college applications, questions & answers

Accommodations for Students and How to Get Them

By Hilary CairnsPublished on February 5, 2025

All colleges and universities in the United States offer accommodations to students with disabilities. They can vary from advanced course selection to additional time on exams, depending on the individual’s needs. Some conditions that qualify for accommodations include learning disabilities, blindness, hard of hearing, and chronic medical conditions. You can learn more about accommodations at …

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10 Winter Break Camps for High School Students

By Hilary CairnsPublished on January 13, 2025

Winter break camps are an excellent way for high school students to stay active during and after the holidays! Even busy high school seniors can reap benefits of these unique opportunities. Below, we explain what a winter break camp is, their benefits, and give a few examples of camps you might want to check out. …

college applications, questions & answers

How Much Do Grades Matter in High School?

By College Raptor StaffPublished on September 12, 2024

Key Takeaway Despite the ongoing debate about whether or not grades should be used, they are still important in high school. While they don’t represent the whole picture of who you are, they do play a role in what classes you’re placed in, what colleges accept you, and how much financial aid you may receive. …

college admissions, questions & answers

How to Get Good Grades

By Hilary CairnsPublished on August 16, 2024

Whether you’re in high school or college, grades matter. They can impact your acceptance chances to higher education institutions, scholarship offers, merit aid opportunities, and even job prospects after graduation. It can also affect your self-esteem while improving your foundational knowledge that leads to success later in the classroom and in life in general. But …

college admissions, questions & answers

What’s the Highest GPA?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on June 28, 2024

Key Takeaway The highest GPA achievable is a 4.0 on a traditional scale. However, some schools use a weighted scale that can go up to 5.0, factoring in the difficulty of coursework. While GPA matters in college admissions, it’s not the determining factor. Aim for good grades, but also focus on your personal growth. Colleges …

college applications, questions & answers

College Planning Before High School: Pre-K through 8th Grade

By Hilary CairnsPublished on March 12, 2024

College planning isn’t something that should be started only in your junior year of high school. In fact, it’s never too early to start planning ahead! Parents taking steps as soon as possible can actually make the college process much easier for their future graduates! Here are some tips, tricks, and pieces of advice parents …

college admissions, questions & answers

Preparing for Your Grad School Interview: Tips and Common Questions

By College Raptor StaffPublished on February 28, 2024

Once you’ve successfully applied to your dream grad school and they’ve invited you to interview, it’s time to prepare. Post-graduate interviews are usually part of the application process and include personalized questions to assess your qualifications. Though each graduate program is different, interview panels will often ask general questions to get a sense of your …

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What to Expect as a D1 Athlete

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 17, 2024

If you’re an elite athlete at your high school, you may just be recruited to a D1 athletic college program. This can be an exciting prospect, but it’s important to understand what to expect if you decide to accept their offer! We’ve highlighted some of the things you should know below. What is a D1 …

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7 Important Skills for Postsecondary Success

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 3, 2024

Important Postsecondary Skills: Self-Motivation Organizational Skills Open Mindedness Collaboration Social Skills Soft Skills Knowing How to Set Boundaries You worked hard to be successful in high school. You made good grades, submitted college applications to your list of dream schools, got accepted, and are preparing for your first semester… but how do you know you’re …

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How To Do Better In Math: 7 Tips

By College Raptor StaffPublished on December 7, 2023

Learning how to do better in math can be an invaluable skill inside and outside the classroom. The top tip for learning how to be good in math is to master basic concepts and formulas before solving more complex problems. Once you learn, math can even be fun! Learning how to do better in math …