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 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 June 20, 2023
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 …
campus visits
college search

The Most Common FAQs About College Visits

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 22, 2024
Do you have a long list of potential colleges to attend? We highly recommend that you visit the campus! Whether you are trying to figure out which colleges you want to apply to, or are just trying to narrow down your college decision, campus visits may help you make your choice. Plus, making a more …
A work study program job could seem menial and boring, but there are ways to get the most out of any job
financial aid

How To Get the Most Out of a Work Study Program

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Earning money during college can be a helpful boost to finances, allowing you to pay off some of your tuition or other educational expenses. Federal work study is a great program to get into for this reason! However, some of the jobs may seem menial at first and may feel like a waste of time. …
Books filling multiple bookshelves.
scholarships

Scholarships for Students with Divorced Parents

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Divorce is a sensitive topic for many. Understandably, a lot of high school students do not want to discuss this family situation with others. However, there are scholarships and awards out there for students who do have divorced parents to make your college-bound life a little bit easier. Here are just a few examples. Ayo …
A green background with text overlayed that says "what is institutional aid?" with a bank icon on top.
questions & answers

What is Institutional Aid?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
There are a lot of terms when it comes to financial aid and one that you may have heard is “institutional aid.” Here’s what you need to know about this form of aid. What is Institutional Aid? Institutional aid, unlike federal aid, is money from your college or university. It’s often available to incoming students, …