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.
psat exam
ACT & SAT

Your Secret Weapon for Taking the PSAT

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on October 10, 2023
When taking the PSAT and SAT, every bit of advantage helps. The PSAT can help qualify you for a scholarship and the SAT can help you get into your dream college. It’s no wonder students want the best scores they can get on these standardized tests. But one secret weapon you may have not realized …
A college student sitting on her bed, drinking coffee, and studying on a laptop.
tips tools & advice

22 FREE Online Study Tools and Apps for College Students

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on October 24, 2024
It’s easy to forget about schoolwork when you’re on the internet. From cat videos on YouTube to Reddit to TikTok, there are so many rabbit holes to go down! But the internet has also made studying much easier. There are thousands of websites, tools, and apps out there designed to help students learn new skills, …
types of colleges
college search

What Are the Different Types of Colleges?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on November 21, 2023
There are several different types of colleges including community colleges, colleges, universities, and vocational colleges All offer different programs, degrees, and educational opportunities. Students should know how colleges differ from one another as it could impact their search for the best school for their needs, wants, goals, and budget. As you explore different types of …
University of Washington
college search

Finding the Right Size Colleges: Small, Medium or Large Campus?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on July 5, 2024
Whenever students are asked about their college preferences, one of the things students consider is the size of the school. The majority of college match tools, including College Raptor, ask about preferred college size. There are small, medium, and large size colleges, but how do students know what the right size is for them? Each …
A group of students standing together in front of a chalk board.
college admissions

8 Awesome Organizations that Help Students in Low-Income Households go to College

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 10, 2024
College degrees are more important than ever. Data on LinkedIn found that just over 70% of paid job offerings require at least an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree. While this has actually dropped since 2019 (it was nearly 80%), there’s no denying that a majority of companies want college graduates. And with college grads averaging …
A pair of glasses sitting on top of a journal.
questions & answers

How Many Times Should I Take the ACT or SAT?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
First: There is no magic number for how many times a student should take the ACT or SAT. For some students, taking the test once may be enough. Others may need to take the test twice or even three times. There are no penalties for taking the tests multiple times or choosing to take both …
how to start the college search process
questions & answers

How to Start Searching for Colleges: A Step-by-Step Guide

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 8, 2024
Searching for colleges is a process that requires time and dedication. Resources like College Match can help students find the colleges and universities that meet their unique needs and wants in a school. Students thinking about attending college should consider location, size of the school, majors, career options, and more. With nearly 6,000 community colleges, …

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