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.
Seesaw road signage.
financial advice & planning

How to Balance College Cost With Value

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Are you worried about going into debt to attend college? You’re absolutely not alone. Thousands of students fret over this and some even skip college out of fear of debt. However, there are ways to help you look at cost versus value when it comes to your education. Cost vs. Value When it comes to …
What are the differences between private vs public college visits
college search

The Difference Between Private and Public College Visits

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
As it creeps closer to the application due dates, you may be planning some college visits to make sure you want to apply. This is a great idea and very highly recommended. It gives you an idea of what the town, campus, and students are like. If you’re planning trips to private and public colleges …
Two pencil eraser head over a white lined paper with a hole—overlay text "ACT & SAT FaQs" on the foreground.
ACT & SAT

FAQs about the ACT / SAT

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
You may have quite a few questions when it comes to the ACT or SAT. Below are some of the more frequently asked ones. How do I register for the SAT or ACT? You can register online for both the SAT or ACT. For the SAT, you have to make an account on College Board. …
help selecting a college
college search

Bad Reasons to Select a College

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
When you start applying to schools or your acceptance letters come in, you may have to make a choice between colleges. There will be aspects of your life that may influence your decision, and not all of them will be beneficial to you and your future. Need some help selecting a college? Here are a …
college comparisons

6 best colleges for students interested in paleontology

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on March 3, 2026
Key takeaway Paleontology is the study of prehistoric life through fossil plants, fish, reptiles, and mammals. Specializing in paleontology requires graduate school, with many undergraduates majoring in geology, biology, anthropology, ecology, or environmental science. The top six colleges for studying paleontology include Bowling Green State University, the University of Chicago, the University of California-Berkeley, the …
college towns
college search

Pros and Cons of Large College Towns

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
When going through your college choices, one of the things you should decide is if you prefer to live in a small town or a big city (or somewhere in the middle). There are pros and cons to each. If you’re considering large college towns, here are some things to keep in mind. Pro: Public …
Six stress balls with smiley faces.
student life

How to Lower Senior Year Stress

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
During your last year of high school, you have a lot on your plate. Final classes to finish off your high school career, maybe a job, social life, searching for colleges, applying, visiting the school, extracurricular activities, and more. It’s a lot to juggle so it’s easy to see why it can become overwhelming. Here …
Closeup of a game controller.
majors & industries

3 More Dream Jobs and How to Get Them

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
What did you want to be when you were in elementary school? It’s probably not the same as now. There may just be a few “dream jobs” you considered when you were younger but dismissed because it’s just not in the realm of reality! However, you may be surprised. Here are three of those dream …
A group of students sitting on a white picnic blanket with a dog in front of them.
scholarships

Scholarships for Students with Mental Illness

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 26, 2025
If you suffer from mental illness or are currently seeing a psychologist, there are dozens of scholarships available to you. Your mental illness has a huge effect on how you learn so it’s important to know that there are resources out there that can help you succeed in higher education.  College Raptor has put together …

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