Allison Wignall

Allison is the Editor & Content Manager of College Raptor. In addition to writing and editing posts, she also works on marketing and special projects. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in English: Creative Writing.
What can a student loan pay for? What can you spend with the money?
questions & answers

What Can a Student Loan Pay For?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Many college students end up taking out student loans. We know that student loans are used to pay for college, obviously, but “pay for college” is a pretty broad description. So what can a student loan pay for? Let’s narrow it down a bit: Tuition & College Fees This is often what people first think …
What is DRM FAFSA and what does the DRM have to do with FAFSA
questions & answers

What is a DRN and Why is it Important for Financial Aid?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
DRN stands for Data Release Number, but what does that mean in context with the FAFSA? We explain more below. Financial aid is already complicated and potentially frustrating. And that’s not including all the acronyms involved. When it comes to financial aid, there is a whole dictionary of acronyms you’ll come across. DRN, FAFSA, EFC, …
ACT & SAT

Myth: SAT Math is Harder than ACT Math

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
There’s an ongoing idea that the SAT is the more difficult of the two entrance exams. A tangential myth is that SAT math is harder than ACT math. However, like the parent myth, the difficulty will entirely depend on the students themselves. The Differences in SAT and ACT Math First off, let’s highlight the differences …
student finance
questions & answers

Do I Have to Demonstrate Financial Need to Earn Scholarships?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Some students don’t bother looking for scholarships because they don’t think they’ll qualify for any. There’s a persisting myth that in order to have a chance at winning scholarship money you have to have significant financial need. However, that’s not true of all scholarships. There Are Student Finance-Based Scholarships, But… While there are plenty of …
Talk to your freshman roommate before college starts.
student life

Things to Discuss with Your Freshman Roommate Before College Starts

By Allison WignallLast updated on July 19, 2024
After months (and even years) of planning for college—researching, visiting, applying, choosing a major, waiting for acceptance letters, applying for financial aid, and committing to a school—you might be forgetting one really important factor: finding your freshman year roommate. Whether you’re excited to have a freshman roommate or you’re dreading it, don’t stress. We’ll guide …
Students holding open textbooks against their legs.
myths

Myth: I Should Start Searching for Scholarships During Senior Year

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Did you know you can win a scholarship as early as kindergarten? That’s right, scholarships aren’t just for graduating high school seniors. This means you don’t have to wait until senior year to start searching for, applying to, and winning scholarships—and here’s why you shouldn’t wait: Start as Early as Possible Ideally, you should start …
Avoid these mistakes that can result in your student loans negatively affecting your credit score
student loans

How to Avoid Student Loans Negatively Affecting Your Credit Score

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Believe it or not, student loans can actually be beneficial! If managed properly, student loans can end up positively affecting your credit score and history—showing that you’re a responsible borrower. However, if mismanaged, student loans can end up negatively affecting your credit score. A negative credit score makes it harder for you to get loans …

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