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 student filing her FAFSA on her phone and laptop.
financial aid

The question-by-question FAFSA guide

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 22, 2026
Key takeaways: Most colleges in the United States use the FAFSA to determine federal and institutional financial aid packages for their students. The FAFSA asks students and their parents about personal circumstances, demographics, and finances. The completed form is processed in 1 to 3 days, and students can then review their estimated financial aid and …
most competitive colleges
college applications

An Application Strategy For Competitive Colleges

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Applying for colleges can be a busy time for your junior and senior years of high school. And, if you’re applying to most competitive colleges, you may be worried about your acceptance odds. Luckily, there are ways to approach your applications to improve your chances of admission and lower the stress during your final years …
Textbooks and laptop - too many classes can lead to burnout!
questions & answers

How Much Academic Rigor Is Too Much?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Whether you’re in high school or college, it’s easy to do “too much” and become overwhelmed. When choosing your schedule, it’s important to think about “academic rigor.” This is the academic challenge you’ll be faced with from a class. So when you’re coming up on a new semester, how much academic rigor is too much …
grad school search college board
college search

A step-by-step guide on how to find the right graduate school for you

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on April 9, 2026
Key takeaways Finding a graduate school starts with knowing your long-term career aspirations and academic interests. Understand the differences between master’s degrees, doctoral degrees, and professional degrees before you apply. To help you find the right grad school, use online databases to filter schools by program offerings, location, and cost. Speaking with faculty members and …
best college for me
careers & internships

So You Want to Be a Teacher? 4 Steps to Take

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
If you’re thinking about being a teacher, congratulations! It’s an exciting career that can be extremely rewarding, especially if it’s your passion to help kids and educate others. If becoming a teacher or professor is something you’re considering, here are some things to know about the journey and steps you’ll have to take to reach …
USC campus
college applications

How Many Colleges You Should Apply To

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
During the college application season, you’re likely overwhelmed with school work, extracurricular activities, SAT and ACT prep, and more. You may not know how many college applications are enough or how many is “too many.” Each student is different, but here’s a quick guideline on how to approach that question. How Many Should You Apply …

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