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.
Harvard's net price is generally much lower than its sticker price, which means that for 90% of American families, Harvard may be more affordable than a state school -- afford colleges
questions & answers

How Do Students Afford Colleges Like Harvard or Stanford?

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022
How Do Students Afford Colleges That Are Very Expensive? – College Raptor Q&A For the 2014-15 school year, the published costs of attendance at Harvard and Stanford are approximately $65,000 and $62,000, respectively. These numbers can easily be discouraging for those who want to afford colleges, especially for students from low-income families. Even students who …
Financial need is equal to Total Csot minus Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). How does the FAFSA work?
financial aid

Can I Get Financial Aid?

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022
Over 80 percent of college students met some financial aid eligibility criteria and received financial assistance during the 2011-2012 school year. This means there is a good chance you can get financial aid. You may think that the only way to get financial aid is to be extremely smart or a stand-out athlete. But most …
Chart shows the differences at a number of colleges and universities in admission rate for students that apply regular decision versus those who apply early decision.
questions & answers

Should I Apply Early Decision to College?

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022
Prepared students with a single first choice college may consider applying early decision. Early decision is binding–meaning if you apply and are accepted early decision to a college, you are expected to go there, with almost no exception. There are a lot of reasons students apply this way. Many believe it’s easier to be accepted …
A small selection of potential college major -- from engineering to literature
college majors & minors

How Do I Choose a College Major?

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022
Choosing a college major can be a huge part of your overall college plan. Knowing what you want to study can narrow down the college search. Choosing a college major can be a huge part of your overall college plan, and knowing what you want to study can narrow down the college search. But with …
Graphic showing the number of factors that go into choosing the right college.
questions & answers

How do I Choose a College?

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on December 22, 2022
It can be intimidating to try to choose one college from nearly 3,000 options. Luckily, you can easily narrow your search by considering fit and accessibility. Consider these questions as you search for the right college for you. Is the college a good fit for you? Compare your academic profile to the previous incoming class …