Hilary Cairns

Hilary Cairns is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz and has a BA in English/Creative Writing. She's an established freelance writer who also has a hand in marketing, social media, and editing for various businesses across the United States.
Follow up with the colleges you applied to.
college admissions, college applications

A Simplified Guide to QuestBridge and Which Colleges Use it

By Hilary CairnsPublished on September 24, 2024
QuestBridge is a nonprofit organization in the United States that matches high-achieving students from low-income households with leading colleges and universities. Its primary program, the National College Match, helps students gain admission and full scholarships to top-tier schools. If you’re from a low-income household, here’s how you can take advantage of Questbridge. What is the …
part of the common data set form.
college comparisons, college search

The Common Data Set: Insight into College Applications & Admissions

By Hilary CairnsPublished on September 16, 2024
Key Takeaway: The Common Data Set (CDS) initiative is a collaboration of schools, publishers, and the higher education community to publish data relevant to college students, application processes, financial aid, and more. Common Data Set can provide insight into acceptance rates, SAT/ACT scores, college costs, and factors that can influence a student’s decision on whether …
A student reads a book while a laptop rests on her legs as she studies for the SAT and ACT
ACT & SAT

8 Must Know SAT Grammar Rules

By Hilary CairnsPublished on September 9, 2024
How is your grammar? The SAT tests more than your reading comprehension — it also tests that you know the rules of grammar. To tackle this portion of the exam, here are 8 grammar rules you should know before you sit for the SAT test. 1. The Subject and Verb Must Agree Every complete sentence …
fed student loan
questions & answers, tips tools & advice

Do Colleges Look at Attendance? What You Need to Know about Going to Class

By Hilary CairnsPublished on September 9, 2024
Key Takeaway: College Admissions don’t generally look at attendance as a factor in the admissions process unless it has affected GPA. However, attending class regularly and consistently has benefits including the ability to ask questions, building better relationships with teachers, and getting better grades. While you shouldn’t go to class if you’re sick and contagious …
A valedictorian is the student with the highest academic achievements in their graduating class.
college admissions

What Exactly is a Valedictorian and How Do You Become One?

By Hilary CairnsPublished on August 28, 2024
Key Takeaways: A valedictorian is the student with the highest academic achievements in their graduating class. Valedictorians are generally determined by using unweighted GPA, weighted GPA, or class rank. To become a valedictorian, you’ll want plan early, study often, focus on academic rigor, and ask for help when needed. Are you one of the highest …
college comparisons, questions & answers

Graduate vs Undergraduate – What’s the Difference?

By Hilary CairnsPublished on August 16, 2024
Undergraduate college students are students who are pursuing their associate’s degree or their bachelor’s degree. Graduate college students are working towards a master’s degree, professional degree, or doctorate degree. While many universities have both undergraduates and graduates attending, the experience of these students can vary quite a bit. Below, we’ve compared graduate vs undergraduate programs …
college admissions, questions & answers

How to Get Good Grades

By Hilary CairnsPublished on August 16, 2024
Whether you’re in high school or college, grades matter. They can impact your acceptance chances to higher education institutions, scholarship offers, merit aid opportunities, and even job prospects after graduation. It can also affect your self-esteem while improving your foundational knowledge that leads to success later in the classroom and in life in general. But …

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