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.
Plenty of colleges have programs for people who love robotics!
college comparisons

Best Colleges for Students Who Love Robotics

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
When it comes to pursuing your hobbies at college, there is no end to what is available. There are schools out there with programs and student organizations for everything you can imagine. If you love robotics in high school, or you’re looking to get into it for fun after high school, you should check out …
Your grades and test scores may affect your financial aid opportunities.
financial aid

How GPA and Test Scores Affect Financial Aid Opportunities

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
Over the course of your high school career, people have probably told you to make sure you keep your grades up. You’ve probably stressed about your standardized test scores and your GPA. Those two factors play a very large role in the college admissions process. But do better grades result in better financial aid opportunities? …
This holiday tradition has been going on for 30 years.
student life

6 Colleges with Heartwarming Holiday Traditions

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
The Winter Holiday season is rife with the opportunities for merriment, and magic. Many schools decorate, and there is likely a concert or two in honor of the season (and the end of the semester). But some schools take it to the next level. Here is a shortlist—just the tip of the iceberg, really—of schools …
college comparisons

10 Colleges for Musically-Inclined Students

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
Music is a vital part of many students’ lives. Whether they like to sing in the shower, have played an instrument for years, or dabble in composition, there are many options when it comes to schools. Even if you aren’t looking to be a music major, you can still make music a priority when applying …
Consider a few alternatives to going home during college winter break.
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, …
A kinesthetic learner learns best with a hands-on approach.
tips tools & advice

How to Study if You’re a Physical Learner

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
Physical learners do best when they have a hands-on approach to learning. In grade school, they were the ones who probably found the attachable blocks most useful when learning addition and subtraction, or the students who remembered things from field trips and lab experiments the best. A physical learner —also called a kinesthetic learner because …
How will your parents' college savings account affect your aid
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 …
So you want to be a research assistant
student life

So You Want to be a Research Assistant?

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
Depending on your field, research might be an integral part of your post-undergraduate life. Even if you don’t intend to go into research, it is often beneficial to be a research assistant. Doing so can increase your understanding of certain concepts being explored in your field. Participating in research can help to clarify the process, …
A PLUS loan is an option for you to pay for college
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 …