student life

5 Things All Students Must Do At Their College Orientation

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Attending college orientation can be exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time, but plenty of students will be in your shoes. You’re all in this together. There are plenty of things to do during this event. Here are 5 things all students should do at their college orientation: Participate There are going to be a …

careers & internships

So You Want To Be a CEO: 5 Steps

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

There’s no direct path to becoming a CEO, but there are ways you can improve your chances. This is a career path that takes quite a bit of time and patience along with a lot of luck. Rarely is anyone made CEO straight out of college. But if you’re interested in working towards achieving this …

questions & answers

What is a DRN, and why is it important for financial aid?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 18, 2026

Key takeaways: A Data Release Number is a 4-digit number found on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For security purposes, you will need your DRN to make corrections to your FAFSA over the phone. Your college’s financial aid office may request your DRN if they need to make changes to your FAFSA on …

college admissions

College Admissions Cares About More Than Just GPA and Test Scores

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

While your test scores and GPA are very important to your college admission chances, they’re not all schools care about. Lots of students have high test scores or have a high GPA, but not all take the opportunity to do more. In addition to these two things, here’s what else a college may be looking …

myths

Myth: Middle School Doesn’t “Count” For College Admissions

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Do colleges look at middle school grades? A lot of students believe that only what they did in high school matters to their college application, and that’s not necessarily the case. A lot of what you did in middle school may actually have an effect on your life, high school grades, and overall application. The …

student loans

The Comprehensive Guide to Student Loan Refinance and Consolidation

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 25, 2025

Student loan refinancing and student loan consolidation are popular methods of saving money or managing loan payments. But how do they work? Should you consolidate and refinance student loans? What are the pros and cons? We’ll answer all that and more in this guide. What Is Student Loan Refinance? Refinancing means the individual receives a …

ACT & SAT

3 Tips for the SAT Essay Section

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Did you opt in to the Essay portion of the SAT? It can be helpful knowing some tips as you head into this optional part of the exam, especially if others in your study group declined to take it. Here are three things to remember on your test date: Don’t Ignore Proper Essay Format Just …

college applications

How to Make College App Essay Writing Less Stressful

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

The college application process is stressful enough, but with the essays on top of everything else, it can really cause anxiety for some students. But don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to de-stress the writing process. Start Early One of the best things you can do to take the stress out of the essay …

ACT & SAT

SAT Subject Tests: World History

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Are you a history buff? If you can’t get enough of world history, are planning to major or minor in History, or just want to show off your skill in the subject, the SAT Subject Test in World History can give you that opportunity. Here’s a breakdown of what the exam is like. World History …