CollegeVine Expert FAQ

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


What's the best way to ask for financial aid?

Hello, I'm a junior in high school, and I'm starting to think about how to pay for college. What's the best way to approach asking for financial aid? Are there any tips or strategies I should know abo …

11 months ago

How do I explain a downward trend in my grades to colleges?

Okay, so I had a few rough semesters during high school, and my grades suffered as a result (I'm talking about a couple of Cs and quite a few Bs). There were some personal and family issues I had to d …

11 months ago

Should I list tutoring as an extracurricular activity?

Hey there! I tutor some students in math and science on weekends. Is tutoring considered an extracurricular activity, and should I include it on my college application? Thanks in advance for your advi …

11 months ago

Large state schools or small liberal arts colleges: which is the better choice?

I'm starting to create my college list, and I'm torn between large state schools with lots of resources and opportunities, and small liberal arts colleges that have a tight-knit community feel. I'm pl …

11 months ago

Do you guys think it's necessary to put a title on my college essay?

I'm about to submit my college essay and I'm curious if adding a title would make a difference. Do you think it's important or just optional? Thanks for your help!

11 months ago

Will applying for financial aid hurt my chances of getting into an Ivy League school?

Hello everyone! I'm currently a junior and will need financial aid for college. I want to apply to a few Ivy League schools, but I'm concerned that it might make my chances worse. Is there any truth t …

11 months ago

Can I still qualify for student loans with a low GPA?

I'm a junior in high school, and despite my efforts, my GPA isn't as high as I'd like it to be. I'll certainly need financial assistance for college, but I'm worried that my GPA might make it difficul …

11 months ago

Would going to the gym be considered an extracurricular activity?

Hi everyone, I have a question about extracurricular activities for college applications. I've been going to the gym consistently for a few years, and it's a big part of my life. Can I include it as a …

11 months ago

What is the importance of class rank?

Hello collegevine! I'm wondering how important class rank is when applying to college. My school doesn't rank students, but I know some schools do. How do colleges view class rank, and should I be wor …

11 months ago

Any tips for writing a university research paper?

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior, and as part of my college prep, I want to practice writing research papers in the style that's expected at universities. Does anyone have advice or guidelines fo …

11 months ago

Will retaking a class impact my chances?

Hi everyone, I'm a high school junior, and I had to retake my pre-calculus class because I got a low grade the first time. How will colleges view this when reviewing my transcript? I'm looking to appl …

11 months ago

How do I handle rejection from my dream college?

Hi everyone, I'm a high school junior, and I'm starting to worry about the possibility of not getting into my dream college. If I do get rejected, how can I handle the disappointment and move forward? …

11 months ago

How important is it to showcase leadership in my college essay?

I've held a few leadership positions throughout high school and I was wondering how important it is to showcase my leadership experiences in my college essay. Should I dedicate a good portion of my es …

11 months ago

Do colleges know if I use the same essay for multiple applications?

Hey everyone! So, I'm working on my college applications and I was wondering if it's okay to use the same essay for multiple schools? Is there any way for colleges to find out if I'm doing this and wi …

11 months ago

How long does it usually take you to write a college essay?

Hello fellow juniors! I'm just starting my college essay, and I'm curious – how long did it take you to write yours? I don't want to procrastinate, but I'm a little overwhelmed by how long it might ta …

11 months ago

Can you still be accepted into an Ivy League school with a B on your transcript?

Hey, I'm freaking out a bit. I got my first B in a challenging AP class last semester, and I'm worried about how badly it might affect my chances of getting into an Ivy League school. Do I still have …

11 months ago

Should I take a gap year before applying to the Ivies?

Hello everyone, I'm a junior thinking about taking a gap year before applying to the Ivies. I have strong academics and extracurriculars, but I'm considering taking a year to strengthen my overall pro …

11 months ago

How can I improve my chances of getting financial aid?

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I'm starting to think about applying for financial aid. I know that getting a good aid package can be competitive, so I was wondering if there are any specific things I …

11 months ago

Is it better to take more AP courses or focus on extracurriculars?

Hello everyone! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm trying to decide whether to take more AP courses next year or focus on my extracurricular activities. Which would be more beneficial for my college …

11 months ago

What's the best way to approach writing a college essay?

Hello there! As a junior, I'm starting to think about the dreaded college essay. I'm feeling a little stressed and unsure about how to approach it. I've heard it's important to tell a story that shows …

11 months ago
Displaying questions 112741-112760 of 115934 total
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.