scholarship search & applications

How to Safely Apply and Search For Scholarships Online

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 29, 2024

Scholarships are a great way to save money on college tuition and fees. When you apply for scholarships online, look for red flags including: required payments, “guaranteed” awards, sales seminars, and unsecured websites. Using reputable databases can help students and their families avoid scholarship scams. Scholarships are a great way to make college more affordable …

college search

A Quiz to Find Your Perfect College Match

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 29, 2024

There are around 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States. What if there was an easy quiz that would match you with the perfect college? We have good news — there is! College Raptor’s College Match tool is a resource that will help you find the best colleges and universities in the United States …

college search

College Raptor: Your One-Stop Shop for College Planning

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 26, 2025

College Raptor’s Toolset: College Match Tool – Find the best fit school for you. Scholarship Search Tool – Find FREE money* to help pay for college. Career Finder – Explore 1,000s of careers. Majors Search – Discover degrees that you can pursue. Financial Aid comparison Tool – Compare offer letters. Student Loan Calculator – Estimate …

questions & answers

What to Expect as a D1 Athlete

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on August 14, 2025

  Key Takeaways A D1 athlete is a highly skilled college athlete playing at the most competitive NCAA level. D1 athletes must balance intense schedules, academic performance, and high expectations. D1, D2, and D3 differ in terms of athletic budgets, scholarship availability, and time commitment. Athletic scholarships are available at D1 and D2, but many …

college search

Colleges in Washington DC

By Hilary CairnsPublished on January 17, 2024

If you’re not quite sure about where you want to go to school yet, you might just want to consider our nation’s capital: Washington DC. This area has plenty to offer curious students who are looking to be constantly learning and having fun. DC is also home to some of the best colleges in the …

financial aid

State Grants for Washington DC College Students

By Hilary CairnsPublished on January 11, 2024

Do you live in Washington DC and plan on staying in the area for college? There are several state grants dedicated to students in the DC area, even for those who are planning on leaving the city to attend college in another state! Below, we’ve outlined some of the grants the country’s capital offers and …

college search

Colleges in Hawaii and Why it’s a Great Place to go to School

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 11, 2024

Deciding where to go to college can be tough. You need to think about your education, interests, goals, needs, and more! If you like warm weather and beaches, though, you might just want to consider attending one of the amazing colleges in Hawaii! The state is home to several amazing colleges and universities and has …

college admissions

Common App for Transfer Students

By Hilary CairnsPublished on January 2, 2024

The Common App for Transfer is an application designed for transfer students and adult students looking to return to school. The application requests information on achievements and goals to personalize the experience for applicants. Over 600 schools currently accept the Common App for transfer. Are you looking to transfer to a college that uses the …

college admissions

4-Year Colleges with Open Admission

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on November 30, 2023

College acceptance (or rejection) letters can be a source of stress for many applicants. For other students, they may not have achieved the grades needed to get into selective schools and don’t necessarily want to start out at a community college. But have you heard of “open admission colleges?”  Open admission colleges are schools that …