Ellen Andersen

Ellen is a guest blogger for College Raptor. She is a recent graduate of the University of Iowa. She holds a BA in English with Creative Writing and Psychology. Her current focus is applying to the Fulbright Scholar program.
A PLUS loan is an option for you to pay for college
student loans

What You Need to Know about the PLUS Loan

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
There are many different financial aid options available to college-bound students. The easiest ones to understand are usually scholarships and grants: You put in the effort to apply for it, you receive the award, and you don’t have to pay it back. Loans, on the other hand, must be paid back over the course of …
Draw pictures or doodles if you're a visual learner.
tips tools & advice

How to Study if You’re a Visual Learner

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
Visual learners are those who really need to see things laid out in order to learn from them. Charts and graphs are examples of these; whereas a verbal learner can pick up on the same information just by reading/hearing about it, visual learners do better seeing the information in a way that involves seeing it …
Black dollar sign, stars and hats confetti macro shot.
financial aid

Fun Facts about Financial Aid in America!

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
Many students are anxious when it comes to financial aid. How do I find it? Do I qualify for any? When are the deadlines? While applying for financial aid should be taken seriously—you don’t want to be lax about your applications—it’s always good to step back a little, take a deep breath, and keep these …
Mountain view
college comparisons

5 Colleges With Great Mountain Views

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
For some people, nothing is more awe-inspiring than a gorgeous mountain view. Whether that means snow-capped peaks, colorful autumn forests, or staring at that jagged skyline, mountains are tough to beat. We are fortunate enough that the United States has a variety of mountains. Here are some beautiful schools a mountain view. Prescott College—Prescott, AZ …
A five-dollar bill shown in a magnifying glass.
financial aid

Finding Extra Financial Aid as an Out-of-State Student

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on July 28, 2023
When searching for colleges and universities that interest you, affordability is often a large concern. Among private universities, it doesn’t much matter: they don’t receive state funding, and therefore charge their students the same for tuition regardless of which state they reside in. Public universities are different. Because they receive state funding that comes from …
college comparisons

Most Beautiful College Campuses in Autumn

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
While the beauty of a college campus does not necessarily inspire all students, it certainly can help lift students from the doldrums of daily homework. Many students enjoy being able to study outside during good weather, and the change of seasons—though signaling cooler weather—add bursts of brightness and magnificence to your walk to class. It’s …
Students on a challenging obstacle course as part of orientation.
college comparisons

5 Colleges with the Most Unique Orientation Programs

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
Freshmen orientation programs are on the rise in today’s modern academia. The goal is often to provide a sense of belonging to new students, thereby encouraging them to continue at the institution for the rest of their college career. Of course, some of these college orientation programs are a little more interesting than others. For …

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