college admissions, questions & answers

All 40 AP Classes Ranked by Difficulty

By College Raptor StaffPublished on August 4, 2025

Key Takeaway AP class difficulty will vary by student and school, but we can look at the 2025 AP exam pass rates to get a helpful glimpse into which classes are generally more or less challenging. The “easiest” AP classes include: AP Research, AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP Seminar, AP Spanish Language and Culture, …

college admissions, questions & answers

How to Graduate High School Early

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on July 16, 2025

Key Takeaway Graduating early can be a smart move for some students as it can allow them to start college sooner, enter the workforce, or begin their next chapter. There are many reasons students choose to graduate early: academic readiness, personal goals, financial reasons, or looking for more flexibility. While it’s possible to graduate high …

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Game On: Making Learning Stick With These 7 Classroom Games

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on July 16, 2025

Key Takeaways Implementing classroom games in a high school setting is a refreshing way to improve classroom learning, increase motivation, and get students collaborating. Depending on the needs of your students and the content you are teaching, opt for the type of game that works best: academic, digital, physical, or creative. Below we’ve listed seven …

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Back-To-School Activities for High School Students

By College Raptor StaffPublished on May 20, 2025

Key Takeaway Looking for icebreakers and team-building exercises that students will actually love participating in? We’ve put together 10 back-to-school activities that can help establish a positive classroom environment for the year ahead: Two Truths and a Lie School Scavenger Hunt Human Knot Human Bingo Meet and Greet Event Beach Ball Toss “This or That” …

college applications, questions & answers

Accommodations for Students and How to Get Them

By Hilary CairnsPublished on February 5, 2025

All colleges and universities in the United States offer accommodations to students with disabilities. They can vary from advanced course selection to additional time on exams, depending on the individual’s needs. Some conditions that qualify for accommodations include learning disabilities, blindness, hard of hearing, and chronic medical conditions. You can learn more about accommodations at …

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10 Winter Break Camps for High School Students

By Hilary CairnsPublished on January 13, 2025

Winter break camps are an excellent way for high school students to stay active during and after the holidays! Even busy high school seniors can reap benefits of these unique opportunities. Below, we explain what a winter break camp is, their benefits, and give a few examples of camps you might want to check out. …

college applications, questions & answers

How Much Do Grades Matter in High School?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on April 28, 2025

Key Takeaways Despite the ongoing debate about whether or not grades should be given, they are still important in high school. While grades don’t represent the whole picture of who you are, they do play a role in what classes you’re placed in, what colleges accept you, and how much financial aid you may receive. …

college admissions, questions & answers

How to Get Good Grades

By Hilary CairnsPublished on August 16, 2024

Whether you’re in high school or college, grades matter. They can impact your acceptance chances to higher education institutions, scholarship offers, merit aid opportunities, and even job prospects after graduation. It can also affect your self-esteem while improving your foundational knowledge that leads to success later in the classroom and in life in general. But …

college admissions, questions & answers

What’s the Highest GPA?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on May 1, 2025

Key Takeaway The highest GPA achievable is a 4.0 on a traditional scale. However, some schools use a weighted scale that can go up to 5.0, factoring in the difficulty of coursework. While GPA matters in college admissions, it’s not the final determining factor. Aim for good grades, but also focus on your personal growth. …

college applications, questions & answers

College Planning Before High School: Pre-K through 8th Grade

By Hilary CairnsPublished on March 12, 2024

College planning isn’t something that should be started only in your junior year of high school. In fact, it’s never too early to start planning ahead! Parents taking steps as soon as possible can actually make the college process much easier for their future graduates! Here are some tips, tricks, and pieces of advice parents …