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.
A visual of Google Translate, translating from English to Japanese.
questions & answers

Can I Take the ACT or SAT in Another Language?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Students who have learned English as a second language might find the ACT and SAT tests to be intimidating since they rely pretty heavily on written English—particularly when it comes to the Reading, Writing, and Verbal sections. So is there a way an ESL or bilingual student could take the test in a language besides …
College Raptor wants you to know what "overall match" and "academic match" mean
questions & answers

What Does “Overall Match” and “Academic Match” Mean on CollegeRaptor.com?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
College Raptor is a college discovery website. We can help match you to colleges you may not have considered, or show you your acceptance odds and overall match for colleges you’re already interested in. But what do we mean by match? Specifically, what does “overall match” and “academic match” mean? Academic Match When you filled …
Do you choose a college far from home or one nearby?
questions & answers

Should I Pick a College Far From Home or Nearby?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Some students can’t wait to get away from their hometown to explore somewhere far from home, others are a little hesitant to venture too far. This is a big conundrum that many (if not most) students face during their college search process. But a lot of factors go into picking which college you attend, and …
Multiple arrows drawn on a blackboard.
student loans

The Difference Between Loan Deferment and Forbearance

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Some people use the two terms interchangeably, but that can lead to misconceptions because the two aren’t actually the same. Deferment To boil it down and really simplify it: deferment is delaying the repayment of a loan until after the student borrower graduates. While in school, they can focus on their studies. Students do not …
Avoid losing your scholarship with these tips
scholarship search & applications

How to Avoid Losing Your Scholarship!

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
If you have a scholarship or multiple scholarships, first off: congratulations! Second: did you know you could lose it? Yikes. It’s an unfortunate reality that scholarships are pretty conditional. After all, there were requirements for you to be eligible for the scholarship, so it makes sense that there are also requirements for you to be …
Millions of students take the ACT and SAT annually! Here are the national average sat score 2016 and act score 2016
ACT & SAT

National Average Scores for the ACT and SAT (2016 Data)

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Ever wonder where you fell on the spectrum of other ACT/SAT test-takers? In the 2016 cycle, nearly 2.1 million students in the US took the ACT test, while about 1.7 million took the SAT. That’s a lot of tests! Take a look at the national average SAT and ACT scores in 2016 (and their sub-tests) …
Raising hand peace sign against the trees.
careers & internships

Pros and Cons of a Dual Degree Program

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Also known as a Combined Degree Program, this college path allows you to study for two different degrees simultaneously. That’s right, if you want to earn your associate’s and bachelor’s, or bachelor’s and master’s, or two master’s degrees at the same time, there’s likely a program out there for you. While it may sound enticing, …

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