Early Action
Some universities and colleges, in an effort to recruit top academic students, offer what’s known as Early Action. The students may apply for admission before the regular deadlines, and be granted admission, but is not obligated to attend the school, and may apply to other schools also. What distinguishes Early Action from Early Decision is this flexibility on the part of the student.

Early Admission
If a college or university offers Early Admission, , academically gifted high school juniors may skip their last year of high school and enroll directly in a full time college program.

Early Decision
Early Decision is somewhat similar to Early Action, it is an option some students use when applying for college. Early Decision allows for earlier deadlines and notification dates, enabling the student to make plans earlier. But if accepted to a college under Early Decision, the student is then obligated to attend that school. One main disadvantage of Early Decision is that a student doesn’t know for sure how much financial aid they’ll be receiving if accepted. That’s why, Early Decision should only be used if a student is absolutely certain that the college is the only one they want to attend.

Electronic Data Exchange (EDE)
EDE allows schools to receive Student Aid Reports from the federal government electronically, saving lots of time, postage, and paperwork. Nowadays, students may also file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid online. Except being faster, this method is advised by the government to use.

Educational Testing Service (ETS)
ETS is the non-profit company that actually develops and produces the standardized tests that are administered by the College Board.

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
EFT is a more technical term for Direct Deposit. If you have your student loans handled by EFT, you are enabled to get your funds faster and easier, which saves time and paperwork.

Electronic Student Aid Report
The Student Aid Report (SAR) in electronic, rather than paper, format.

Eligible Non-Citizen
Some USA residents who aren’t citizens are eligible for Federal student aid; some are not. Eligible are permanent residents with valid green cards and non-citizens who have been granted refugee or asylum status by the US government. Such people who are in America on student visas or exchange visitor visas are ineligible for aid.

Emancipated
People who has attained the age of 18 is considered emancipated, that is, their parents are no longer responsible for their actions. But do not confuse it with financial independence. When someone is legally an adult, until they’re 24 years old and whether or not they’re still living at home or on their own, they cannot claim independent financial status, except in certain circumstances, even though being emancipated, they‘re considered adults. This is the case for students under 23 years old. A person cannot be claimed as a dependent by anyone, once he/she reaches age 24, unless severely disabled.