Explore our collection of admissions FAQs. Each answer is expert-approved by our team to help you reach your goals.
Hey guys, so I need to ask a few teachers for letters of recommendation for college applications. What's the best way to approach them, and how can I ensure they write a strong and personalized letter …
I've been working at a local retail store part-time during the school year, and I'm wondering if this is something that colleges would like to see on my application. Does it show responsibility and wo …
My grades from freshman and sophomore year were not that great, but I've improved a lot since then. Does anyone have any advice on how I can still have a shot at getting into Princeton, despite my pas …
Hello everyone, I'm a high school junior and I'm considering the IB diploma program for my senior year. Can anyone tell me how many HL courses I need to take in order to earn the diploma? Thanks for y …
Hey guys, I've heard that writing about a failure can be a good topic for a college essay, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea. Should I write my college essay about a failure, or is it better to foc …
Hey all, I'm working on my college list and wondering how important school rankings really are. Should I prioritize them over other factors like programs and overall fit? I'd appreciate your thoughts!
Like many students, I had to take some pass/fail classes during the pandemic as my school switched to remote learning. How do colleges evaluate these types of classes when reviewing applications? Than …
Just got my SAT results back and scored a 1520. I'm pretty satisfied with it, but I want to apply to some Ivy League schools like Columbia and Penn. Is my score competitive for these schools, or shoul …
Hi everyone, I've seen the terms Common App and Coalition App come up a lot in college-related discussions, but I'm not entirely clear on what they are. Can someone please explain the differences betw …
Hello! I'm a high school junior and I'm planning on taking the ACT soon. I'm a little anxious about preparing for the test and I'm not sure what resources to use. Can anyone recommend some helpful stu …
Hi everyone! I'm a bit confused about the 'Additional Information' section of the Common App. What type of content should go here, and how should I use this space effectively? Thanks in advance for yo …
Hi everyone. I'm a junior, and the thought of applying to college has been causing me a lot of stress and anxiety lately. There are so many things to keep track of: grades, extracurriculars, standardi …
Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I'm worried because I don't have many extracurricular activities to list on my college applications. What can I do to make up for this? Are there any activities I can ge …
I'm passionate about photography and have a solid portfolio, but I plan to apply for a non-art major. Is it still possible to submit an arts supplement to showcase my skills, or is that reserved for a …
Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I've been thinking about whether the prestige of a college really matters. I know some people say it's important, while others say it's not a big deal. What do you guys …
Hi all! I've been told that having a certain number of community service hours is important for college applications. Is this true? If so, how many hours should I aim for? Thanks for any advice you ca …
Hey everyone! I'm considering taking a gap year after high school for personal reasons. I've heard mixed opinions on whether this is a good idea or not. Do you think colleges generally frown upon gap …
I have the opportunity to join a research project in my desired field (biomedical engineering) this summer. Would this help set me apart in the competitive pool of Ivy League applications, or should I …
Hi, I'm a junior with a part-time job, and I haven't had much time to volunteer. Do college admissions committees view part-time work experience and volunteering equally, or do they prefer one over th …
Hey there! I'm wondering if it's worth applying to colleges that don't provide merit scholarships. While some of these schools are my top choices, I'm concerned about the cost of attendance. What fact …