CollegeVine Expert FAQ

I'm super passionate about music and I heard HBCU bands are incredible! Does anyone know how the music and especially band programs at HBCUs stand up against other schools' programs? I'm trying to gau …

Hi everyone, I'm super keen on getting that National Merit Scholar recognition through the PSAT. Can someone break down the qualifying process? How do you know if your score is in the running and what …

Hey everyone! I've been looking into taking a CLEP exam to get some college credits out of the way. I’m kinda on a tight budget, so I’m curious—how much should I expect to spend on a CLEP exam this ye …

I've got a bit of a situation—I need to remove my current counselor from my Common App account because they left the school, and a new one is taking over. How do I go about doing that? Has anyone else …

As a junior just delving into the college search, I’ve come across the University of Pittsburgh a few times. What majors or programs is UPitt particularly known for? I want to make sure I consider sch …

I'm currently a junior exploring different college options and with everything going virtual recently, I'm interested in knowing about HBCUs with strong online programs. Are these on par with the on-c …

Could someone explain what factors into being considered the 'largest HBCU by enrollment'? Is it just based on the number of undergrads, or do grad students count too? I'm trying to get a sense of cam …

I've been working on my Common App and MIT is high on my list. Does anyone know if MIT accepts the Common App or do they have their own application platform? The answer seems to escape me even after g …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior starting to look at colleges and HBCUs have caught my interest. I’m wondering about the competitiveness of HBCU honors programs. What GPA and test scores are usually expecte …

Alright, so I’m super into music and I’ve seen these amazing HBCU Battle of the Bands events—they look epic! For someone looking at colleges, how do you think participating in something like the battl …

Hey everyone, I've been looking into colleges and I'm really drawn to the strong community and history of HBCUs. Being a huge football fan, I gotta ask—what's the vibe like at HBCU football games? Are …

As I’m planning my junior year, I’m curious about how many classes my peers are taking. I want to make sure I’m in line with what’s typical but still have time for ECs and maybe a job. Can someone sha …

I know some colleges are test-optional now, but do most still require the ACT? Trying to figure out if it's worth the time and stress to prep for it or if I should focus on other parts of my applicati …

WashU (Washington University in St. Louis) is on my list because I've heard some good things, but I want to know more about their academics. Any current students or alumni here who can share what majo …

Hey y'all, I’m looking into nursing programs as a prospective major, and I'm really drawn to the HBCUs in Florida. Can anyone share their experiences or knowledge about the nursing programs at these i …

Hey everyone! I'm looking into online high school diploma programs, and I'm a bit worried about how colleges will view them. Do all online high school diplomas carry the same weight in the admissions …

I want to upload my resume to the Common App because I think it lays out my experiences and skills better than the activities section. Has anyone done this before and can guide me through how to do it …

Hey folks, test-taking isn't really my forte and I'm pretty stressed about the SAT/ACT. Do you guys know of any HBCUs that have gone test-optional or don't require these scores at all? I'm hoping to f …

I stumbled upon Ottawa University during my college search and I'm intrigued. Anyone know what the buzz is about it? What opportunities or programs are they known for that make them stand out?

So, I'm super into sports medicine and physio stuff, looking to pursue kinesiology, and I've heard some HBCUs really shine in this area. Could anyone let me know their top picks for HBCUs with strong …