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.
Parents playing in moving boxes with their daughter. They're thinking about 529 savings plans for her future education.
financial advice & planning

Myths About 529 College Savings Plans

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Did you get a 529 college savings plan for your child or relative? Considering getting one? There are a lot of myths surrounding this excellent way of financing education that need to be debunked, including these five. Myth: If My Child Doesn’t Go to College, the Money Will Be Lost One concern many parents and …
A student getting a Covid-19 vaccine as required by her college
student life

Are Colleges Requiring COVID-19 Vaccinations?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 21, 2022
If you’re getting ready to attend college in the fall, you may have to get a few vaccinations before the first semester. MMR and HPV are two common ones that are already requested by colleges. You may be wondering though – are colleges requiring COVID-19 vaccinations? It Depends on the State Whether or not your …
Two high school seniors reading outside during summer to prep for college.
student life

5 Things Seniors Can Do This Summer to Prep For College

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Congratulations on graduating high school! Though you should definitely take some time for yourself this summer, you don’t want to put off college prep too long. There are a few things you’ll need to do to ensure your first semester starts without a hitch and is less stressful overall. Here are 5 things seniors can …
A father and daughter reviewing how 529 plan affects the FAFSA
financial aid

How a 529 Plan Affects your FAFSA

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Calculating the amount of financial aid to award a student can be tricky. Many elements are connected and affect each other. One such example is 529 savings plans and the FAFSA. Your 529 plan affects your FAFSA and how much aid you can receive. Here’s a rundown of those details. What is a 529 Plan? …
College student on train tracks
college comparisons

What are Regional Exchange Universities?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
When searching for your college, you may be ruling schools out because they simply cost too much, especially if they’re out of state. You might want to hold off on crossing them out though! Regional Exchange Universities or Programs can be exactly what you need to go to a school in a nearby state without …
college admissions

Can colleges revoke your admission? 7 reasons why they could

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on June 2, 2026
Key takeaways Yes, it is possible for your college admission to be revoked. Tops reasons are for poor grades, plagiarism, broken college application agreements, suspension, expulsion, or arrest, offensive online postings, missed deadlines, and false information provided to the college. If a college revokes your admission, you may be able to request an appeal. If …
A building on the University of Iowa campus.
tips tools & advice

5 Important Things to Do Before College Starts

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
It’s the summer before your college education begins – are you ready? This is an exciting but often stressful and hectic time in your life, so you want to be sure you have all your ducks in a row before heading off to your first semester! Here are 5 important things to do before college …

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