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.
A student smiling, standing by a table.
questions & answers

What is the Common Black College Application?

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on July 14, 2021
The Common Application is well-known and well-used when it comes to applying to colleges. The Common Black College Application (CBCA) is a similar process with some key features. Whereas most of the time you pay application fees to each college you submit an application to, the Common Black College App allows you to apply to …
A man wearing a green coat is snowboarding in mid-air.
college comparisons

Colleges for Students Who Like Extreme Sports

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on July 2, 2020
Some students are content to keep their workouts confined to the safety of a gym or recreation center. Then there are those students who live for the rush of adrenaline that only a more extreme stimulation can give. Few colleges sanction extreme sports due to the higher risk to students’ health, but if you live …
A scientist in a lab coat looking into a microscope.
scholarships

Scholarships for Biomedical Science Students

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on April 14, 2021
“Biomedical Sciences” covers quite a bit of ground. For example, medical microbiology, virology, biomedical engineering, and genetic epidemiology, to name a few. If it’s an applied science that has a basis in healthcare or public health, you’re likely in a biomedical field. Many undergraduates pursuing this Bachelor’s degree likely have to go on to graduate-level …
school search
careers & internships

Deciding Who to Job Shadow

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on July 23, 2020
Job shadowing someone is a great way to learn information about careers you’re interested in. You likely have an intended career path or field, making some decisions easier than others. If you want to get into wedding photography. For example, you’re not going to follow a muralist or an HR head. But figuring out who …
Here's some college advice on what NOT to do on a campus visit.
college search

Things You Should NOT Do on Your College Visit

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on September 18, 2019
There are probably a million things that we can suggest for you to do on a college visit. How you tackle your college visit is up to you. However, we put together some college advice on some things that you absolutely shouldn’t do on your visit. Do Not Be Afraid To Ask Questions Whether these …
Burch the Bear has an interesting history.
student life

College Mascots with Interesting Histories (Part Two)

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on September 25, 2019
College mascots are oftentimes the rallying symbol or figure of school spirit. Things are way more exciting with a mascot around—and these mascots have an interesting history behind them. Check out our first list! University of Iowa, Burch the Bear Nowadays, every Iowa fan knows Herky by name. Small children line up to have their …
A guy sleeping while wearing eye glasses with doodles on it.
myths

Myths You May Have Heard About Internships

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on June 24, 2020
Internships have become an almost vital part of modern job hunts. They are the experience we often need to get entry-level positions outside of retail or food service. Like many other topics in college, they are often surrounded by a series of common myths. So let’s get a few things straight. Myth #1: You can’t …
Joe Biden was a commencement speaker for Cornell University.
student life

The Celebrity Commencement Speakers for the Class of 2017

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on October 14, 2020
We are in the midst of graduation season. And, there are plenty of reasons seniors are happy about that. For many schools across the country, one of the graduates gives a short speech. At some universities, though, we hear words of wisdom (hopefully) from award-winning authors, famous actors, and political figures. Here are some highlights …
Two students standing together on grass.
scholarships

Scholarships for Students With Diabetes

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on February 27, 2020
Going to college while maintaining good health is difficult enough for students without life-long diseases. Managing insulin and blood sugar levels on campus, away from family members who know exactly what to do should anything go wrong, can sometimes be a trick and a half. Financial stress can add to the problem, what with rising …