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.
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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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myths

6 Student Loan Myths

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on March 24, 2025
Dealing with student loans can be overwhelming. And the many loan myths surrounding student loans only add to the stress and overwhelm. A lot of the fear about student loans stems from misconceptions that surround them. As a rule, when in doubt, always call your student loan servicer and ask. They are the most reliable …
college comparisons

Colleges that Fully Meet Financial Need

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
It is a well-established fact that the expense of attending college has grown over the past few decades. Where once our parents could work a part-time job and pay off college as they went, current students usually cannot. So it’s important to find colleges that work with students to lower the cost of attendance. Most …

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