Important Resources

Windham Woods is dedicated to being the primary resource for students and families throughout the college application process. Please also explore some additional helpful resources listed below.

College Board: This website also has a great college search function. This is where you will register to take the SAT and the website through which you will send your SAT scores. https://www.collegeboard.org/

Common App: You will most likely use this website to apply to many colleges on your list. Feel free to peruse the site to get a better feel for what to expect this fall during the application process. http://www.commonapp.org/

FAFSA: Colleges, Universities and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

Admission/Financial Aid Glossary

Early Action: Non-binding. You can apply to a school early in your senior year. You receive an early application review and notification of admission

Early Decision: Binding. You will have to sign a contract with the school at the time you apply to acknowledge that if you're accepted, you're obligated to attend that school

Regular Decision: The normal process by which students apply by published deadlines, with the promise of receiving an admissions decision no later than April 1

Rolling Admissions: The college will review your application once all required materials have been received 

Acceptance Rate: The percentage of applicants who are admitted to a college
Matriculation: The process of enrolling in a college or university as a candidate for a degree.

Grant: A type of financial aid that does not need to be repaid, often based on need.

Scholarship: Financial aid awarded based on various criteria (academic, athletic, etc.) that does not need to be repaid.

Loan: Borrowed money that must be repaid, typically with interest.

Work-Study: A federally funded program that provides part-time jobs for students with financial need. 

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): A form used to apply for financial aid from the federal government.