Congratulations to the College Raptor Scholarship recipient, Reina Sausedo! Her compelling essay earned her $1,000 towards her higher education. I got the chance to chat with Reina about her experience in searching for colleges and preparing for the next step in her education. Here’s what she had to say! Tell us a little about yourself! …
Read more
How EFC Affects Your College Cost and Financial Aid Planning
Saving or raising money to pay for college can be a long and challenging process. There are a lot of elements that go into the planning, and so many affect one another. One of the biggest factors when it comes to financial aid is EFC. Let’s break it down. What is EFC? EFC stands for …
Read more
A Q&A With $2,500 College Raptor Scholarship Essay Winner Tasneem Ahmed!
Congratulations to Tasneem Ahmed, the recent (and talented) College Raptor $2,500 Scholarship essay winner! I got the chance to speak with Tasneem and ask about her college search journey, future plans, and more. Check out her interview below! Tell us a little about yourself! Hi! My name is Tasneem Ahmed and I’m a senior at …
Read more
How Do You Qualify For Student Loan Forgiveness?
Federal student loans offer several benefits that private student loans don’t offer. One of these benefits is being able to qualify for student loan forgiveness. The student loan forgiveness program is a special type of benefit established by the federal government. It is only applicable to federal student loans, and that too, only certain types …
Read more
The Average Student Loan Debt in America | 2019
The cost of obtaining a college education has been increasing steadily over the years. As of 2019, this cost has reached an all-time high. Nowadays, most college students require the help of scholarships and student loans to cover the costs. However, the average student loan debt has risen along with the price-tag of college. Here’s …
Read more
The FAFSA Simplification Act of 2019
Every year, thousands of college-bound students lose out on financial aid by not filing the FAFSA. Many are intimidated by the complex questions they encounter on the FAFSA. If you’ve filled out a FAFSA even once, you can empathize. It can be confusing and yes, intimidating too. It is especially cumbersome to new filers. Given …
Read more
What Are The 529 Plan Rules?
When it comes to saving for college, 529 plans are often at the forefront of many parents’ savings research and goals. However, there are a lot of rules and information to digest. States offer 529 plans to give parents a way to save for their kids’ college tuition. Parents who start saving in a 529 …
Read more
How To Protect Yourself From New Student Loan Scams
Looking for student loans can be a trying process. When you’re under that kind of stress, it’s easy to fall prey to student loan scams. Scammers work by offering you a tempting easy solution to your problem. Unfortunately, instead of resolving anything, it just throws you further into debt. Knowing how to protect yourself from …
Read more
What Is Student Loan APR? Why Is It Important?
When you start researching student loans, you will come across several new terms. Sometimes it’ll feel like learning an entirely new dictionary. Each new term is vital to understand, however, since they will play a part in your finances. One such term that’s overlooked or misunderstood is APR—or Annual Percentage Rate. Let’s take a look …
Read more
How Do I Discover My Financial Aid Eligibility?
Many, if not most, students depend on some financial aid to help them cover the cost of college. Determining financial aid eligibility, however, can be confusing. What do you qualify for? How much can you earn? This article covers the general eligibility requirements for the 3 main types of financial aid available to students—federal student …
Read more