scholarship search & applications

How to Apply for Scholarships (And Why It’s Worthwhile)

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Winning a scholarship can make a tremendous difference with your overall cost of college. Any scholarship money that you win is free money. You may have to work to earn it but you get to keep whatever you win without stressing over interest rates and repayment schedules. It’s never too early to learn how to …

questions & answers

Which Are Better: Merit Or Need Based Financial Aid Scholarships?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

Without a doubt, scholarships are the best way to pay for college. They’re gifts of free money that don’t have to be paid back! What’s better than that? All students should go after as many scholarship awards as they possibly can. It will reduce your potential for student loan debt and the overall cost of …

scholarship search & applications

One Trick For Finding Scholarships: Ask

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on September 19, 2024

Most students spend a lot of time scouring the internet trying to find scholarships. But one thing almost every student overlooks is just asking around locally.  Maybe it sounds too simple to be effective but you’d be surprised at the unexpected. Scholarships you can discover by simply asking. So how do you find scholarships and …

questions & answers

Should I Wait To Get A Student Loan Until After I See My College Offer Letter?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

When people thinking “how do I pay for college?” oftentimes the first thing that comes to mind is student loans. It makes sense, considering how often student loan discussions come up in the news. But is getting a private student loan really step one? Or should you wait until you see your college offer letter …

scholarship search & applications

What You Need To Know About Renewable Scholarships

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

While winning a scholarship is great news, winning a renewable scholarship is even better. Unlike scholarships that offer winners a singular award, renewable scholarships offer money over multiple years. (Typically up to 4). This means, if the scholarship award amount is $2,000, the winner might get $2,000 annually for the next four years. A total …

student loans

The Most Dangerous Thing You Can Do With Student Loans: Ignore Them

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

You know the phrase “out of sight, out of mind?” That should not apply to your student loans. It’s not something you can shove to the sidelines and “deal with later.” America is in the midst of a student loan crisis. Unless you want to become part of the statistic, you should come up with …

student loans

Did You Know These 6 Things About Sallie Mae Student Loans?

By Allison WignallLast updated on August 7, 2024

Sallie Mae is the largest private student loan lender in the US and provides funding for all sorts of higher education pursuits—from undergraduate school to MBAs and plenty more. When it comes to student loans, it pays to shop around to know exactly what you’re signing up for. So, if you are looking for a …

questions & answers

Can You Make More Than One Student Loan Repayment a Month?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Student loan debt can feel overwhelming. When you start repaying, those monthly bills can be frustrating. Depending on your lifestyle and your financial goals, there are two main ways you can handle your student loan debt (beyond a standard option). Maker smaller monthly payments. Or make two student loan repayment sums in a month and …

questions & answers

How Do I Prevent Student Loan Default?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 25, 2025

You know what happens if you default on your student loans—your credit history takes a hit. This can have serious consequences on your future financial prospects. Lenders are reluctant to approve loans to defaulters and even if they do, they will charge you premium interest rates. This is not a scenario that anyone wants to …

student loans

Private vs Federal Student Loans: Which You Should Pick First

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 25, 2025

College usually costs a lot of money. Many students end up taking out loans for college. When it comes to student loans, there are two main types: federal and private. Federal loans, as the name implies, comes from the federal government. Private loans are funded by lending companies like Sallie Mae or Credible. So private …