college majors & minors

Common Mistakes Students Make When Choosing a Major

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

You’ve managed to make it through high school and are on to bigger and better things. You are excited about college but don’t seem to have an answer to that all-important and often-asked question, “What are you going to major in”. You’ve changed your mind so many times through the years—which is not unusual—but now …

college search

Mistakes Students Make When Selecting a College to Attend

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

It’s the time of year that students are making their final college selections. Some already know where they’re heading but many also aren’t quite sure just yet. However, if you’re still on the fence, here are some mistakes you’ll want to avoid when it comes time to make your choice. Following the Pack Many freshman …

college majors & minors

Should Parents Have an Active Role in Choosing Their Student’s College Major?

By Barret SelbyLast updated on December 22, 2022

Without question, all parents want the best in life for their children. Once you become a parent, you no longer live life for yourself, but for your child as well. Every small pleasure you might have had before pales when compared to the needs and wants of your child. Every hardship becomes easier to bear …

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, …