questions & answers

How Can I Create a High School Class Schedule with College Prep in Mind?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

College prep starts early, and there are many important elements that factor into it. One key element is your high school schedule. And not just junior and senior years, all four. Knowing that the classes you take are important, how can you create an ideal high school class schedule that will impress admissions teams? Academic …

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10 Ways to Improve Your Admissions Chances

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on June 5, 2025

Key Takeaways: Your academic ability, extracurriculars, and the school’s selectivity generally affect your college admission chances, but other factors can come into play too. Researching and comparing colleges can help you determine the best options for your education goals. Create a list of safety, match, and reach colleges to improve your admission chances. Whether you …

college applications

Common College Application Essay Prompts and How to Answer Them

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

The power of the essay as part of the overall application process is not to be underestimated. The essay is your chance to show the admissions team just who you are. Colleges can have unique (or even bizarre) essay prompts, but a majority have common themes. Here are some common application essay prompts: The Challenge …

college applications

How to Write a College Application Essay: 13 Tips

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on August 20, 2024

  Key Takeaway: Writing a college application essay is different from writing a standard paper or assignment. This part of your application requires thoughtful reflection, brainstorming, and careful polishing to stand out and make an impact on the reader. By using these ten tips and having others review your finished work, you can craft an …

college applications

How to write a perfect hook for your application essay

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 30, 2026

Key takeaways Although short, a hook is the first sentence or two that draws a reader into your writing from the very beginning. There is no “right” way to start your college essay hook—whether you use a metaphor, tell a story, state a fact, ask a question, reveal a misconception, quote someone famous, or use …

college admissions

What To Expect at Parent Orientation

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on May 29, 2025

Key takeaways: Some colleges offer parent orientation, which highlights valuable information for parents to help their students make the most of their college experience. Sessions during orientation can cover financial aid, campus life, health and safety, academics, and more. Parents can sign up for their orientation online, through the student’s college portal. Colleges usually require …

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Ways to Prepare for College Orientation

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

College orientation is exciting for so many different reasons. You get to choose your classes, meet your future classmates and teachers, and get a closer look at the facilities and the campus that you will call home for the next four years. There’s a lot to be excited about, but there’s also a lot to …

college admissions

Why You Should Take Advantage of Rolling Admissions

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Applying for college can be a stressful time. Usually, you will have to wait several months until you find out whether or not you were accepted. One way to cut down on the wait time is to apply under rolling admissions. Instead of waiting months, in most cases, you will hear back within a few …

college admissions

Pros And Cons Of Rolling Admissions

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on November 8, 2023

There are two distinctly different ways in which colleges process student applications. Some colleges may start assessing the applications as they come in, or only after the deadline. Regardless of when they do the assessments, they send out acceptance letters only after the submission deadline and after they have evaluated all applications. These are often …

college admissions

How to Prepare For A University Admission Interview

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

It’s finally happened. After months of spending hours every day creating customized applications, avoiding common mistakes, and submitting them to various colleges, you’ve received an invite for a university admissions interview. You’re excited but you’re also nervous at the same time. The admissions interview is the last obstacle that stands between you and that college seat. …