Noodle Articles FAQ

Q: What are the most frequently-asked questions about writing for Noodle?

Short answer: Keep reading.

Better answer: Seriously.

Q: Who reads Noodle articles?

Short answer: Students, mostly.

Better answer: People looking for advice about education.

Over six million people visit Noodle every year to read articles about education. Our audience is young; more than 50% of Noodle readers are between the ages of 18 and 34.

People visit Noodle for information and advice about education, on topics like:

• Choosing between degree types
• Selecting the right programs
• Submitting the best applications
• Dealing with rejection
• Figuring out how to pay for school once you get in
• Understanding how long it takes to earn a degree
• Knowing how much school is going to cost
• The types of jobs you’ll find (and the salaries you’ll earn) when you’re done with school

We also dive deep into topics like: soft skills, learning disabilities, talking to professors, dealing with bullies, handling transitions, and the best books, games, podcasts, and apps to master any subject. That’s not everything, but you get the picture.

Our readers generally fall into one of six categories:

• High school students thinking about going to college
• Current students looking for study tips, job search strategies, and career advice
• Adults who never finished (or started) their undergraduate degree—but want to
• Mid-career professionals considering a master’s degree
• Parents and guardians of preschoolers, K-12 students, and college hopefuls
• People who work in education (admissions, financial aid, tutoring, test prep, career coaching, and more)

Q: Who writes Noodle articles?

Short answer: Anyone who wants to.

Better answer: Smart people with solid advice.

Because we encourage users to self-publish content, anyone with a Noodle profile can write articles. That said, we reject articles that aren’t helpful, articulate, or relevant to education.

Our writers include:

• Current students who share details about their school (what they love, what they don’t love, how they got in, things they’d do differently), to help prospective students make informed decisions about where to enroll
• Graduates who explain how their degree(s) helped them (or didn’t) in their careers, to help students who want careers like theirs and/or are considering similar degrees
• Admissions reps who offer tips on what their schools look for, how to stand out, what to always say/do, what to never say/do, how to get in, and why you should want to go there
• Financial aid pros to help navigate the vast and confusing world of loans, grants, scholarships, tuition reimbursement, student debt, and more
• Career coaches who tell you the degree(s) you’ll need to land your dream job(s), where you’ll find the best opportunities for growth, how much you’ll earn when you graduate, and how that figure increases with years of experience
• Tutors who break things down in plain English, like what you need to know to pass each section of a standardized test, how to write essays that aren’t boring, and strange-but-true methods of memorizing details, studying like you mean it, passing with flying colors, and earning your degree

Q: Is anything off-limits?

Short answer: Yes, because this isn’t Tumblr.

Better answer: Please use common sense.

We ask that all Noodle writers agree to meet basic editorial standards:

• Publish your own words instead of ripping them off the internet.
• Make those words clear, because rambling like you’re two martinis deep doesn’t do you any favors.
• Try to avoid offending people, even accidentally, with things that could be interpreted as sexist, racist, political, or explicit.
• Do not be a predator by aggressively trying to sell products and services and/or shilling useless or misleading advice.

Q: What are the best Noodle articles?

Short answer: We love all of our articles equally.

Better answer: That’s a lie. We have favorites.

But… forget what we like. Here’s what people have read the most this year:

• How to Answer ‘Why This School?’ on College Applications
• Four Common Types of Tests Teachers Give (And Why)
• How to Talk to a Professor — Explained by a Professor
• How to Apply to Grad School in 10 Easy Steps
• Does College GPA Matter When Looking for a Job?
• A Guide to Postbac Premed Programs: Another Route to Med School
• 6 Ways to Support Your Preschooler’s Social–Emotional Learning
• Everything You Need to Know about the New York State Regents Exams
• The Best and Worst Topics for a College Application Essay

Q: Does Noodle pay for articles?

Short answer: Sure.

Better answer: If you’re a freelance writer.

Noodle does not pay for self-published content. We do pay freelance writers, who pitch, research, and write in-depth articles chock full of things that don’t put readers to sleep. If you’d like to learn more about becoming a paid freelance writer, email editor@noodle.com. If you’d rather not invite editors to breathe hot feedback down your neck, self-publish to your heart’s delight.

Q: Can authors who publish articles for free now get paid later?

Short answer: Maybe.

Better answer: If you’re good enough.

If you’re regularly self-publishing high-quality articles that people are reading (and sharing), we’re be happy to discuss compensating you for your work. Send your five best Noodle articles to editor@noodle.com along with a note about what you want to write next.

Q: Why write articles if you’re not cashing checks?

Short answer: Money is root of all evil.

Better answer: We’ll promote you like a teen idol rock star.

The three main benefits of writing for Noodle:

1. Grow your brand. We’ll share the best self-published articles in our newsletters and on our social media, just like we do with articles written by freelancers.

2. Grow your business. We know people don’t actually write for free so, yes, of course we expect you to promote whatever goods and services you’ve got on offer. Whether that’s recruiting students to apply to your school, getting parents to hire you for tutoring sessions, or selling copies of your latest book about how cold showers change everything for the best, do so discreetly.

3. Grow your audience. If you’re interested in sharing opinions or advice about education, there’s no better place to do it than Noodle. Our readers are here for a reason: they want help making decisions about where, why, when, and how to go to school. If that’s not targeted, you can paint bullseyes on our bottoms.

Q: Kindly explain why my article was rejected?

Short answer: It wasn’t good.

Better answer: You failed to meet basic standards.

You should have gotten an email explaining why your article was rejected. If you missed, ignored, or forgot what that email said, contact editor@noodle.com. Otherwise, assume your article was rejected because:

• You ripped things off the internet and pretended those things were your own.
• You have essentially zero writing skills and need to brush up on stuff like spelling and grammar.
• You wrote things that offended people (or have the potential to).
• You are a predator pushing products and services on unsuspecting readers.
• The “advice” you’re shilling is a transparent attempt to sell things.

Q: How do I become a Noodle author?

Short answer: Sign up for Noodle.

Better answer: Go to the “my articles” section of your profile.

Also, if you don’t want a blue cartoon noodle for a head, choose a proper profile picture.

Q: Can I change my author picture?

Short answer: Don’t like the noodlehead?

Better answer: OK, but it’s not super easy.

For now, email help@noodle.com to request edits to your author profile picture.

Q: Can I edit my articles after they’re published?

Short answer: Only if your life depends on it.

Better answer: Please submit a formal request.

We do not allow authors to make edits to articles after they are published, for pretty much the same reason we edit articles in the first place (quality control). However, if your article contains outdated or incorrect details, email editor@noodle.com to request edits.

Q: Can I delete my articles after they’re published?

Short answer: LOL.

Better answer: No!

If you’re having buyer’s remorse you can put in a request to delete your article. We cannot guarantee that the request will be honored.

Q: What if I see an article on Noodle that is offensive, misleading, or flat-out wrong?

Short answer: If you see something, say something.

Better answer: Flag the people in charge.

Email editor@noodle.com with a link to the article and your reason(s) for flagging it. We’ll do what we can, as fast as we can.