CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey everyone, I'm starting to think about my supplemental essays for Carnegie Mellon and I'm honestly a bit lost. I want my application to really pop, but it's hard to feel original when it feels like …

So, I’ve just found out about honors programs at universities and I'm curious how much they matter. Should I be focusing on trying to get into these programs specifically, and do they hold a lot of va …

Hey, can anyone help me understand SAT percentiles more precisely? Like how they’re calculated and what’s the difference between, say, the 90th and 91st percentile? How important are these percentile …

Confused junior here. When filling out college applications, what's the difference between race, ethnicity, and nationality? I want to make sure I understand these terms properly because there's a sec …

Hi all, I'm keen on going to an HBCU, but finances are tight. I've heard of students fundraising to cover college expenses. Any suggestions on how to start a fundraiser for college tuition, specifical …

So I didn't do as well as I hoped on the SAT during high school. Is it awkward to retake it after graduation to improve my score for college applications, or should I focus on other parts of my applic …

I've got my SAT coming up soon, and it just hit me that I have no idea how to print out my admission ticket. Could someone walk me through the process? Is it all right if it's printed in black and whi …

So, I'm getting kind of worried because I had a suspension earlier in my high school journey. Do colleges actually look at your disciplinary record, and if they do, how much does a suspension impact y …

Hi all, as a freshman, I've been offered the chance to take the PSAT 8/9. Will taking it this early offer any real benefits or preparation for future standardized tests? Does it influence my college a …

I'm all about helping people and have my heart set on a career in healthcare. I'd love to attend an HBCU that offers excellent Health Science majors. Do any of you know which HBCUs I should be looking …

Hey guys! I'm super into dance and heard that step teams are a big deal at HBCUs. Can anyone share their experience of being on a step team? How's the community, practice schedule, and performance opp …

Starting to get my college list together and I’m trying to streamline the app process a bit. Do any of you know which HBCUs accept the Common App? It would make things so much easier if I could apply …

Hey everyone, just wondering how much weight colleges put on the SAT evidence-based reading and writing score? I’m good at math but kinda worried about this section. Any advice on how to balance my st …

Alright folks, I am totally blanking on how to even start brainstorming ideas for my Common App. Got any tried-and-true methods or tips for kickstarting the idea process? I don't want to just write ab …

I'm on the lookout for productive ways to spend my summer and heard that some camps can be beneficial for high school students, especially when it comes to college apps. Can anyone share their experie …

Hey everyone, just a bit stressed here thinking about my SAT scores. I've taken the SAT a few times to improve my score, but I'm worried about how it looks to colleges. Can colleges actually see every …

Hey guys, kinda stressed here and need some advice. I've not been doing super great grade-wise and am wondering if it's at all common or even possible to repeat a year in high school to improve my GPA …

Hey guys, I’m a junior looking into mentorship opportunities and I've learned about mentoring programs like HBCU First. I'm curious about how to get involved and what the benefits are. If you've been …

I've been trying to strategize my college applications and I’m curious if it’s possible to apply via Early Decision to one school and Early Action to others at the same time. Is that allowed, or are t …

Hey, I've been thinking a lot about the college culture and the educational opportunities available at HBCUs. I'm particularly drawn to the ones in Florida because of family ties to the state, but I'm …