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.
What is a good PSAT score and how do you achieve a good score?
ACT & SAT

What is a Good PSAT Score?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on September 24, 2024
A “good” PSAT score is usually in the 75th percentile, or 1075 to 1130 in recent years. Often seen as the “practice SAT,” the PSAT lays the groundwork for your SAT prep, helping you better understand where you are and where you want to be. However, score in the 99th percentile and you could actually …
College applications can be ridiculously expensive, especially with the application fee
college applications

What If I Can’t Afford the College Application Fee?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on September 22, 2025
Key Takeaways: College applications can cost anywhere from $0 to $100 each, but many students pay around $50 per application. Students may qualify for college application fee waivers by demonstrating financial need. If you’re not eligible for waivers, you can save money by applying to schools with free or low-cost applications. One college application at …
Student's coffee and laptop on a table at a campus coffee shop.
ACT & SAT

Do Colleges Prefer ACT or SAT? Which is More Popular?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
If you’re hoping to apply to college, you may be trying to decide which standardized test to take: the ACT vs. SAT. It will please you to hear that colleges do not prefer the SAT over the ACT or vice versa. We’ll cover the myth that the SAT is preferred over the ACT, as well …
Alchemist statue, by Jaume Plensa, at MIT Campus.
ACT & SAT

How to Get Into MIT: 9 Important Factors

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 13, 2025
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a top ranking school, well known for its dedication to science and technology. However, it’s not easy to get accepted. Nearly 27,000 students submitted applications to the school in the 2023 admissions cycle, but only 1,345 were accepted (or 5%). Students applying to MIT need to have a …
A college campus building with trees in front of it.
college search

Colleges with Non-Traditional Academic Schedules

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on March 28, 2025
Most colleges follow the same academic calendar – two semesters, one over the fall and the other over spring, each consisting of approximately 18 weeks each. However, there are several colleges that have “non-traditional” college schedules, including block plans, quarters, additional semesters, and more. Here’s a look at some of these types of non-traditional schedules …
tips tools & advice

10 Study Habits to Break BEFORE College

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 20, 2023
Study habits are made in high school and for some, come pretty easily. In college, you may find that you need to tweak those habits as courses and schedules may be more difficult. Professors will expect you to think critically, analyze information, and defend an opinion. Studying hard will be important to your success. If you …
average ACT score
ACT & SAT

Average SAT Scores – What Does the Average Student Score on the SAT?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on November 8, 2024
In 2024, the average SAT score was 1024. The 50th percentile was 1010. 1,973,891 graduating high school seniors in 2024 took the SAT. The mean score for the Evidence-Based Reading section was 519 and the mean score for the Mathematics section was 505. SAT scores vary between different demographic groups and college acceptance histories. How …

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