Hilary Cairns

Hilary Cairns is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz and has a BA in English/Creative Writing. She's an established freelance writer who also has a hand in marketing, social media, and editing for various businesses across the United States.
There are a few reasons as to why students drop out of college.
questions & answers

How To Plan for College Graduation: 7 Must Do’s!

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on April 29, 2024
Planning for college graduation involves more than showing up—it requires careful consideration of degree requirements, application deadlines, attire, invitation mail-outs, logistics planning, and finally, celebrating the achievement. Additionally, it’s essential to start thinking about life after college, whether it involves entering the workforce, pursuing further education, or taking a break. Graduation is a significant milestone, …
Transferring colleges can be stressful. Here are some myths that we can disprove
questions & answers, student life

5 Reasons Students Transfer Colleges?

By Hilary CairnsPublished on December 28, 2022
While many college students start and graduate from the same college or university, this isn’t the case for all! Some students have reasons to transfer colleges at certain points in their education. Some factors, like, they may find the college isn’t for them, their finances or changed, or transferring was always a part of their …
questions & answers

What is the NSHSS?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 29, 2024
The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) is a group for advanced students who have distinguished themselves among their peers. Students can join if they meet certain academic criteria and take advantage of several benefits, including exclusive scholarships. Keep reading to learn how you can qualify, the perks you can enjoy, and other details …
Woman holding calendar with text: How to Pick the Best SAT / ACT dates
ACT & SAT

How to change an SAT test date

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 20, 2026
Key takeaways Students can change their SAT date by canceling their existing test date and scheduling a new one. Although students will receive a registration fee refund, there is a cancellation fee. Students should cancel and reschedule their SAT if they are not prepared for the exam or if they have a scheduling conflict. As …
A father and daughter reviewing how 529 plan affects the FAFSA
financial aid

Q&A: What If Your Parents Refuse to Help with the FAFSA?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 25, 2025
If you are under the age of 24, in almost all cases, you need your parents to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, some students have situations that prevent them from having access to their parent’s financial information or the parents refuse to hand over the information for one reason or …
scholarships

State Grants for Maine Students

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on July 28, 2023
Maine has a few different college grants available to students, and the Finance Authority of Maine website (FAME) has over 100 scholarships listed that are dedicated to residents of the state. Here are some details you’ll need to know about eligibility for these grants and scholarships! Maine College Grants 1. Maine State Grant Program The Maine …
Student on laptop applying for scholarships
scholarships

Scholarships for Returning Students

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 24, 2023
Contrary to popular belief, scholarships are not only meant for students who have recently graduated high school. Several awards are dedicated to those who decide to return to college after years or even decades! Here are just a few scholarships for returning students that you’ll want to look into. 1. Return2College Return2College is one award …
college admissions

What Happens if You Miss a College Application Deadline?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 27, 2025
College applications should always be turned in on time. For many schools, it is impossible to turn in applications past the deadline (usually January 1st). However, mistakes, and life, happen. You may have experienced a technical issue that didn’t allow you to submit your application, you could have had an emergency, you were waiting on …

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