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.
Studying changes when you transition from high school to college
tips tools & advice

How Studying Changes From High School to College

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
There will be a lot of changes as you head to college from high school. You’ll probably have a roommate, may be living on campus away from home, and you’ll have half the classes you are used to. Even with fewer classes though, studying is one big change that many freshman aren’t quite ready for as …
Study the prefixes, suffixes, and root words so you can recognize more ACT / SAT words
ACT & SAT

ACT / SAT Pro Tip: Study Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Although you’re studying hard for both the ACT and SAT (or just one) and have a list of vocabulary words to review before the test date, it’s near impossible to know all the words that could be included on the test. So what do you do if you run into completely unfamiliar words? You take …
large colleges
college search

Pros and Cons of Large Colleges

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
You may be leaning towards wanting to attend a large college versus a small college or vice versa. It helps to know the pros and cons of each! Here are some of the benefits and less beneficial aspects of attending large colleges. 2023 RANKINGS: VIEW TOP 25 LARGE COLLEGES Pro: More extracurricular opportunities Larger colleges …
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 …

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