scholarships

How To Negotiate Scholarships

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 14, 2026

Key takeaways: If your financial aid package isn’t enough to cover attendance or another school offers more, students may want to negotiate with their college for a larger scholarship. To increase the likelihood of approval, have a specific and realistic number in mind and be polite. Generally, students cannot negotiate higher scholarships with outside organizations, …

financial aid

Types Of College Financial Aid That Don’t Have To Be Paid Back

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 24, 2023

There are several different types of financial aid for college. Some of these are free, while others need to be paid back with interest. Scholarships, grants, and work study are the three main financial aid types that don’t need to be paid back. Loans are the main type of financial aid that needs to be …

financial aid

7 Common FAFSA Mistakes to Avoid

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on March 24, 2025

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) gives you access to different types of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans. However, making a mistake on your FAFSA application can cost you money, especially if you require need-based aid to attend. Unfortunately, these errors are not uncommon. Every year, hundreds of students lose …

questions & answers, scholarships

Why College Athletes Should be (or Should NOT be) Paid

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on September 22, 2023

The debate over why college athletes should be paid vs. why they shouldn’t, has been ongoing for several years. This conversation raises a lot of interesting and persuasive arguments on both sides. College athletes claim that their efforts contribute a lot to the sport as well as to their school’s reputation, often boosting enrollment rates. …

financial advice & planning

Pros and Cons of Autopay for Loan Repayments

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 25, 2025

When it comes time to repay your loans, whether student loans, mortgages, or otherwise, you might have the option to set up “autopay.” But what is it? How does autopay work? And what are the benefits and downsides of the setting? What is Autopay? Autopay, or an automatic bill payment, is a setting that some …

financial aid

What is the CSS Profile Deadline for the Upcoming School Year?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on November 21, 2025

The CSS Profile opens on October 1 every year but the deadline for submission varies among schools Most colleges set the deadline between January 1 and March 31 for regular decision students The College Board publishes an updated list every year of all the colleges that require the CSS Profile The CSS profile deadline varies from one …

financial aid

Financial Aid Modeling: The What and Why

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on March 4, 2025

During your research into financial aid and endowment, you might have come across the phrase “financial aid modeling” This, by itself, sounds boring to the average student, but it actually is referencing the models colleges and universities use to determine how much financial aid they can offer their students. Here’s what you need to know …

scholarships

A Creative Guide to The Minecraft Scholarship

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 24, 2023

There really is a scholarship for everything! If you enjoy video games or even play Minecraft, the Minecraft Scholarship might be right up your alley. Here’s what you need to know about the award, how to apply, and some more tips for finding scholarships that will help you pay for college. What is the Minecraft …

financial advice & planning

7 Ways to Master Money Management in College

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on July 15, 2024

For many, college is the first time being away from home. You are in charge of making independent decisions regarding how you spend your time, what you eat for dinner, when you do your laundry, how late you stay up, and most importantly—how you manage your money. In order to set yourself up for financial …

financial aid, questions & answers

How to Check Your FAFSA Status

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 24, 2023

Once you submit your FAFSA application, you may be tempted to check its status frequently. Here’s how to quickly check your application status online.  Log in to your FAFSA account Click the My FAFSA page See your current application status Now that you know the quick and easy steps on how to check your FAFSA …