Mixed Deck — All COLLEGE Topics Flashcards

What does 'net price' mean when comparing colleges?

Answer: The estimated actual cost a student will pay after subtracting grants and scholarships from the total cost of attendance

Net price is the estimated cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid (gift aid that doesn't need to be repaid), giving a more accurate picture of what a family will actually need to pay or borrow.

What does the term 'cost of attendance' (COA) include beyond tuition?

Answer: Estimated costs such as housing, food, books, transportation, and fees in addition to tuition

Cost of attendance is a comprehensive estimate that includes tuition and fees plus indirect costs like housing, food, books, supplies, and transportation, used to calculate financial need.

What is the key difference between a scholarship and a student loan?

Answer: A scholarship does not need to be repaid, while a loan must be repaid, usually with interest

Scholarships are gift aid that does not need to be repaid, whereas loans are borrowed money that must be repaid over time, typically with interest.

Why is breaking a large assignment into smaller milestones generally more effective than treating it as one big task?

Answer: It reduces overwhelm and creates natural checkpoints to track progress

Breaking work into milestones makes a large task feel more manageable, provides clear progress markers, and helps prevent the paralysis that often comes from facing an undefined, large workload.

What distinguishes a primary source from a secondary source?

Answer: Primary sources are original materials; secondary sources analyze or interpret primary sources

Primary sources are original documents or firsthand accounts, while secondary sources analyze, interpret, or summarize primary sources.

What is the main risk of multitasking while studying, such as texting while reading a textbook?

Answer: It increases the time needed to complete tasks and reduces comprehension due to attention-switching costs

Cognitive research shows that what feels like multitasking is actually rapid task-switching, and each switch carries a cognitive cost that slows completion time and reduces how deeply material is processed.

What is the primary purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?

Answer: To state the main argument or central claim of the essay

A thesis statement presents the writer's central claim or argument that the rest of the essay will support.

What does 'audience awareness' mean in composition?

Answer: Adjusting your tone, vocabulary, and content based on who will read your writing

Audience awareness means tailoring your writing—tone, vocabulary, examples, and detail level—to meet the needs and expectations of your intended readers.

What is the difference between denotation and connotation?

Answer: Denotation is the literal dictionary meaning; connotation is the emotional or cultural association

Denotation is a word's literal dictionary definition, while connotation refers to the emotional, cultural, or implied meanings associated with the word.

Which of these is the best example of an SMART study goal?

Answer: Review 20 flashcards on chapter 3 vocabulary every evening this week

A SMART goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Reviewing a defined number of flashcards on a specific topic each evening meets all five criteria.

Which of the following is considered a passive study strategy with relatively low effectiveness for long-term retention?

Answer: Highlighting or underlining text

Highlighting and underlining give an illusion of learning but do little to strengthen memory because they don't require active engagement with the material.

Which of the following is an example of passive voice?

Answer: The essay was submitted by the student.

In passive voice, the subject receives the action; 'The essay was submitted by the student' has the essay (not the student) as the grammatical subject.

What is plagiarism in academic writing?

Answer: Presenting someone else's ideas or words as your own without proper citation

Plagiarism is using another person's ideas, words, or work without proper attribution, which is a serious academic integrity violation.

What is the Student Aid Index (SAI), which replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) in recent FAFSA updates?

Answer: A number calculated from FAFSA data used to help determine a student's eligibility for need-based financial aid

The Student Aid Index is a number generated from the information provided on the FAFSA that colleges use, along with the cost of attendance, to determine a student's financial need and aid eligibility.

What is the primary purpose of the Pomodoro Technique?

Answer: To break work into focused intervals separated by short breaks

The Pomodoro Technique uses timed intervals (typically 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break) to sustain concentration and avoid burnout.

Which environment factor has been shown to most reliably improve study focus for most students?

Answer: A consistent, dedicated study space with minimal distractions

A dedicated, distraction-free environment helps train the brain to associate that space with focused work, reducing the mental effort needed to get started and stay on task.

In a standard five-paragraph essay, how many body paragraphs are included?

Answer: Three

A standard five-paragraph essay includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

What is paraphrasing in academic writing?

Answer: Restating someone else's ideas in your own words while citing the source

Paraphrasing involves restating another's ideas in your own words while still citing the original source, unlike a direct quote.

Why is it generally recommended that students file the FAFSA as early as possible after it opens each year?

Answer: Some aid programs, especially state and institutional aid, are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis with limited funds

Many state and school-based financial aid programs have limited funding and distribute it on a first-come, first-served basis, so filing the FAFSA early can increase a student's chances of receiving certain aid.

What is the main benefit of summarizing a chapter in your own words after reading it?

Answer: It forces deeper processing and reveals gaps in understanding

Summarizing in your own words requires you to process and reorganize the information rather than just recognize it, which exposes any parts you don't fully understand.