CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Explore our collection of admissions FAQs. Each answer is expert-approved by our team to help you reach your goals.


Do Ivy League schools interview everyone?

Hi! I've heard mixed things about Ivy League interviews and I'm wondering if they interview every applicant? Is it a required part of the application process for all students or just for certain ones? …

11 months ago

How much weight do colleges put on the essay compared to the rest of the application?

I'm curious to know how heavily colleges weigh the essay compared to other aspects of the application, like grades, test scores, and extracurriculars. Does the essay play a significant role in the adm …

11 months ago

How can I improve my chances for getting into a top-tier college?

Hey all, I'm a junior who's aiming for top-tier colleges. I've got good grades and test scores, but I'm worried about standing out among thousands of applicants. What can I do to improve my chances of …

11 months ago

What happens if I apply through Early Decision but later decide not to attend?

I understand that applying Early Decision is binding, but I was wondering what would happen if I applied ED, got accepted, and ultimately decided not to attend the school. If anyone has gone through t …

11 months ago

Could strong extracurriculars help offset a lower GPA for Ivy League applications?

Hi everyone, I have a bit of a lower GPA (3.4 unweighted) due to some personal challenges earlier in high school. However, I have strong extracurricular involvement and leadership positions. Do you th …

11 months ago

Transfer student applying for early decision, what should I know?

Hi guys! I'm a transfer student planning to apply early decision to a few schools like NYU and Columbia. I understand the early decision process for high school seniors, but is there anything I should …

11 months ago

What's the main difference between early action and regular decision?

I'm having a hard time deciding whether I should apply early action or regular decision to some colleges on my list. Can someone explain the main differences between the two and any pros or cons? I'm …

11 months ago

Tips on researching universities for a high school junior?

Hey there! I'm a high school junior, and I've just started researching potential universities. Any tips on what I should focus on? How do I know if a college will be a good fit for me? I'm particularl …

11 months ago

What should my arts supplement look like for Ivy League applications?

Hi there! I'm an artist hoping to submit an arts supplement with my Ivy League applications. I'm just not sure what I should include: should it showcase a variety of mediums or focus on a specific ski …

11 months ago

Do colleges prefer a certain type of high school curriculum?

Hey guys! I'm a junior, and I'm wondering if colleges have a preference for certain types of high school curriculums (like AP, IB, or dual enrollment). What do you think? Thanks for your help!

11 months ago

Are R1 research universities better than other colleges?

Hey guys, I'm in the process of creating my college list and considering to apply mainly to R1 research universities. Are they significantly better than other college options or more prestigious? Is t …

11 months ago

Should I take a gap year to improve my extracurriculars?

Hey guys! I'm a junior and I'm starting to feel like my extracurriculars are lacking. I don't have any truly impressive accomplishments, but I'm passionate about climate change activism and filmmaking …

11 months ago

What are the most important factors in the college admissions process?

Hello everyone! I'm a high school junior and I'm trying to understand what colleges prioritize when reviewing applications. Is it GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, or something else? How can I focus …

11 months ago

Is a 1480 SAT score good enough for Ivy League admissions?

Hi all! I recently got my SAT scores and I got a 1480. I'm seriously thinking about applying to Ivy League schools, but I'm not sure if my score is high enough. I have solid extracurriculars and a hig …

11 months ago

Are interviews for college admissions necessary?

I'm starting to look into the college application process, and I've noticed that some schools offer interviews for applicants. Are these interviews mandatory, or can I still have a strong application …

11 months ago

Can someone explain what a research program in a university is?

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior, and I've been looking into colleges recently. I've come across the term 'research program' a lot in university descriptions, but I'm not exactly sure what it mea …

11 months ago

Why are R1 research universities important?

Hi, I’m a junior and have been researching college options. My counselor mentioned 'R1 research universities' to me, but I'm still not quite sure what they are and why they are important. Can someone …

11 months ago

Is the University of Southern California a research university?

Hi all. I'm currently considering applying to the University of Southern California, but I'm not sure if it's characterized as a research university. If it is, how does that impact the undergraduate e …

11 months ago

Would you say Penn State is a research university?

Hi there! I'm interested in attending Penn State University, and I was curious if it's considered a research university. Also, what kind of research opportunities does the school provide for its under …

11 months ago

What's a good class rank for Ivy League consideration?

Hey there, I'm in the top 10% of my class, but I'm not sure if that's good enough for Ivy League schools. What class rank do you think is considered competitive for these schools? I want to make sure …

11 months ago
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About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.