College Raptor Staff

Applying to college can be challenging, and so we at College Raptor feel it's our duty to make that process as easy, smooth, and rewarding as possible. We work hard to clarify dense material, dispel myths, uncover information, and help you learn what you need to know!
Student loans are considered installment loans.
questions & answers

What Exactly Is an Installment Loan?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 12, 2025
Most loans fall under two main categories—installment loans and revolving lines of credit. When researching student loans, you will often read that they are considered as installment loans. Here’s what you need to know about them and how they work. How Installment Loans Work With installment loans, the borrower borrows a specific amount of money …
A football player holding a football while being surrounded by other players.
scholarship search & applications

How Athletic Scholarships Work

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
Athletic scholarships are some of the most desirable college scholarships. Athletes who play any sport at any level dream of getting an athletic scholarship. However, it is not easy. Just being good enough in a sport is simply not enough to get a scholarship. The competition is incredibly high for a student athlete scholarship from …
Students on Northwestern's campus -- wondering "what's the best college for me?"
college search

8 Questions to Help Narrow Your College List

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 10, 2025
How many schools are on your first list of potential colleges? Between scholarship applications and ACT/SAT prep, you likely won’t be able to send applications to every single institution that interests you – much less visit them all. Instead, you’ll want to create a shortlist of schools. Follow these tips and ask these questions to …
Here's one of our SAT and ACT tips for test day: Write in your SAT and ACT test booklet.
ACT & SAT

SAT/ ACT Test Day Tip: Write on Your Booklet

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
You know by now that the questions on the SAT & ACT tests are designed to challenge you. Acing these tests requires you to be fast, focused, and most of all, accurate. So here’s one of many SAT and ACT tips for test day that experts suggest: use your SAT and ACT test booklet as …
Parents walking behind their graduating student.
scholarships

10 Scholarships for First Generation College Students

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on October 8, 2024
Being the first in your family to pursue a college education is an impressive achievement and about a third of students are those first generation college students. According to FirstGenForward, 54% of undergrads in 2020 were children of parents who did not have a bachelor’s degree. While these first-gen students do not necessarily came from …
Who can co-sign your student loans?
student loans

People Who Can Cosign Your Student Loans

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 5, 2025
Most students need a cosigner to get private student loans because they do not meet the requirements on their own. While parents are common cosigners for student loans, they are not the only ones who are eligible to cosign. Relatives, friends, or any adult can cosign student loans provided that they meet the lender’s cosigner …

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