student life

10 Myths About Freshman Year of College

By Katelyn McAdamLast updated on December 22, 2022

We have a few myths to cover. Ten, in fact. Starting with how your move-in day is supposed to go and your potential relationship with your roommate. Next, is it actually fine to skip class and party all the time? Then, the dreaded freshman 15, and whether that’s seriously a thing or not. Following that, …

college search

Why the Wrong College Match Can Be Bad for Your (Mental) Health

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022

The top 50 or so colleges in this country have become some sort of Holy Grail. They are often viewed as a key to the kingdom of “success”. So, securing a spot at one of these incredibly selective institutions is considered a large leap on the road to a lifetime of triumph and achievement. It’s …

tips tools & advice

How to Get Motivated to Study – Proven Tips That Actually Work

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on November 15, 2023

How to Get Motivated to Study in 12 Steps: Acknowledge your lack of motivation Set a schedule Set attainable goals Create a perfect study space Get to it! Consider listening to music while you study Give yourself a pep talk Reward yourself Keep a study journal Go to the library Focus on your purpose Break …

tips tools & advice

Does Cramming for a Test Really Work?

By Katelyn McAdamLast updated on December 22, 2022

We’ve all done it. It’s Thursday night and you remember that you have a unit test in Physics tomorrow morning–time to cram. It doesn’t matter if you’re in high school or college. If you’re a student, chances are pretty good you’ve waited until the last minute to study for a test. But does cramming for …

college search

5 Best Colleges with Non-Traditional Schedules

By Katelyn McAdamLast updated on December 22, 2022

The typical college, academic schedule of classes consists of two semesters–18 weeks each for both fall and spring. During these two semesters, students usually take somewhere around 4 courses with each class lasting the full 18 weeks (not counting PE electives). Eventually, someone out there realized that not all students like this particular schedule of …

tips tools & advice

10 Study Habits to Break BEFORE College

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on February 20, 2023

Study habits are made in high school and for some, come pretty easily. In college, you may find that you need to tweak those habits as courses and schedules may be more difficult. Professors will expect you to think critically, analyze information, and defend an opinion. Studying hard will be important to your success. If you …

tips tools & advice

11 Best Apps for College Life

By Katelyn McAdamLast updated on June 27, 2024

At no extra cost to you, College Raptor may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.  The time you spend in college, be it 2 years or 12, really are some of the best years of your life. Yes, you’ll spend a lot of time studying (or you should anyway) but there’s …

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Should I Take Dual-Enrollment Classes in High School? How to Decide if Dual-Enrollment is Right for You

By Katelyn McAdamLast updated on December 22, 2022

Registering for next year’s classes can be a stressful event. Especially when you have so many options to choose from. There are your “normal” classes, but there are also honors, Advanced Placement courses (AP courses), and dual-enrollment (PSEO) classes. And that’s for every subject. How do you choose?! That’s a hard question to answer. And …

tips tools & advice

5 of the Best Study Apps for College Students

By Katelyn McAdamLast updated on June 27, 2024

Technology is a wonderful thing. And when it comes to studying, you can never have too much help. So I did a bit of research and found 5 of the best study apps for college students. These study apps are geared towards keeping you on schedule and on-task with organized study materials. The Best Study …

tips tools & advice

Khan Academy Can Help You Get Your Degree For FREE!

By Kaeli Nieves-WhitmoreLast updated on December 22, 2022

Khan Academy is a non-profit internet based company aiming to provide free online materials and resources to learners around the world. Started in 2005 by Salman Khan, the company is based around the idea that “you can learn anything”. Since its humble beginnings, when Khan was simply tutoring his cousins in math, the company has grown to …