Connecticut College terms and abbreviations
- AC: athletic center
- Arbo: the College Arboretum
- Conn (Conncoll): Connecticut College.
- Cro: the College Center at Crozier-Williams (student center)
- the Plex: Johnson, Lambdin, Park, Wright, Morrisson, Hamilton (residence halls in North campus) and Harris (main dining hall located in north campus)
- the Quad: Blackstone, Branford, Plant (residence halls on central campus)
- South: South Campus: Knowlton, Harkness, Jane Addams, and Freeman residence halls
- the Green: large green area located in South campus. The correct name is the Jean C. Tempel Green, or Tempel Green.
- WCNI: the College radio station at 91.1 FM
- Palmer: auditorium across from Tempel Green
- Myers Studio: Dance studio on the 3rd floor of the College Center
- '41 Room: 1941 Room on the 2nd floor of the College Center
- '62 Room: 1962 Room on the 1st floor of the College Center
- Harris: main dining hall in North Campus
Academic terms
- to cut class: skip class without a legitimate reason
- to drop a class: withdraw from a course
- essay exam: a type of exam that requires a long written response
- extension: 1. a 4-digit phone number at the College, 2. a deadline extension, i.e. extra time to finish an assignment
- F.A.: faculty adviser, a faculty member assigned to each student who helps to plan a general education program
- Honor Council: the Judicial student body that formally adjudicates alleged violations of the Connecticut College Honor Code and Student Code of Conduct.
- I.A.: international adviser, for students who have lived in two different cultures
- I.D.: identification card, used for access to the dinning halls into the cafeteria and as a library card
- Midterm: test given in the middle of the semester
- optional practical training: time during or after undergraduate school, in which the student may work in the U.S. with a student visa, usually one year.
- pop quiz, pop test: unexpected, unscheduled
- exam quiz: short test
- S.A.: student adviser, upperclassmen assigned to each new student to help plan schedules and provide other information
- SAC: Student Activities Council, which plans events on campus
- seminar: small classes involving student discussions, usually held once a week
- SGA: Student Government Association
- Social Security Number (SSN): identification number for employment purposes
- syllabus: schedule for class meetings and assignments
- voice mail: voice message system on personal telephones
Common slang and terms used in everyday language
- awesome: great and impressive
- barbecue (BBQ): an outdoor party with food cooked on an outdoor grill that sometimes has a special "barbecue" sauce on it
- beat around the bush: avoid speaking directly
- a buck: a dollar
- to chill out: to rest and relax alone or with friends
- cash: money in the form of dollar bills or coins, not a check or money order
- Cool: 1. adj. fashionable, stylish, and preferred; 2. an exclamation of approval, excitement, and interest; 3. as a filling remark may indicate disinterest or inattention
- A cop: a police officer
- A cab: a taxi
- To cram: to study hard the night before an exam
- To diss: to disrespect
- phat: pronounced the same way as fat; means Nice, beautiful, cool. Eg. She is phat.
- to drop in/by: to pay a short visit, uninvited
- Dude: a very informal calling
- Dawg: also a very informal calling
- Gas: automobile fuel
- A hassle: trouble, nuisance
- How are you doing?: an informal greeting; the expected response is "Fine"
- A jock: an athlete (somewhat derogatory)
- to make up: to complete an assignment after it's due
- to make out: a romantic encounter with another person emphasized by pronounced physical contact
- Date: a social romantic outing with someone that you show great interest in, usually to a movie, theatre or a restaurant.
- Hook up: informal word for 'dating' e.g. Hook up with her
- Mall: many stores or shops in one building or area
- Off the top of my head: immediately, spur of the moment
- Out of it: not feeling well, not focused
- Phony: artificial, fake, or with pretense
- Psyched: excited about something
- To pull one's leg: to tease, lie, or joke
- To pull strings: using one's influence and connections
- A show: TV program
- Shut up!: An informal and rude demand that somebody stop speaking or to call for silence
- Tied up: busy, preoccupied
- Wicked: used as an adverb to add emphasis, "Wicked cool."
- What's up? Sup, whaz up? : A common informal greeting
Other terms
- ATM: automatic teller machine (to withdraw or deposit cash)
- Checking account: a kind of bank account that allows you to remove money easily by writing checks
- CIS, Citizenship and Immigration Services; the United States government department that used to be called INS, Immigration an Naturalization Services (INS)
- Savings account: a kind of bank account that accumulates interest over time.
- Employment Authorization Document (EAD): an essential document if you wish to work.
- I-20: a crucial document that is issued by the College and proves that you are a student. It allows you to re-enter the U.S. after travel abroad.
- Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS): the U. S. government department in charge of foreign nationals which is now called the CIS, Citizenship and Immigration Services
- PIN: personal identification number used with bankcards, phone services, security systems.
Conversions
- 1 km = 0.6214 mile
- 1 mile = 1.6093 km
- 1 inch = 2.54 cm
- 1 foot = 12 inches = 0.3048 m
- 1 yard = 3 feet = 0.9144 m
- 1 acre = 4046.48 square meters
- 1 U.S. gallon = 3.7854 l
- 1 l = 1 cubic dm = 0.2642 U.S. gal
- 1 U.S. gallon = 2 quarts = 8 pints = 16 cups = 128 fluid oz.
- 1 teaspoon (tsp.) = 5 ml
- 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon (tbs.)
- 16 tbs. = 1 cup
- 1 kg = 2.2046 lb.
- 1 ounce (oz.) = 28.350 g
- 1 pound (lb.) = 16 oz. = 0.4356kg
- 1 mph (mile per hour) = 1.6093km/h
- Degrees Celsius = (degrees Fahrenheit - 32) x 5/9
- Degrees Fahrenheit = degrees Celsius x 9/5 + 32
- 20 degrees Celsius is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit
- 100 degrees Fahrenheit is normal body temperature
- 32 degrees Fahrenheit is the freezing point of water
- Standard U.S. electric current is 110-120V and 60Hz.
Appliances that run on 220- 240V do not work well or may be damaged unless you use a current-conversion kit. Similarly, appliances that are dependent on current frequency may malfunction without proper transformation.