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.
Here are the different types of student loan repayment options
student loans

Types of Student Loan Repayment Plans

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Student loan repayment options come into play when it’s time to pay back your debt in college. There are quite a few different options, each one set to meet different needs and requirements. First, we’ll cover the different routes for repaying student loans in general terms, and then we will dive into the different repayment …
Private student loans can help you afford college, but here are some things you need to know
student loans

What You Need to Know About Private Student Loans

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
Private student loans, also known as private education loans or alternative education loans, are great resources, especially when federal aid does not fully cover the cost of school. Private loans are offered by many banks and each have their own requirements, interest rates, and protections. Interest Rates When considering private student loans, there are two …
A group of students sitting together in front of one laptop, with a few students standing behind them.
student loans

Types of Federal Student Loans

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
The federal loans program in the United States is officially known as the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Under the Department of Education, there are three types of federal student loans available: direct subsidized, direct unsubsidized, and Direct PLUS loans. It’s important to carefully weigh the pros and cons before choosing which is …
Rows of sociology books on bookshelves.
tips tools & advice

How to Select the Right Research Topic in 5 Easy Steps

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 14, 2023
Being able to choose suitable research topics is an important skill to have for any student. Not only is it the difference between writing a good paper and falling flat on your face, but it’s imperative if you want the process to run smoothly. In this article, we’ll cover how five stress-free steps can help …
college majors
careers & internships

College Degrees that Guarantee a Job After Graduation

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
While no degree is “worthless” (even though there are myths that say so!), there are definitely degrees that are in demand each year. As a result, you’re more likely to find a full-time job quickly after graduation if you study in an “in demand” field compared to those that are in less demand. So we …
Set S.M.A.R.T goals to take aim and focus on your next endeavor
tips tools & advice

How High School and College Students can Set S.M.A.R.T Goals

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 2, 2024
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. SMART goals help high school students, college students, and even employees design realistic goals. Setting these types of goals can potentially increase the chance of achieving them. SMART goals could be exactly what you need to meet your newest goals or resolutions you set this year! …
The front of a building on a college campus with trees surrounding it.
college applications, questions & answers

What is the Coalition Application?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
You’ve probably heard of the Common Application, but what about the Coalition Application? It came out a few years ago, and it may be worth your time to explore the differences. Here’s what you need to know about the Coalition Application, its pros and cons, and how it stacks up against the Common App. What …
A green arrow pointing left above a red arrow pointing right, both say "choice."
college majors & minors

Can I Switch College Majors? Should I?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on November 28, 2023
All students are welcome to change their majors in college. However, there are hurdles to changing areas of study including increased costs, delayed graduation dates, and limited availability of certain majors. Students shouldn’t change their majors simply on a whim or because of outside pressure as this can lead to burnout and other problems. Those …

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