LAC - liberal arts college
COA - Cost of Attendance (Direct billable expenses tuition, fees room & board plus Indirect expenses, books, supplies, personal expenses, travel, computer)
FA - Financial aid
FAO - Financial Aid Officer
RAR - Regional Admissions Representive
WL - Wait List
RA - Rolling Admissions (non-binding)
ED-Early Decision (binding)
ED, EDII - two different deadlines for schools which have them; usually around Nov 1 for ED1, Jan ? for ED2
EA-Early Action (non-binding)
SCEA-Single Choice Early Action (non-binding but applicant can apply to only one early school)
FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid - the form for fin. aid
CSS Profile - the form you fill out for aid in addition to FAFSA
URM-under-represented minority
AA - Affirmative action
ADCOM- Admissions Committee
BWRK - Bright, well-rounded kid
NMF- National Merit Finalist
NMSF -National Merit Semifinalist
EFC - Estimated Family Contribution
FM - Federal Methodology
IM - Institutional Methodology, varies (also Instant Messaging)
ECs - Extra curricular activities, like volunteer activities or school clubs
Stats - a student’s GPA, test scores, curriculum and extracurriculars
ACT - standardized test that tests academic knowledge
SAT - Reasoning Test developed by College Board
SAT II - Standardized Achievement Test in specific subjects
GC - guidance counselor
OOS - Out of state
APUSH - Advanced Placement, United States History
HS - high school
PG - post graduate (HS + an additional year of school before college)
GTO - Guaranteed Transfer Option (into UC after community college)
IB - International Baccaulaureate
AICE - Advance International Certificate of Education (AICE) from University of Cambridge International Examinations (an international high school degree standard, comparable to IB)
AMC - American Mathematics Competitions
AIME - American Invitational Mathematics Examination
USAMO - United States of America Mathematics Olympiad
PA - Peer Assessment</p>
<p>Colleges
HYP - Harvard/Yale/Princeton
Little Three = Amherst, Wesleyan, Williams
HBCU-historically black colleges/universities
AWS - Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore meaning specifically those three or a stand-in for most selective LACS
WASP - Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona (originally White Anglo Saxon Protestant)
CSU- California State university system
CUNY- City University of New York system
SUNY- State University of New York system
UNC - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
U of C - University of Chicago
SU - Syracuse University (but also Seattle U)
JHU - Johns Hopkins University
CMU - Carnegie Mellon U
NYU - New York U
SDSU - San Diego State University
SMU - Southern Methodist U
UCB - University of California, Berkleley, also known as “Cal”
UCLA - University of Calif, Los Angeles
UCR - University of Calif, Riverside
UCSD - University of Calif. San Diego
UCSB - University of Calif, Santa Barbara
UCSC - University of California, Santa Cruz
UCD - University of California, Davis
UCI – University of California, Irvine
UCSF – University of California, San Francisco (has no undergrad programs)
UCM - University of California Merced (opening next year)
USD - University of San Diego (but also University of South Dakota)
WUSTL - Washington U - St. Louis
The Seven Sisters(all girls schools):
(most of the co ed now) were the female equivalent: Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Wellesley, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Vassar, and Radcliff.
Ivy League: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, (lower ivies UPenn, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell
PLME - Program in Liberal Medical Education
TASP - Telluride Association Summer Program
WPI - Worcester (WHUS-ter) Polytechnic Institute (MA)
RPI - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)
RIT - Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)</p>
<p>General computer-speak Abbreviations
CC College Confidential (also Community College)
OP - original post(er)
OT = off topic
lol = Laughing out loud
Mod or Mods – the forum moderators.
aka – also known as
DD- Dear Daughter
DS- Dear Son
DS1, DS2 - First dear son, second dear son
IMO- In my opinion
IMHO - In my humble opinion
BTW - by the way
BUMP - bring up my post
D - Daughter
S - Son
DD / DS - Dear or Darling Daughter/Son
DH or DW (darling husband/wife)
SIL/BIL - Sister/Brother in Law
FWIW - For what it’s worth
YMMV = your mileage may vary
ROFL - Rolling on the floor
SES - Socioeconomic status
GF/BF - girl friend / boy friend
OTOH - On the other hand
jk -just kidding
idk - I don’t know
TTFM - Too tough for me
PLOS - Parent Looking Over Shoulder (POS - Parents over shoulder)
TTFN - Tata for now
nvm - Never mind
IIRC - If I recall correctly
■■■ - F<em>@% my life
IRL - In real life
*
*</em></p>
<p>Ok, not an abbreviation but can someone tell me what a third tier school is? I saw it on another thread and don’t know what it means (although it seemed to anger some people that a specific college was being referred to that way).</p>
<p>ROFLMAO - Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off</p>
<p>DND - Do not disturb</p>
<p>BRB - Be right back</p>
<p>gluckie–I by no means claim to have the definitive answer because I think in fact there isn’t one. You can probably find various rankings with their own delineations but I’m not aware of one generally accepted classification, either for universities or LACs. There is some general consensus–for example, I’m sure most would agree Williams is a Tier 1 LAC. I think many of the CTCL schools would be considered Tier 2. But I’m sure the lack of a precise definition leads to the tussles.</p>
<p>smh–shaking my head</p>
<p>just joined CC. this is my first post. what a great thread. i feel pretty fluent now. thanks!</p>
<p>ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities)
CDS (Common Data Set)
HEDS (Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium)
NRC (National Research Council)
THE (Times Higher Education)
USNWR (US News World Report)</p>
<p>ACM (Associated Colleges of the Midwest)
CTCL (Colleges That Change Lives)
NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference)</p>
<p>STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)</p>
<p>Tier 3 IMO, would be schools like Drexel, Case Western Reserve, Cooper Union, SUNY Binghamton, UCSD, UT-Austin, etc. Schools such as these.</p>