student life, tips tools & advice

7 Great Biology Research Topics

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 21, 2022

Biology research covers the study of the origin, development, evolution, anatomy and physiology of all living organisms and their environment. This includes plants, animals, human beings, and the environment. If this is a field you’re interested in, you’ll find a vast array of biology research topics that you can choose from. The biggest challenge? Identifying …

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How Many Credits are Needed to Graduate College?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on April 16, 2025

Key Takeaways: Students generally need to take 120 credits to graduate college with a bachelor’s degree. The 120 credits consist of general education classes, major-required courses, and electives, which includes any classes for a minor. Students should aim to take at least 30 credits a semester to graduate within four years. Associate’s degrees often only …

student life

5 Must-Listen-to Podcasts for Students

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 21, 2022

College is a time for growth, change, and finding yourself. Every single student struggles in diverse ways with different things. Enter, podcasts! There are a bazillion podcasts out there. Not only are podcasts great for entertainment value, but they can also be helpful in addressing and offering perspective with the different struggles we all deal with.  Whether …

student life

A Day In the Life: What a Typical College Schedule Looks Like

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 30, 2024

Did sitting through seven hours of high school classes every day feel like a marathon you didn’t sign up for? Don’t worry—college is a whole new game. While college does bring more responsibility (think deadlines and study sessions), it also gives you way more freedom to plan your day and customize your class schedules. Let’s …

student life

Transfers: Your Guide to Transferring Colleges

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 21, 2022

Have you entered your first year of college and discovered that this particular college, although you fell in love with it on paper, is just not for you? Or maybe you’re in your junior year and you’re frustrated with your major’s program? Well this guide to transferring colleges is for you. Finding out the school …

student life

What you need to know about staying at college during the summer

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on August 12, 2026

Key insights Many colleges allow students to stay on campus during the summer, but the requirements may be different from the fall and spring semesters. Summer classes are usually smaller, which may make them a great opportunity to tackle harder courses. Your financial aid may not automatically carry over to summer, so always check with …

student life

10 Ways To Show Teacher Appreciation

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on April 16, 2025

Key Takeaways Teacher Appreciation Week falls on the first week of May, giving students and families an opportunity to show teachers how much they’ve meant to them. There are creative ways to tell your teacher “Thank you” without spending a dime: write them a letter, have the class sign a card, create a wall of …

student life

How to Get to Know Your Professors

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 21, 2022

Are you planning on going to a college that has very large lectures for a majority of their classes? Students are often told, “Get to know your professors!” while at school. It can open a lot of doors when done right – but how can you possibly get to know them if you have over …

student life

5 Top Spring Break Locations

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 21, 2022

Where will you be traveling for your spring break? If you haven’t decided just yet, you might just want to consider some of these top spring break locations, which are regularly ranked in the top 5 best places to visit! Orlando, Florida Between the theme parks and short drives to the beaches, there’s no wonder …

student life

Best Purchases to Warm up Your Dorm

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 20, 2026

For much of the country, we’re not out of the cold weather just yet so you need things to warm up your dorm! If your dorm room has subpar heating, old leaky windows, or just tends to get a bit too chilly for your liking, there are plenty of ways to warm up your dorm. …