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.
What should you do if you've been waitlisted?
college applications

What to Do If You’re Waitlisted by a College

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022
As your college acceptance letters roll in, you’re probably wondering, “Am I accepted or rejected?” But there’s always that middle ground that could happen, too – waitlisted. So what should you do if you’re waitlisted for a class? And what shouldn’t you do? We’ll answer those two questions below. What Are College Waitlists? When a …
Three students sitting at a table, with a laptop and notebooks on the table.
college search

How to Choose a College: A Complete Guide

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on May 29, 2024
It can be intimidating to try to choose one college from nearly 6,000 options. Even after you’ve received acceptance letters, making this decision can be a tough one! Thankfully, there are ways to narrow down your choices and choose the college that best fits you. How to Choose a College in 9 Steps Start Your …
Graphic showing difference between FAFSA and CSS.
financial aid

What’s the Difference Between the FAFSA and CSS Profile?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 4, 2024
College is expensive, but there are ways to get free money* for tuition and related education expenses – including the CSS profile and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). While these applications have some overlap, there are some notable differences you’ll need to know before you complete them. Below, we outline what you …
This diagram shows the process of applying to a college early action and the possible outcomes.
questions & answers

Is Early Action Right for Me?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on September 6, 2023
Early action is an admissions process available at some schools that allows students to apply before the general application deadline of January 1st. While it definitely has some benefits for students who choose to apply early, it’s not right for everyone. So is early action worth it for you? We help you answer that question …
Free College Scholarship Applications
questions & answers

How does the FAFSA Work?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on November 25, 2024
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is an application that all students planning to go to college should complete! So, how does FAFSA work? It’s designed to hand out federal student aid to students who need it most, but there are other benefits of completing the FAFSA – even if you think …

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