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College Raptor wants you to know what "overall match" and "academic match" mean
questions & answers

What Does “Overall Match” and “Academic Match” Mean on CollegeRaptor.com?

College Raptor is a college discovery website. We can help match you to colleges you may not have considered, or show you your acceptance odds and overall match for colleges you’re already interested in. But what do we mean by match? Specifically, what does “overall match” and “academic match” mean? Academic Match When you filled …
Do you choose a college far from home or one nearby?
questions & answers

Should I Pick a College Far From Home or Nearby?

Some students can’t wait to get away from their hometown to explore somewhere far from home, others are a little hesitant to venture too far. This is a big conundrum that many (if not most) students face during their college search process. But a lot of factors go into picking which college you attend, and …
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What’s the Right Mix of Safety Schools vs. Reach Schools on Your College List?

When building your college list, you’ll want to the right mix of “safety schools”, “match schools” and “reach schools.” But what does that mean? And how many should you have of each? What Does Safety Schools, Match Schools, and Reach Schools Mean? There are three different “types” of schools when it comes to the chance …
Here's how to choose which colleges to visit.
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How Can I Decide on Which Colleges I Should Visit?

College visits allow you to get a first-hand look at your shortlisted institutions. You get a feel of the community and environment, enabling you to narrow down your list of preferred colleges even further. Here’s how to choose which colleges to visit if you can’t visit them all: Ideally, you visit all of them. Ideally, …
What's the difference between an accelerated degree and a dual degree program?
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What is the Difference Between an Accelerated Degree Vs. Dual Degree Program?

Most undergraduate students tend to go to college for four years and focus on one Bachelor’s degree. If they pursue other degrees, it is usually after graduation. However, there are other options available to students, including Accelerated Degree and Dual Degree Programs. Choosing which is right for you depends on your desired career path and …
What questions should you ask colleges about their colleges?
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Questions to Ask Colleges About Their Graduates

Student life, campus atmosphere and academic opportunities are all vital aspects of a college’s make-up. But when you’re looking at colleges, remember: the college experience itself is only a few years. What will happen after you graduate and launch into the world? For every college on your list, dig around to see how their graduates fare …
What will happen during your college tour?
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What Will I Experience on a College Tour?

Visiting a college before you agree to attend is a great way to determine if the school is for you. It’s a chance for students to make the college “real” in their minds and see if they can envision themselves there for the next four years. Many schools offer in-person college tours (or online versions) …
Pepperdine University entrance with tower in the background.
questions & answers

Do I Have to be Religious to Attend a Religious College?

The short answer, of course, is no. The primary difference between a religiously-affiliated college and a public university is that, because the religious college is private, the separation of church and state does not apply. It might be that a religious school requires so many credits of “religious” courses (depending on the school, classes such …
Should you pay attention to professor ratings?
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Should I Pay Attention to Professor-Rating Websites?

There’s no doubt that the internet has been a boon to students around the world. With research materials posted or scanned online, students researching papers no longer have to spend hours at the library simply searching for relevant information. Sharing assignments online saves paper and printer ink money. There are numerous other benefits to the …

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