student life

Alternatives to Going Home for Winter Break

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

Winter break. Possibly one of the most look-forward-to aspects of college. Your Thanksgiving break was okay, and you might have had a long weekend here or a fall break there, but nothing equals the weeks in between your first and second semester. While it is tempting to just go home and relax for a while, …

financial aid

How Will My Parents’ College Savings Affect My Financial Aid?

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

You’re applying to colleges and finally got to the part about financial aid. Calculating financial need is a complicated process. There are so many factors that go into it that families might not always expect. One of these factors, your parents’ college savings accounts, is frequently an area of great concern to parents and students …

student loans

What You Need to Know about the PLUS Loan

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

There are many different financial aid options available to college-bound students. The easiest ones to understand are usually scholarships and grants: You put in the effort to apply for it, you receive the award, and you don’t have to pay it back. Loans, on the other hand, must be paid back over the course of …

tips tools & advice

How to Study if You’re a Visual Learner

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

Visual learners are those who really need to see things laid out in order to learn from them. Charts and graphs are examples of these; whereas a verbal learner can pick up on the same information just by reading/hearing about it, visual learners do better seeing the information in a way that involves seeing it …

financial aid

I Didn’t Apply for Financial Aid Last Year, Will that Hurt My Chances for Next Year?

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on February 26, 2025

Financial aid is always a tricky business. There are so many questions surrounding the process: How do I apply? When are the deadlines? How do I complete the FAFSA? And what if you didn’t apply last year? Some students may be concerned about their chances of receiving financial aid awards if they didn’t apply for them the year …

financial aid

Fun Facts about Financial Aid in America!

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

Many students are anxious when it comes to financial aid. How do I find it? Do I qualify for any? When are the deadlines? While applying for financial aid should be taken seriously—you don’t want to be lax about your applications—it’s always good to step back a little, take a deep breath, and keep these …

college comparisons

5 Colleges With Great Mountain Views

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

For some people, nothing is more awe-inspiring than a gorgeous mountain view. Whether that means snow-capped peaks, colorful autumn forests, or staring at that jagged skyline, mountains are tough to beat. We are fortunate enough that the United States has a variety of mountains. Here are some beautiful schools a mountain view. Prescott College—Prescott, AZ …

financial aid

Finding Extra Financial Aid as an Out-of-State Student

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on July 28, 2023

When searching for colleges and universities that interest you, affordability is often a large concern. Among private universities, it doesn’t much matter: they don’t receive state funding, and therefore charge their students the same for tuition regardless of which state they reside in. Public universities are different. Because they receive state funding that comes from …

college comparisons

Most Beautiful College Campuses in Autumn

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

While the beauty of a college campus does not necessarily inspire all students, it certainly can help lift students from the doldrums of daily homework. Many students enjoy being able to study outside during good weather, and the change of seasons—though signaling cooler weather—add bursts of brightness and magnificence to your walk to class. It’s …