Olivia Pittman

Olivia Pittman is a Research and Content specialist at College Raptor. All of those questions you've been thinking about while looking for a college? Olivia digs in and finds answers.
It's a myth that you should wait until you're accepted to apply for financial aid
myths

College Myth: I Should Wait Until I’m Accepted to Apply for Financial Aid

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022
Applying for financial aid can be tough. Beyond the complicated jargon and long forms, financial aid is tricky. Not only that, there’s a lot of conflicting and misguided advice. For example, most people think that they should apply for financial aid after they get accepted. However, this isn’t usually the right approach. We broke down …
You can reach out to a college whenever you want!
myths

College Myth: I Shouldn’t Reach out to a College Until I’m Ready to Apply

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022
Many students assume they’ll reach out to a college during the application process, but this shouldn’t necessarily be the case. In fact, contacting a college before you apply can have advantages. Contacting a college before applying could actually improve your admissions chances Reaching out to a college as a prospective student shows you’re actively interested. …
Statistics showing the value of a college degree: 170% increase in wages, $1,000,000 additional lifetime income, 10 years to recoup the cost of an average undergraduate degree, 47% less likely to be unemployed. It's a myth that college isn't worth the price
myths

College Myth: College Isn’t Worth the Price

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022
Accounting for inflation, the annual cost of college has more than doubled since 1980. With the average cost of attendance at private colleges now at $42,419, it’s no wonder people question the investment value and think college isn’t worth the price. Not only is the cost of college rising, many students are forced to take …
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questions & answers

How Do I Know if a College is a Good Fit?

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022
There is a college out there for nearly everyone. The most important part of finding the right college is determining if a school is a good fit for you. A college that’s a good fit should have the following characteristics. 1. The college matches you academically You want to be challenged in college, but being …
Charts showing than in 1995 only 10% of students applied to 7 or more colleges, now 29% of students do so. What are your college acceptance chances?
myths

Myth: Applying to Fewer Colleges Boosts My Chances of Acceptance

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022
Generally speaking, colleges don’t share admissions information with each other. The only way a college might figure out how many colleges you’re applying to is through your FAFSA, where you list each of the colleges you wish to receive a copy of your financial aid application. The number of colleges listed on a student’s FAFSA …
If you think you won't get financial aid, you're wrong
financial aid

Financial Aid Forms: FAFSA and CSS Profile Overview

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on November 27, 2023
So, in the alphabet soup of college financial aid, you (hopefully) learned that the grand-daddy of financial aid acronyms is the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  Every school uses the FAFSA in determining and awarding financial assistance for college.  Through the personal and financial information provided on the FAFSA, the federal government …