financial aid

The Importance Of Understanding Your College Offer Letters

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Once a college accepts your application, the first thing they do is to put together a customized offer letter. These offer letters contains all information about financial aid awards the school is willing to offer you. Understanding the different components of each offer letter is key to being able to make an informed decision about …

scholarships

Q&A with $1,000 Scholarship Award Winner Sofia Zapata

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

Sofia Zapata is the latest scholarship award winner here at College Raptor! Her gripping essay about her college search journey earned her $1,000 towards her higher education costs. I had the chance to chat further with Sofia about her dreams and challenges. Here’s what she had to say! Tell us about yourself! Well, my name …

scholarships

Chatting with $2,500 Scholarship Winner William Li

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

William Li is College Raptor’s latest $2500 Scholarship Winner! Congratulations, William. I had the chance to chat with this bright student about his college search journey. Here’s what he had to say. Tell us about yourself! I’m currently a senior attending Brooklyn Technical High School. My main academic interests are in computer engineering. I love …

scholarships

Well Known National Scholarships For High School Students       

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

There are hundreds upon hundreds of scholarships available to help pay for college. While local scholarships are a great source of money, what about scholarships on a larger scale? One of the most recognized national scholarships for high school students is the National Merit Scholarships. Let’s break them down. National Merit Scholarships There are three …

financial aid

What Is Financial Aid?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

College fees can be shockingly expensive. High school seniors may feel overwhelmed by all the cost talk. Fortunately, there is some good news. Asking yourself “what is financial aid?” Let’s break it down. What is Financial Aid? There are several forms of financial aid to help cover the cost. The five main types of financial …

scholarship search & applications

Can You Earn Scholarships Without The FAFSA?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on May 14, 2025

You can earn scholarships without the FAFSA, however, it could limit your scholarship opportunities. Although it’s not essential for earning a scholarship, it is strongly advisable to complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA qualifies you for various other types of financial aid besides scholarships. The short answer is yes, you can earn scholarships without the FAFSA. …

financial aid

How Does FAFSA Dependency Work?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 24, 2023

Filling out the FAFSA is the first step to getting financial aid for college. This is not an easy form to fill out but it’s absolutely crucial that you do it. Without the FAFSA you may lose out on certain types of financial aid. One of the more complex questions on this application is related …

scholarship search & applications

Who Can Apply For Scholarships?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Any student can apply for scholarships. When it comes to scholarships, the only requirement is that applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for that particular program. Thousands of organizations offer awards throughout the year. Each of these has its own eligibility criteria. If you take the time to research opportunities, you’re almost certain to find …

financial aid

What You Need To Know About the FAFSA Renewal Process

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 6, 2024

You need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to be eligible for federal student loans, state grants, institutional giant aid, federal grants, and more. Previously, FAFSA offered a renewal process to save time during subsequent years. However, with major updates in 2023, it’s currently not possible to simply renew …

scholarship search & applications

Scholarship Essay Tips That Will Boost Your Odds of Winning

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on November 3, 2025

Key takeaways: Scholarship essays provide an opportunity to showcase your individuality and personal story beyond academic achievements. Carefully reading and following all instructions, including formatting and word count, is important to meet application requirements. Organize your thoughts before writing to create a focused, authentic, and compelling essay. Scholarship committees almost always ask applicants to submit …