college applications

The Pros and Cons of Taking AP Classes in High School

By Allison WignallLast updated on May 28, 2024

Advanced Placement (AP) classes are a fantastic way to show academic rigor in your schedule and impress college admissions officers. AP classes offer more of a challenge than a general or core class. They’re often considered difficult but rewarding by students who take them. But with every benefit, there is a drawback. What are the …

college applications

Full Time Student Hours vs. Part Time: What’s the Difference?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on October 6, 2023

A full-time student is one who has enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits or about four classes per semester. A part-time student is one who is enrolled in less than 12 credit hours. Full-time students generally spend more time in class during a semester than part-time students. The most notable difference between part-time and …

college applications

Why Learning a Second Language is So Important

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Because English is a very popular language, American students tend to forget that other languages may be useful in their present and future life. People from Latin America, Asia, and Europe learn English as their second language at a very early age and start studying it once they get into primary school. Learning a second …

college applications

Do’s and Don’ts: Writing College Admission Essays

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

In the midst of worrying about GPAs, test scores, academic rigor, and completing requirements, it might be easy to gloss over another important element of the college application process: the admission essays. For some the essay is a welcome relief from all the data crunching, for others, it is dreaded. As part of our ongoing …

college applications

Do’s and Don’ts: What to Include in College Applications

By Jasmine BarnesLast updated on December 22, 2022

College applications are a vital part of your ticket to higher education. However, the process is not so glamorous. Actually, it’s a lot harder than it looks. With thousands and thousands of applicants applying to various institutions across the country each year, how do you “stand out” as your guidance counselors told you to? How …

college applications

7 Tips on How to Write A Killer Personal Statement

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on May 9, 2024

For many of us, writing (or talking) about ourselves is challenging. Yet, one of the most common scholarship interview questions is “What are your strengths?” As I was thinking about how to answer that, the first thing that popped into my head was, “Umm, well, when I was younger, I used to pretend that swings …

college applications

Universal College Application (UCA): Should You Use It?

By Katelyn McAdamLast updated on January 24, 2023

College applications are a unique beast. Depending on how many schools you’re applying to, your applications could take an afternoon or an entire month (or 3). You have to know all your personal information, list out all of your extracurriculars, select a major, and, of course, write the essay. And since each school has its …

college applications

The Common Application: Should You Use It?

By Katelyn McAdamLast updated on December 14, 2023

Working on college applications can be a daunting process. It’s your senior year of high school and you have a lot on your mind (mainly the future) not to mention all the social events taking place. And we all have those relatives–every time you’re at a family gathering it’s “where are you going to college …

college applications

Applying for College: What if I Can’t Afford the Application Fee?

By Katelyn McAdamLast updated on December 22, 2022

Not only is the college application process extremely stressful, but it can also be ridiculously expensive. Expense 1: You have to pay to take the ACT and/or SAT. What to do if you can’t afford to take the ACT or SAT? Expense 2: Then you need to actually do a college visit, because that’s a …

college applications

Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Fill Out Your Student’s College Applications For Them

By Lynell EngelmyerLast updated on December 22, 2022

You’ll need just a little background before I tell you about a curious phone call I recently received about a student’s college applications…we have lived in this community long enough for me to know a significant number of my child’s peers since they were in pre-school. I know the school hours for my local high …