College Raptor Staff

Side view of student looking through the microscope.
financial aid

How Financial Aid And Work Study Affect Each Other

All students who submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), are awarded some sort of financial aid by the federal government. The financial aid offered is different for every student. Your package is calculated based on the information you provided on the FAFSA form.  The financial aid package typically includes a combination of scholarships, …
first college visit
college search

How To Prepare For Your First College Visit

College visits are highly recommended. They allow you to get a closer look at prospective colleges so you can make a more informed decision about which college is the best fit for you. However, they can be a huge investment of time and money. You want to make sure that you get your money’s worth …
A red-bricked building on a college campus with students walking around.
questions & answers

How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?

“How many colleges should I apply to?” is one of those questions that come up every year as a new batch of high school graduates starts their college application process. It is a valid question. Everyone will tell you how important it is to create a list of colleges. While that is great advice, it …
Oregon State University campus during winter.
questions & answers

Parents’ Change of Income Can Affect Financial Aid

When you fill in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you have to provide detailed information about your family finances and assets as on the day you submit the application. Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and financial aid eligibility are calculated based on the information you provide. But what if something changes? What …
When should you visit your high school guidance counselor?
questions & answers

When Should I Visit My High School Counselor?

Putting together a college application is a long, complex process. There are several elements that you have to work on simultaneously to create a strong application that will impress the college admissions authorities. During the process, you are sure to have questions or need some advice or guidance. The best person to go to when …
Female college student scrolling through her laptop and studying in the library.
questions & answers

Am I Eligible For Work Study Programs?

Work study programs allow undergrad and grad students to earn some money towards their college expenses. Students get the benefits of work experience and also can pay for college in a way they can manage. Work study eligibility means meeting the following three requirements: You must be enrolled in a full-time or part-time program in …
things to consider when choosing a college
college search

Good Reasons for Choosing a College

Students choose their colleges based on just about every reason you can think about. Some may choose a college just so they can be near their best friend, others choose may choose a campus across the country so they can be as far away as possible from family. Well, neither of these are good reasons …

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