All Getting in Articles

What is a college writing center and how do students benefit from it?
questions & answers

What are College Writing Centers?

By Rose ScottLast updated on December 22, 2022
If you think that college writing centers are only for those who dream of becoming the next romantic William Shakespeare or horrifying Stephen King, you are on the wrong track. A college student’s journey entails a lot of writing tasks, whether it is a lab report, research paper, or essay. Having a friend or classmate …
Student taking pictures of violet flowers on the ground.
questions & answers

What Are College Electives and Why are They Important?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on October 23, 2023
When selecting your college courses, you will typically have three categories to choose from. The first is general education requirements, which all students are required to take. The second is courses required for specific majors. Under this category, you’ll choose from courses that are relevant to the specific major you’re pursuing. The third is electives, …
A chalk drawing of a clock, with text next to the right that says "how many credit hours should you take?"
questions & answers

How Many Credit Hours Should I Take?

By Liz SkogerboeLast updated on December 22, 2022
When I was an orientation leader for the University of Iowa, I worked with our campus academic advisors to help new students build their class schedules. This is one of the questions I was asked the most by students. Many new students come in with an outline of a schedule that they (or their parents) …
Take these steps to increase your college readiness
college applications

How to Increase Your College Readiness

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
We’ve done a post on what college readiness means. Now it’s time to address how to increase your college readiness so that you are as prepared as possible for your new life chapter. And remember, the skills that will get you by in college will also be used in the workplace. So maybe we should …
Even if you're a nontraditional student, you're still like any other student at the end of the day.
questions & answers

What Makes a Person a Nontraditional Student?

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022
Depending on your chosen college, you might hear quite a bit about “nontraditional” students. These are students who are considered to be outside the “normal” parameters for college students. And believe me, it doesn’t take much to be outside those parameters. If your typical college student is full-time, straight out of high school into college, …
Are you considering taking both the ACT and SAT? There are ACT and SAT pros and cons
ACT & SAT

Pros and Cons: Taking Both the ACT and SAT

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Typically, a student will take either the ACT or the SAT as their college entrance exam. However, a growing trend shows that more and more high schools students are taking both tests. Are you considering taking one or both the ACT or SAT? If you’re thinking about the latter, here are some ACT or SAT …
Like this flexible pencil, there's also such thing as test-flexible and test-required
questions & answers

What Does Test-Flexible and Test-Required Mean?

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022
Though the names themselves might be somewhat self-explanatory, many are surprised to hear that some colleges don’t actually require incoming students to submit ACT / SAT scores. Yes, you read that correctly. With all the emphasis put on ACT / SAT prep, test day, and results, it might seem strange that some colleges don’t actually …

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