financial aid

How to Appeal for More Financial Aid If COVID-19 Affected Your Family Income

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Did you know you can appeal for more financial aid? Appeals are often done due to major life event that affected an individual’s or family’s income. Since FAFSA and other financial aid offers tend to be based on federal taxes from two years ago, recent applications may not truly reflect the reality of your current …

myths

3 Big College Financial Aid Offer Myths

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 24, 2023

So you have your financial aid letters in hand. Do you fully understand what they say, and know the terms and conditions of the offer? Many students don’t and realize they’ve made a mistake after acceptance – some don’t realize until years down the line! Here are some debunked financial aid offer myths to help …

financial advice & planning

5 Great Things to Do With Your Graduation Money

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on April 28, 2023

Congratulations on graduating high school! Many graduates receive money from their parents or relatives before heading off to college. Have you made plans for the money yet? If you’re not quite sure what to spend your graduation money on, here are four ideas that could prove beneficial. #1: Put the Money Towards College There’s no …

scholarships

How to Use Scholarship Money in College

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 24, 2023

Did you win a scholarship? Congratulations! This cash can go a long way to helping you pay for college, especially if it’s a full ride. So how should you spend it? The answer to that can actually depend on the scholarship’s terms and conditions, but, in rare cases, you could be allowed to spend it …

financial aid

What You Should Know about Front-Loaded Financial Aid

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Many students rely on financial aid in order to attend college, but. While researching financial aid, you may have come across the term “front-loaded.” But what is it? Is it good or bad? Are there other options available? Here’s what you need to know about this front-loaded financial aid. What is Front-Loaded Financial Aid? Front-loaded …

financial advice & planning

Myths About 529 College Savings Plans

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Did you get a 529 college savings plan for your child or relative? Considering getting one? There are a lot of myths surrounding this excellent way of financing education that need to be debunked, including these five. Myth: If My Child Doesn’t Go to College, the Money Will Be Lost One concern many parents and …

scholarships

Chatting With $2,500 Scholarship Winner Amanda McCard!

By Allison WignallLast updated on January 24, 2023

Congratulations are in order for College Raptor’s most recent $2,500 scholarship winner, Amanda McCard! Her winning essay made me curious about Amanda’s college journey. Luckily, she was kind enough to answer a few more questions. Here’s what she had to say! Tell us about yourself! My name is Amanda McCard and I am an incoming …

scholarships

Chatting with $1,000 Scholarship Winner Summer Hollingsworth!

By Allison WignallLast updated on January 24, 2023

Congratulations to Summer Hollingsworth for her recent win of College Raptor’s $1,000 scholarship! I got to chat with Summer about her college search challenges and her ultimate decision on where to go to school. Here’s what she had to say! Tell us about yourself! Hello, I’m Summer Hollingsworth and I just graduated from Bayfield High …

financial aid

How a 529 Plan Affects your FAFSA

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Calculating the amount of financial aid to award a student can be tricky. Many elements are connected and affect each other. One such example is 529 savings plans and the FAFSA. Your 529 plan affects your FAFSA and how much aid you can receive. Here’s a rundown of those details. What is a 529 Plan? …

scholarship search & applications

Am I Too Late to Apply To Scholarships?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on January 24, 2023

Whether you’ve just graduated high school or you’re a sophomore in college, you may be asking yourself: “Am I too late to apply to scholarships?” The short answer is, “No, you’re not.” The long answer is, “It depends on the specific award.” Here’s what you need to know though about scholarships as you go through …