Every college has its own set of people, traditions, places and history. There are unique words arising from the universities which can be about college finance, college residence, college academy or slangs. These words are better known as college lingo. Two students of the same college can have an effective conversation in their college lingo leaving an outsider almost clueless. Thus, college lingo is vital for effective and exclusive student conversation.
Academic lingo Professor – High school students usually call their teachers as teachers. But in a college environment teachers are called professors. This also indicates that you are taught by someone with a PhD. Academic probation – This is a status which is conferred upon students with low grades. This is a period where the student is granted an opportunity to raise his/her grades to avoid being dismissed from the college. Bulletin – Bulletin is a college or a university book which provides information about the university’s academic programs, policies, courses, discipline etc. Bursar – Bursar is the senior financial administrator in a college to whom the students pay the fees. Adjunct faculty – Visiting or part-time instructors. Curriculum – Curriculum is a set of courses that the entire program comprises of. Grade Point Average (GPA) – This is a measure of academic achievement of a student which is calculated by dividing total number of grade points obtained by total hours attempted. A is the highest grade and F being the lowest denoted failure. Hillcat card - Hillcat card is a student ID card which can also serve as a debit card in specific campus areas. Pedagogy – Pedagogy is a theory or style or method of teaching. Major – Major refers to a student’s primary concentration of study.
College Residence lingo AC – Area Coordinator, who is a person that oversees the area of your hall or some, specified area of the campus. They may also supervise Resident Advisers. AD – Area Director, which is just another term for Area Coordinator. RA – Resident Advisers. These are the fellow students that are working in the campus halls and help in building community, provide resources and handle emergency situations. HC – Hall Coordinator is a person who is in charge of your entire hall as well as Oversees Resident Advisers. HC also refers to Hall Council, which is a small governing body that acts as the voice of the students and also aids in making decisions and planning programs for the hall community. LLC – Living Learning Community is a community where the students who live together also take one or more classes together. LLC is becoming more and more popular on college campuses comprise of events that connect to what is being covered in the coursework of students. RC – Resident Coordinator. It is a term used for a Hall Coordinator or an Area Coordinator. It also means Residence Council which is exactly similar to Hall Council. RHA – Residence Hall Association. It is the same thing as Residence Council or Hall Council. RD – Resident Director is the same as Resident Coordinator. HD – Hall Director is the same as Hall Coordinator.
Financial Lingo Loan – Loan is the money that your college or banks give you that must be paid back at sometime. There are types of loans like some loans have no interest; some loans don’t collect interest until you graduate, while some loans have terms that are connected to your plans after your education. Scholarship – Scholarship is the money that is provided to you for your studies by your college, an organization or a contest. Scholarship money need not be paid back. Grants – Grants are similar to scholarship and need not be paid back. There are some grants that help you financially in course study materials while some of them also cover your living expenses. Tuition – Tuition fees is the cost of your classes. There are some colleges which charge tuition fees as per the number of units you are taking, whereas others charge base rate per semester. Fees – Fees can be charged if the student visits a doctor in the health center of the campus or if you return your library books late or any other fine. FAFSA – FAFSA is Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students who need federal aid of any kind are required to fill this form. Financial aid – Grants, loans, scholarships and any other resource that you use are considered a part of your financial aid. Thus, anything that is related to paying your college is known as financial aid. Work Study – Work study is the concept of working while studying. This is a job that you have as a financial aid package. Students work on campus as well as off campus to earn some money. Room and Board – This is the cost of living room and the food expenses while at college. There is a preset charge if you live on campus, whereas if you live off campus it is an estimate about the total costs.
Slang Alpha Greek – The one who rules the college. Bag monsters – The students who just sleep all day long. Cash Cow – ATM Crushing – Having a liking for someone. Dot slash – Indication that the conversation is over or that the final decision is made. Fifteen minute rule – Rule that enables a student to leave the class when the professor is fifteen minutes late. Frontload - to eat or drink before the actual meal or party. Hallcest – Dating a person that is dorm roommate. K – Okay. Mouse Potato – A person that spends too much time on the computer. Nada – Nothing. Playing House – A dating couple that practically lives together. Sexiled – To remove a person from your room, while your roommate has a friend ‘over’. Throw me a bone – Ask for help. Wang Chung – old.
So here it is. The basic vocabulary to start your path to college communication.
