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first college visit
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How To Prepare For Your First College Visit

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
College visits are highly recommended. They allow you to get a closer look at prospective colleges so you can make a more informed decision about which college is the best fit for you. However, they can be a huge investment of time and money. You want to make sure that you get your money’s worth …
help selecting a college
college search

Bad Reasons to Select a College

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
When you start applying to schools or your acceptance letters come in, you may have to make a choice between colleges. There will be aspects of your life that may influence your decision, and not all of them will be beneficial to you and your future. Need some help selecting a college? Here are a …
college comparisons

6 best colleges for students interested in paleontology

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on March 3, 2026
Key takeaway Paleontology is the study of prehistoric life through fossil plants, fish, reptiles, and mammals. Specializing in paleontology requires graduate school, with many undergraduates majoring in geology, biology, anthropology, ecology, or environmental science. The top six colleges for studying paleontology include Bowling Green State University, the University of Chicago, the University of California-Berkeley, the …
college towns
college search

Pros and Cons of Large College Towns

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
When going through your college choices, one of the things you should decide is if you prefer to live in a small town or a big city (or somewhere in the middle). There are pros and cons to each. If you’re considering large college towns, here are some things to keep in mind. Pro: Public …
college comparisons

5 Colleges with Touching Thanksgiving Traditions

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Most students travel home for Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t mean college campuses are completely devoid of the heart-warming Thanksgiving spirit! Here are 5 colleges with feel-good Thanksgiving traditions. Smith College: Thanksgiving Day Match-Up Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday meant to celebrate family and friends. The students and faculty at Smith College go a step …
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student life

How to Lower Senior Year Stress

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
During your last year of high school, you have a lot on your plate. Final classes to finish off your high school career, maybe a job, social life, searching for colleges, applying, visiting the school, extracurricular activities, and more. It’s a lot to juggle so it’s easy to see why it can become overwhelming. Here …
things to consider when choosing a college
college search

Good Reasons for Choosing a College

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
Students choose their colleges based on just about every reason you can think about. Some may choose a college just so they can be near their best friend, others choose may choose a campus across the country so they can be as far away as possible from family. Well, neither of these are good reasons …
College visit worksheet
college search

How To Create a College Visit Worksheet

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on September 24, 2024
As you wrap up your junior year and head into senior year of high school, college is likely on your mind. While there are debates on when is the best time to visit college campuses, it is something you’re going to have to plan to do over the next year. But with so much going …

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