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.
FAFSA Application Forms.
financial aid

7 Common FAFSA Mistakes to Avoid

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on March 24, 2025
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) gives you access to different types of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans. However, making a mistake on your FAFSA application can cost you money, especially if you require need-based aid to attend. Unfortunately, these errors are not uncommon. Every year, hundreds of students lose …
The color most commonly found in nature, green represents balance, harmony, peace, and rest.
college search, student life

8 Great Eco Friendly Colleges

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 21, 2022
Sustainability and other eco-friendly strategies are more important than ever. From recycling to solar energy to lower carbon footprints, there are plenty of ways colleges have started to ramp up their approach to being “green.” So, what are some of the schools that are focusing more on green and eco-friendly solutions and strategies? Here are …
Should you take the GMAT beforehand
careers & internships

How to Become a Business Consultant

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Are you thinking about pursuing a career as a business consultant? It’s important to know what to expect in the career, but also what you need to do to become one! You’ll first need a degree, some skills, and perhaps even your master’s. Here’s everything you need to know to become a business consultant: What …
Textbooks on a desk with an iPad laying on an open textbook.
college admissions, questions & answers

How to Pick the Right AP Classes For You

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on November 3, 2025
Key takeaways: AP classes can improve your acceptance chances into colleges and can earn you college credit. Competitive colleges and universities, like Ivy League school, expect that you will have taken at least 7 AP classes, some look for even more. Choose AP courses that align with your interests and strengths so you can gain …
questions & answers, student life

How Many Credits are Needed to Graduate College?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on April 16, 2025
Key Takeaways: Students generally need to take 120 credits to graduate college with a bachelor’s degree. The 120 credits consist of general education classes, major-required courses, and electives, which includes any classes for a minor. Students should aim to take at least 30 credits a semester to graduate within four years. Associate’s degrees often only …
You should consider signing up for student loan auto-pay.
financial advice & planning

Pros and Cons of Autopay for Loan Repayments

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 25, 2025
When it comes time to repay your loans, whether student loans, mortgages, or otherwise, you might have the option to set up “autopay.” But what is it? How does autopay work? And what are the benefits and downsides of the setting? What is Autopay? Autopay, or an automatic bill payment, is a setting that some …
college admissions, questions & answers

How Hard is it to Get Into Harvard?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on November 4, 2024
Key Takeaways: Harvard is one of the most difficult schools to get into in the nation due to the fact that it is a highly ranked college (usually in the top 3 of overall rankings) and that the school receives over around 56,000 applications each year. That’s a high number relative to the only around …

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