student loans

Ways To Change Your Student Loan Interest Rate

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 6, 2025

When you take out a student loan, you’ll have an interest rate that you will have to pay on the amount that you borrow. For the most part, interest rates will remain consistent throughout the life of your loan (especially if you opted for a fixed rate). Interest rates greatly affect how you calculate student …

questions & answers

Are There Prepayment Penalties For Student Loans?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

The world of loans can feel like a treacherous one at times. There’s a lot to keep track of, and even more to watch out for. As you’ve navigated your own student loans, you may have come across the term “prepayment penalties.” But what does that mean? And, more importantly, how does it affect you? …

questions & answers

Which Federal Student Loan Repayment Term Is Right For Me?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Many college students take out federal student loans, which also means paying them back someday. When that day comes, federal student loans have multiple repayment plans for students to choose from. The student loan repayment term that you choose directly impacts the amount that you have to pay back every month. It also affects the …

myths

Myth: I Can Just Reuse Essays On Multiple Scholarships

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

The essay is arguably the most important component of your scholarship application. It’s a chance to tell your story and help you stand out among all the other applicants. but writing them is also time-consuming. This is where many applicants are tempted to reuse the same college scholarship essay on multiple applications. It’s understandable; so …

scholarship search & applications

Scholarships Can Expire: Here’s What You Need To Know

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Applying for scholarships is an important, must-do part of college prep, but it’s important to note what many students don’t ask: Do scholarships expire? The answer is yes, scholarships can expire. It’s not always obvious if they do, but here’s what you need to know about this reveal. They Can Be “Use It or Lose …

student loans

10 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Get A Private Student Loan

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025

Private student loans are a common way students cover the funding gap after exhausting their federal financial aid eligibility. While private student loans could help you get the funds you need to pay for college, choosing the right option is critical to minimizing your cost of borrowing. Before you take out a private student loan, …

scholarship search & applications

Avoid These 5 Clichés In Your Scholarship Essays

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on February 26, 2025

The essay is the most important part of your scholarship application. It’s your scholarship essay that will help you stand out from the thousands of other scholarship applicants. But writing this essay is easier said than done. Many students find this one of the most challenging writing projects they have ever worked on. There are …

myths, scholarship search & applications

Myth: Winning a Scholarship Lowers Your Offer Letter Money

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

This myth is only partly true. Winning a scholarship will lower your offer letter money. But this ONLY applies to your offer letter money. Which are the funds allotted to you by the school you choose to attend. It has absolutely no bearing on the total amount of scholarship money or any other funding that …

scholarship search & applications

Benefits to Submitting Scholarship Applications Early

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

There’s one thing you want to do when applying to scholarships. It’s making sure you’re writing down each award’s deadlines. Knowing when each scholarship is due will help you stay on track and create a schedule. However, you shouldn’t let your applications go down to the wire. There are several benefits in submitting scholarship applications …

questions & answers

What Happens if You Miss a Student Loan Payment?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 3, 2025

Student loans are a reality for many of us, and keeping up with payments can be tough. So what happens if you miss one? It’s a question worth exploring because missing a payment can have serious consequences. In this article, we’ll break down what happens when you miss a student loan payment in plain and …