scholarship search & applications, student loans

What’s a cosigner—and why might you need one on your student loan?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 12, 2025

Alright, let’s imagine you applied for as many scholarships as you could, you submitted your FAFSA, and you qualified for some federal financial aid. What if you still don’t have enough money to pay for college? That’s when you might think about a private student loan. And for that, you’ll probably need a cosigner. What …

scholarship search & applications

How Athletic Scholarships Work

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Athletic scholarships are some of the most desirable college scholarships. Athletes who play any sport at any level dream of getting an athletic scholarship. However, it is not easy. Just being good enough in a sport is simply not enough to get a scholarship. The competition is incredibly high for a student athlete scholarship from …

scholarship search & applications

Use What Makes You Unique in Your Scholarship Search

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

How many times have you had to answer the classic icebreaker prompt “Tell us one interesting thing about yourself”? Many students dread this and scramble to come up with an answer. But here’s the thing: You most definitely have something (even many somethings) that makes you unique sets you apart from the crowd. Often we’re …

scholarship search & applications

The Pros and Cons of Outside Scholarships

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

One great way to pay for college is scholarships. Scholarships are gift-aid, meaning that you don’t need to repay anything. Many people think of college scholarships as coming only from the government or from colleges themselves—and most do. However, there are many other “outside” scholarships that can also offer aid. Community centers, private companies, and other …

scholarship search & applications

How to Organize and Prioritize Your Scholarship Applications

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

When it comes to scholarships, there’s no such thing as “too many.” However, when you apply to a multitude of scholarships, things can get a little confusing. How are you supposed to organize them? Which one is due when? Did that one require a scholarship essay, or was it the other? You already applied to that …

scholarship search & applications

Common Scholarship Essay Prompts and How to Answer Them

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on August 20, 2024

Looking to earn free money* to pay for college? Applying for scholarships is a perfect way to do so. Scholarships are a type of financial aid that does not need to be repaid. The catch is, you have to win out amongst many other applicants. So, you’ll want to make sure you submit a strong …

scholarship search & applications

Why You Should Research Scholarship Donors

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

The scholarship hunt and application process is already lengthy enough, why would you bother tossing in additional research about the person / organization / group funding the scholarship itself? What are the benefits? You may be surprised to discover that there are many. Essay Booster If the scholarship requires an essay, knowing just who the …

scholarship search & applications

Scholarship Essay Must-Haves

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on June 1, 2023

Nothing beats getting a scholarship when you are looking for financial assistance to fund your college education. With a scholarship, you don’t have to worry about repayments or interest rates, or default. Scholarship awards are free and can make it so much easier to pay for college. Of course, you will have to put in …

scholarship search & applications

More Effort, Less Competition: Don’t Ignore Work-Heavy Scholarships

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

When it comes to scholarships, you want to keep the prospective applicant pool in mind. A generic, catch-all scholarship will likely have plenty of applicants. Scholarships specific to certain fields or skills will have fewer. Similarly, the easier an application is to complete, the more people who will apply to it. So a scholarship that …

scholarship search & applications

Don’t Overlook Local Scholarship Opportunities!

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

When it comes to scholarships, it can be very tempting to set your sights on big national opportunities with large payouts. As such, smaller, local scholarships can sometimes get overlooked. But small things can pack a big punch, and that is very true of local scholarships. Local scholarship opportunities: Companies, organizations, groups, and individuals in …