College Raptor Staff

College student looks into her dorm room mirror
student life

6 Fantastic Mirrors for College Dorms and Apartments

A mirror is not only a useful tool, but can double as a decorative piece. Whether you’re checking an outfit before heading to class, brushing your hair quick, fixing a bit of makeup, or ensuring you’ve got no wrinkles on your interviewing suit, a mirror can come in handy. Check out some of these cool …
High school student working on an art piece to apply for a merit based scholarship
scholarship search & applications

What Are Merit Based Scholarships?

Merit based scholarships are monetary awards given to students who have a history of high grades, strong SAT or ACT scores, participation in their community, or other, similar achievements. They can be offered by individuals, businesses, schools, organizations, non-profits, and government agencies. Merit based scholarships are different from need based scholarships, which are awards given …
College student sleeping in her dorm bed
student life

6 Bedding Sets Perfect for College Dorms

When it comes to dorm living, you often have to supply your own bedding. However, getting your own sheets is a great opportunity to let your style and personality shine through. You’ll be living in your dorm room for at least a semester, if not longer. It’s worth taking the time to look for a …
Northwest Hidden Gems Badge
hidden gems 2020

Hidden Gems in the Northwest | 2020 Rankings

Ah, the Northwest. Known for innovative ideas, beautiful landscapes, diverse geography, and interesting culture. Another thing to add to that list: great schools of all sizes. While many of the Northwest schools have recognizable names, there are many good Northwest schools that aren’t quite as well known. That’s why we wanted to highlight some! For …
Northeast Hidden Gems Badge
hidden gems 2020

Hidden Gems in the Northeast | 2020 Rankings

The Northeast region of the United States is known as a powerhouse for amazing colleges. But under the shadow of so many historic and big name schools, some fall by the wayside. So we wanted to highlight some incredible Hidden Gem colleges located in the Northeast. For the purposes of this list, we’ve included the …
Midwest Hidden Gems Badge
hidden gems 2020

Hidden Gems in the Midwest | 2020 Rankings

Like the schools featured here, the Midwest is an often overlooked region of the United States. Much more than flyover country, the Midwest is home to bustling industry, vital farms, friendly people, and some of the best colleges.  For the purposes of this list, we’ve included the following states as part of the Midwest region: …
Southeast Hidden Gems Badge
hidden gems 2020

Hidden Gems in the Southeast | 2020 Rankings

The Southeast portion of the US is known for a great many things—history, great food, and hospitality among them. But what doesn’t get quite as much attention are the great schools in the Southeast. So we wanted to highlight those schools that might be overlooked at first glance, but deserve recognition.  For the purposes of …
Southwest Hidden Gems Badge
hidden gems 2020

Hidden Gems in the Southwest | 2020 Rankings

You’ll find diverse landscapes, interesting weather, wild history, and plenty of tourist destinations in the Southwest part of the United States. Know what else you’ll find if you look hard enough? Great colleges. Let’s put the spotlight on some Southwest schools you may not have heard of, but definitely should know about! For the purposes …
Nursing Hidden Gems Badge Hidden gems - best colleges for nursing
hidden gems 2020

Hidden Gems for Nursing | 2020 Rankings

Did you know that nursing is one of the fastest growing careers out there? In fact, by 2026 the career is estimated to employ nearly 1.7 million nurses! It’s certainly a noble career path, so it’s no surprise that it’s a very popular college major. There are many colleges with amazing nursing programs, but we …

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