Allison Wignall

Allison is the Editor & Content Manager of College Raptor. In addition to writing and editing posts, she also works on marketing and special projects. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in English: Creative Writing.
Image of a smiling black woman standing in the hallway.
student loans

How to Be a Responsible Student Loan Borrower

By Allison WignallLast updated on February 25, 2025
There are plenty of mistakes you’ll want to avoid when it comes to student loans. It’s far better to prevent trouble than to dig your way out, after all. Here’s how to be responsible with your student loans from the get go. Do Your Research Instead of applying to any student loan you’re eligible for, …
Here's everything you need to know about a student loan graduated repayment plan.
student loans

Things to Know About the Student Loan Graduated Repayment Plan

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 25, 2025
When you select a student loan, you also select a repayment plan. There are various repayment plans for students to choose from, so they can have the best option for their personal situation. One of the federal student loan repayment options is a graduated plan. What is a Graduated Repayment Plan? A graduated repayment plan …
A young female student smiling while holding a $2500 College Raptor Scholarship certificate.
scholarships

Chatting With Scholarship Winner Phuongthao Hoang!

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
I got the chance to speak with Phuongthao Hoang—winner of the first-ever $2,500 College Raptor scholarship—about her personal college prep journey! She hopes by sharing her story, she will help other students going through the college search and prep process. Here’s what she had to say: Tell us a little about yourself! My name is …
Are high school internships worth doing the summer before college?
careers & internships

Should Seniors Do An Internship The Summer Before Their Freshman Year Of College?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Are high school internships worth doing the summer before college? People are pretty evenly divided on this question. Some argue there are other things the soon-to-be-freshman should be focusing on, others say it’ll be a great experience before the busyness of college. Internships aren’t just for college students. Here are some of the pros and cons …
Two SAT papers and two pencils on the desk.
ACT & SAT

The Importance of Knowing the ACT / SAT Test Format

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
When studying for a test, you probably focus on the material, right? The actual content you’ll be tested on. If it’s a US History test, you’ll study dates, memorize key people, and read about important events. But the ACT and SAT aren’t “normal” tests. You won’t just study the tested material in preparation, but also …
Can you switch student loan repayment plans?
questions & answers

Can I Switch My Student Loan Repayment Plan?

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 12, 2025
Things change. What you started with might not be ideal for the situation you’re in now. This is true for life and for student loans. When you take out a student loan, you’ll agree to a certain type of repayment plan. However, as time goes on you might find that a particular plan doesn’t work …

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more.