student life

Alternatives to Going Home for Winter Break

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

Winter break. Possibly one of the most look-forward-to aspects of college. Your Thanksgiving break was okay, and you might have had a long weekend here or a fall break there, but nothing equals the weeks in between your first and second semester. While it is tempting to just go home and relax for a while, …

tips tools & advice

How to Use Your Winter Break Wisely: College Student Edition

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 14, 2023

Winter break during college may be short, but it’s a great opportunity to get prepared for the year ahead and recharge! If you want to make the most of your time off and the start of the new year, this list is for you. Here are some great ways to take advantage of your winter …

tips tools & advice

How to Stay Focused in Your High School Classes

By Alana DownerLast updated on December 22, 2022

Staying focused during class can be extremely difficult and even tiring, but it’s important if you’re to work to your potential in high school. Fortunately, there are some really simple things you can do to help you stay focused and achieve better results. Sit near the front of the room This may seem very simple, …

tips tools & advice

How to Beat High School “Senioritis”

By Laura DavisonLast updated on December 22, 2022

High school students today have a lot of responsibilities between school, part-time jobs, extra-curricular activities and maintaining a social life. Trying to prepare for college by balancing these facets of their lives can be exhausting and overwhelming at times. After a while, students get burned out and may find themselves slipping in their classes because …

college search

Pros and Cons of Attending a College Far From Home

By Laura DavisonLast updated on December 22, 2022

Choosing which college to attend is an important and often challenging decision that High School students face. A myriad of factors come into play from financial need and offered majors to extra-curricular activities and job placement. Another factor to be considered is location and how far away from home the school is. As high school …

tips tools & advice

12 tips to make your all-nighter more effective

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on November 20, 2025

Key takeaways Structure your all-nighter with a clear plan and focused study sessions. Fuel your brain with healthy snacks and steady hydration. Control your environment by limiting distractions. Utilize effective study techniques, such as memory aids and brief breaks. Learn from this experience and plan ahead to avoid future all-nighters. Pulling an all-nighter isn’t ideal, …

tips tools & advice

How to Study if You’re a Physical Learner

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on April 23, 2025

Key Takeaways If you’re a physical learner, you might find that sitting still or watching lectures doesn’t help your brain retain information. This is because physical learners learn best with movement and hands-on experiences when learning. To help you stay focused and feel more confident when studying, we’ve outlined 10 tips below for physical learners: …

tips tools & advice

4 Great TED Talks for College Students

By Laura DavisonLast updated on December 22, 2022

TED talks have become widely popular on YouTube over the past several years. The video series stems from TED, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading ideas and sparking conversation. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design and originated from a conference held in 1984. Today, TED talks involve a speaker delivering a powerful, interesting and …

tips tools & advice

How To Study if You’re an Auditory Learner

By Liz SkogerboeLast updated on December 22, 2022

There are five main types of learning styles, each with specific traits and preferences for learning. Auditory learners pick up information best when they are hearing the material, or through speaking it aloud themselves and hearing it that way. Auditory learners may be especially skilled at perceiving tone and getting a good feeling of one’s …

tips tools & advice

How to Start a Dissertation: New Answers to Old Problems

By Karen DiksonLast updated on December 22, 2022

This article doesn’t give technical guidelines for starting your dissertation. You will not find an explanation of how to complete your research methodology selection or your dissertation structure because your college or university will have the technical aspects covered in their approved guidelines. Instead, this article offers tips, solutions and advice to help you get …