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.
college admissions

Online Volunteer Opportunities

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Whether you don’t have a car, don’t have time to travel, or there aren’t any volunteer opportunities in your area, that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck! There are actually plenty of online volunteer opportunities available to high school and college students. Here are just a few to help you get started. Smithsonian Digital Volunteer …
volunteer-service-ideas
college admissions

75 Volunteer and Community Service Ideas

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on October 23, 2024
Volunteering your time is a great way to give back to your community, and the good news is, there are a lot of ways you can help. If you’re wondering where to start, you’re in the right place. Whether it’s reading books at the library, delivering meals, or even volunteering online, consider your interests and …
college applications

Tips to spruce up your student resume for college applications

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 18, 2025
Key takeaways A student resume should include your contact information, education, an objective/summary, and a combination of extracurriculars, volunteer work, internships, work experience, skills, and hobbies that best reflect you. To create a student resume that really stands out, stick to professional fonts, keep the design clean, organize your information with bullet points, use color …
how-to-read-FAFSA-Results
financial advice & planning, financial aid

How to read your FAFSA results

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 23, 2026
Key takeaways: Most students receive their FAFSA results within three days on the FSA website. Your Student Aid Report will detail your Student Aid Index, estimated financial aid package, and more. Colleges use your FAFSA to determine financial aid packages, including grants, scholarships, and loans. You must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid …
COVID-and-College-updates
tips tools & advice

COVID Update – What Are Colleges Doing?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 21, 2022
The COVID-19 situation keeps changing and so do the recommendations from the government and CDC. As a high school or college student, it may be difficult to keep up to date on what exactly colleges and universities are doing in response! As of January 2022, colleges are seeing extremely high rates of COVID cases in …
college financial aid resources
financial aid

Best College Financial Aid Resources for the New Year

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 25, 2025
Whether you’re waiting to hear back from colleges, know which school you will be attending in the fall, or are a junior in high school, financial aid resources can make college much more affordable. Which should you be paying attention to in 2022? FAFSA One of the most important financial aid resources you need to …

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