Ellen Andersen

Ellen is a guest blogger for College Raptor. She is a recent graduate of the University of Iowa. She holds a BA in English with Creative Writing and Psychology. Her current focus is applying to the Fulbright Scholar program.
Northeastern University building behind the trees.
college comparisons

Colleges with Great Career Help Services

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on July 10, 2020
One of the hardest things about college is knowing that you’re going to need a job once you graduate. The job market isn’t the most promising right now: Colleges know this, and they try to help as best they can. Job fairs, alumni networking, internship opportunities-–all these help you to find employment in your field …
Coins super close-up.
questions & answers

What Is Economic Hardship Deferment?

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on September 13, 2020
Economic Hardship Deferment is a student loan borrower protection. It allows borrowers to temporarily defer payments toward their loans. If the borrower has a subsidized loan, it will not accrue interest throughout the deferment period. Deferment periods are taken in one-year increments, up to three years total. This deferment plan is only eligible to people …
Stay safe and learn about your student loan borrower protections
student loans

A Breakdown of Student Loan Borrower Protections

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on June 17, 2020
Taking out student loans is a huge commitment that can potentially greatly impact your life after college. When taking out student loans, borrowers need to be aware of the loan borrower protections they have. It’s very important to do plenty of research into student loan borrower protections before signing the dotted line. Read the fine …
What are the pros and cons of job shadowing?
careers & internships

Pros and Cons of Job Shadowing

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on June 18, 2020
If you’re not quite certain about a professional field, job shadowing is a great option to consider. It’s also a good way for employers to train new employees so that they aren’t being thrown into the deep end, as it were. This is generally a useful time to ask questions about the field and get advice …
college comparisons

Colleges for Students Interested In Space!

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on June 8, 2021
There are plenty of reasons for people to like space. Space is cool. It’s a great medium to work with problem-solving skills. And let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to go up in a rocket? There are plenty of job opportunities for people interested in space, too. Here’s a list of schools that might be …
Use your summer to have essay-worthy experiences
college applications

Use the Summer to Cultivate Essay-Worthy Experiences

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on October 16, 2020
As tempting as it is to lounge around all summer playing video games or binge-watching shows on Netflix, it’s going to be difficult to turn those experiences into application essays. (It might be possible, but probably not.) So it might be a good idea to use the time to explore your options. How to use …
A shot of a Johns Hopkins University building with trees in front of it.
college search

Reasons Why You Should Revisit Colleges

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on October 26, 2020
When it comes to finding the right “fit” with a college, visiting campus is almost essential. The space around you can have a huge impact on your psychological well-being. If you don’t feel happy wandering around campus, it will be a rough four or five years ahead. That’s why you should revisit a college. So …