College Raptor Staff

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questions & answers

What Are Charter and Magnet Schools?

Charter and magnet schools have become the focus of much debate in the US this past year. Most people know that both of these are alternatives to traditional public schools or expensive private schools. The problem that many have however is understanding what the differences are between the two. Also, how are they different from …
A father and young daughter standing beneath spring trees outside a college building.
financial advice & planning

What Are The 529 Plan Rules?

When it comes to saving for college, 529 plans are often at the forefront of many parents’ savings research and goals. However, there are a lot of rules and information to digest. States offer 529 plans to give parents a way to save for their kids’ college tuition. Parents who start saving in a 529 …
College student sitting in the dark, glaring at his laptop.
student loans

How To Protect Yourself From New Student Loan Scams

Looking for student loans can be a trying process. When you’re under that kind of stress, it’s easy to fall prey to student loan scams. Scammers work by offering you a tempting easy solution to your problem. Unfortunately, instead of resolving anything, it just throws you further into debt. Knowing how to protect yourself from …
Two students reading and studying for an AP exam.
college applications

How To Boost Your AP Exam Scores

AP exams are tough. Getting high scores in this exam requires you to invest a lot of time and effort into preparing for the test. But it’s well worth it. Impressive test scores lead to increased admission odds. Additionally, good scores make you eligible for college credit. Most colleges give credit to students who score …
A man in a suit holding up a sign that says "Annual Percentage Rate"
student loans

What Is Student Loan APR? Why Is It Important?

When you start researching student loans, you will come across several new terms. Sometimes it’ll feel like learning an entirely new dictionary. Each new term is vital to understand, however, since they will play a part in your finances. One such term that’s overlooked or misunderstood is APR—or Annual Percentage Rate. Let’s take a look …
A student's hand with leather bracelets giving a thumbs up in the sky.
questions & answers

How Do I Discover My Financial Aid Eligibility?

Many, if not most, students depend on some financial aid to help them cover the cost of college. Determining financial aid eligibility, however, can be confusing. What do you qualify for? How much can you earn? This article covers the general eligibility requirements for the 3 main types of financial aid available to students—federal student …
Student sitting at a desk with notebooks and a laptop studying for her SAT.
ACT & SAT

How To Prepare For The SAT In One Month

Life happens. High school is incredibly busy already without throwing college prep on top of it. While ideally you should study for the SAT months in advance, what if you only have one left until the big day? How do you prepare for the SAT in one month? Don’t panic yet. You can do it …

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