CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey everyone, I’m a junior stressed about making my application stand out. I’ve heard that essay writing contests can add some sparkle to the extracurricular section. Does winning or participating in …

Social work is where my heart is, and I'm setting my sights on an HBCU for grad school. Can anyone tell me which HBCUs offer a Master of Social Work program? Any insights into program quality would be …

The Common App essay is giving me a headache... there are so many prompts to choose from! Can you guys share some tips or strategies on picking the right essay prompt for the Common App? I'm strugglin …

Can someone break down the FERPA waiver for me? I’m not 100% clear on what it means when I waive my rights. How does it affect my application, and will colleges view it negatively if I don’t waive it?

Hey guys, I've been looking at colleges and considering both HBCUs and PWIs. Do you think colleges (especially HBCUs) take notice of a recent increase or decrease in enrollment trends when they make a …

So I'm a junior and also an aspiring college football player. I've been thinking about attending an HBCU football camp in 2023 to up my recruiting game. Has anyone here attended one before and can sha …

Hi guys! Quick Q: Does BU track or take into account your demonstrated interest (like campus tours, reaching out to admissions, etc.) when they look at your application? Trying to figure out if this i …

Hey all! I’m super into finance and hope to pursue it in college. Right now, I'm trying to put together a solid resume. I've heard internships are the way to go, but does anyone know where high school …

Hi y'all! I need to pick a topic for my upcoming research paper in my advanced English class, and honestly, I'm a bit stumped. Looking for something unique and interesting that'll catch my teacher's e …

Alabama has quite a few HBCUs, and each seems to have its own strengths. Anyone able to shed light on which ones are considered the best overall or have specific standout programs?

Hi folks, I'm starting to look at colleges and I'm really interested in the culture and community at HBCUs. But I'm kinda lost on where to start. What things should I consider when looking at HBCUs? A …

So I'm thinking ahead and I'm really interested in law. I'm drawn to the culture and history of HBCUs. Can anyone share their experiences or insights about the academic rigor and opportunities availab …

Hey people, I heard that some colleges don't focus much on GPA when reviewing applications. Is that true? Could you list some of those colleges or point me towards resources that might help? Also, how …

I've got my first college interview lined up next week, and I'm sweating over what to wear. Should I go full business formal, or is something semi-formal okay? If you've had an interview, what did you …

Feeling a bit in the dark here, but I need some clarification. What percentage would a perfect 4.0 GPA be equivalent to? Does this vary from school to school or is there a standard?

Hi peeps, I've been seeing a lot of different GPA scales and it’s a bit overwhelming. Does anyone know if there's one standard scale that colleges refer to when looking at our GPAs, or does it vary fr …

Thinking about my future and wanting to dive into engineering. I’m leaning towards an HBCU for my undergrad and could use advice on which have the best engineering programs. I’m especially interested …

Alright so, I've been checking out the US News college rankings a lot recently and I'm starting to make my college list based on it. But I'm curious, should I be taking these rankings with a grain of …

Just started thinking about my essays, and I’m looking to apply to Columbia. Does anyone know what the most recent essay prompt is, or where I can find it? I want to make sure I'm responding to the co …

Howdy! I've been looking into HBCUs in Texas but I'm kind of swamped trying to figure out which one might be the best fit for me. Does anyone from these colleges have some personal stories or pro tips …