Glossary

Reach School A school that student has a chance of getting into but is less likely to gain acceptance to than their safety or target schools based on their standardized test scores, academic background, and other application materials.

Recruited Athlete An athlete who has been given an offer of acceptance to a post-secondary institution with the contingency that they will play for that institution’s sports team.

Regional Campus A smaller, satellite campus that is in a different location than the main campus of a college or university. The satellite campus may offer the same, or slightly different courses of study and opportunities.

Religion-based/religious School A school that incorporates religious ideals and doctrine into the overall mission of the institution.

Research Many colleges and universities will offer students the opportunity to conduct in-depth/hands-on investigations into specialized topics as part of their coursework or program of study. Many students choose to assist or partner with professors to conduct research projects.

Residence Halls Campus housing provided to students as part of their room and board payments.

Residency Requirement The amount of time a student must live in a state to be eligible for in-state tuition rates. This requirement differs by state.

Restrictive Early Action – see “Early Action” Students who are accepted to an institution through a restrictive early action program must accept their place at that institution. They are required to withdraw applications from all other schools they may have applied to.

Returning Freshmen Freshman who return for a second year at a particular institution. The return rate is also referred to as the freshmen retention rate and is correlated with how content first year students are at a particular school.

Rituals/Traditions Many post-secondary institutions have social rituals/traditions that students participate in each year that are often linked to superstition. Examples include first year students drinking out of the old well at University of North Carolina to ensure good grades for the semester, and students avoiding stepping on Georgetown University’s seal in order to guarantee on-time graduation.

Rolling Admission Students are notified of acceptance decisions as soon as their application is reviewed instead of all together on a single date.

ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) Offered at more than 1,000 colleges and universities, the ROTC program pays for 100% of a student’s tuition and supplemental support for books and cost of living. Upon graduation, students must serve between two and four years in the Army, starting as a second lieutenant.