student life

4 Colleges with Hopping-Good Easter Traditions

By Jessica HerbineLast updated on December 22, 2022

Celebrating Easter on campus is a time to reflect, relax, and enjoy the community. It’s also an opportunity to have a little fun participating in unique and fun parties and events tailored to students. We found five of our favorite colleges have hopping good Easter traditions to get you in the egg-dyeing spirit! Golden Egg …

tips tools & advice

How to stick to essay word counts: practical tips for students

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on November 10, 2025

Key takeaways It’s best to over-write first then trim your draft. Understand your prompt before you start writing. Stay on topic and support your main point. Use active voice and cut unnecessary words. Revise strategically with reading aloud or peer feedback. Mastering essay word counts isn’t just about following rules. It’s about making every word …

college search

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Making Your Final College Choice

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Choosing a college is a big decision for your education, future career, and even life. You shouldn’t make it lightly! If you’re still not sure which college to attend, ask yourself these questions before you make your final choice. How Does The School Look on Paper? Most students look at the statistics for each school …

college comparisons

5 Colleges with Beautiful Gardens

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

Whether the weather seems like it or not (looking at you, Midwest), spring is upon us: Greenery is popping out of the ground; trees have new budding leaves; campus gardens are becoming the places to be once again. Here are just a few (of the many) colleges with gorgeous campus gardens. Georgia Southern University – …

tips tools & advice

8 Tools to Make College Life as Easy as ABC

By Kerry CreaswoodLast updated on December 22, 2022

College life is demanding, to say the least. There’s so much to keep track of. Your grades, your fellow students, what party to go to this weekend and more. For that reason, you could use some help. The good news is that it’s here. All you need to do is go to the apps store …

college search

Understanding a School’s Profile on College Raptor: Academics Tab

By Liz SkogerboeLast updated on March 29, 2024

The academics tab for a school gives more information about class size, graduation rates, and what the student body population looks like. The first-year retention rate shows the percent of freshmen that stay at Iowa beyond their first year. This can help indicate whether or not students feel comfortable on campus. The next section highlights …

college search

Understanding a School’s Profile on College Raptor: Cost Tab

By Liz SkogerboeLast updated on May 30, 2024

The third tab on a school page is chock-full of information breaking down the college costs of attending that particular college or university. The page starts off by showing you the sticker price of the school compared to your personalized net price estimate. The net price is the full cost of attendance, minus grants, scholarships, …

college majors & minors

Tips For Choosing Your College Major

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Having to choose the right college major is just as important as choosing the right college for you. In fact, one of the major decisions (pun intended) of college life is what subject to major in. Sure you can change it but that might mean starting all over again, which can be frustrating and inconvenient. …

tips tools & advice

How To Finish Second Semester Off Strong

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Summer is calling and you can’t wait for a break from all the reading and homework. Don’t give in just yet. You know your grades are going to affect your future. You’ve done well so far and it’s time now to dig deep and stay the course.  The small efforts you put in now to …

questions & answers

Is Attending An Elite College Right For You?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

The thought of attending an elite college can sound very appealing but the truth is, this may not be the right decision for everyone. Attending an elite college has its fair share of advantages and a few disadvantages as well. Getting to know both sides of the picture will help you make an informed decision. …