college applications

Common College Application Essay Prompts and How to Answer Them

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

The power of the essay as part of the overall application process is not to be underestimated. The essay is your chance to show the admissions team just who you are. Colleges can have unique (or even bizarre) essay prompts, but a majority have common themes. Here are some common application essay prompts: The Challenge …

myths

Myth: Only Top Athletes and 4.0 Students Get Scholarships

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

There is a pervading myth that you have to be the best of the best in order to win a scholarship. At a glance, scholarships can seem like they are only easily available to the elite. This means people with extremely high levels of skill in their field of choice–whether it be athletics or academics. …

questions & answers

How Do You Get Out of Student Loan Default?

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 25, 2025

Well, the best way to get out of student loan default is not defaulting on your student loans in the first place. However, if you have already defaulted on your federal student loans, there are ways to get out—in fact, there are four major options. Pay Off the Loan in Full Let’s start off with …

ACT & SAT

4 Tips for Managing Test Anxiety DURING the ACT/SAT

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

No one has ever said that the ACT and SAT are not stressful. Beyond the weeks of studying, attending refresher classes, taking practice tests, and listening to ACT/SAT myths—there’s also a lot riding on your test scores. Scholarship opportunities, college acceptance odds, future job and internship prospects. To say that the ACT and SAT is …

questions & answers

What are Competitive Student Loan Interest Rates?

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 25, 2025

You may have heard the term “competitive interest rates” while browsing around for a good student loan option. But what exactly makes an interest rate competitive? Interest Rate Percentage The percentage of the rate isn’t the only factor that makes a rate competitive. If Company A offers a loan with a 2.65% rate, and Company …

ACT & SAT

Must-Have Materials for the ACT/SAT Exam

By Allison WignallLast updated on June 27, 2024

Students are likely so-focused on studying for the ACT/SAT, taking practice tests, brushing up on old school material, and reading up on test-taking strategies that they may overlook another important element in regards to the ACT/SAT: what they need to bring with them to the test. Preparation is key, in fact, over-preparation is even better. …

college admissions

4 Tips for College Orientation

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

Attending freshman orientation is one of the biggest steps forward towards your college career. It’s an exciting time that really gets you hyped up for your school and the time you’ll be spending there. Having a good orientation is key—both for amping you up, but also for getting the necessary information that will help make …

college news & trends

Check Out College Raptor’s Brand New Student Loan Finder!

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 8, 2024

College Raptor is all about bringing transparency to college financing. Pursuing scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and other sources of gift-aid are the ideal way to pay for college. However, many students will still have to turn to student loans. That’s why we’ve created a brand new Student Loan Finder feature, so students and their families …

college news & trends

Increased Federal Student Loan Interest Rates: What it Means for Student Borrowers

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 24, 2025

6/20/2017 In May, Congress announced that the federal student loan interest rates would be increasing. Starting effective July 1st, 2017 the rate for Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans for undergraduate students will rise to 4.45%. For graduate students, the increase is going up to 6%. What it Means for Borrowers Starting July 1st, …