Glossary

Deadline A date by which something is due to be submitted. Most college application deadlines are in the fall.

Deferred Admission When an institution opts to make a decision regarding a student’s admission at a later date. Students who are neither accepted nor rejected when applying early action to schools are deferred and will find out about the status of their application during the next round of admissions decisions.

Deferred Enrollment When an admitted student chooses to wait a year before starting a course of study at a particular institution. Students must apply to do this after they have been accepted, and their application may either be rejected or accepted by the school.

Demonstrated Interest When a student attends online or in-person events hosted by a particular institution, visits campus, sets up an alumni interview, or schedules a time to talk with a representative. Many institutions track demonstrated interest to gauge how likely a student is to attend and can use it to factor into admissions decisions.

Denial When a student’s application for acceptance into a particular institution is rejected.

DI/DII/DIII (NCAA) The different division levels in college sports. Divisions are based on the size of the institution, the level of competition, and the funding of the athletic program. DI is the most competitive, and DIII is the least competitive.

Dorm/Dormitory Where residential college and university students live. Many students live in dormitories their freshman and sophomore year and then live off campus their junior and senior year.

Double Major A student can obtain a double major by completing two sets of degree specialization requirements simultaneously.

Dual Degree Programs Allows a student to enroll in two separate degree programs simultaneously and complete them both in a shorter amount of time. The main difference between a dual degree and a double major is that students who complete a dual degree earn two distinct degrees in different fields of study whereas students who complete a double major earn one degree with two distinct concentrations.

Dual Enrollment A program offered by many high schools and community colleges that enables high school students to take college courses and earn college credits while still being enrolled in high school.