CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hello everyone, I recently got my SAT score and I'm not sure if a 1520 is good enough for Ivy League admissions. Should I retake the test or just focus on other parts of my application? I could really …

I noticed that some people add titles to their essays, and I'm wondering if I should do the same for my college essay. What do you think? Does it make a difference to the admissions officers? Thanks i …

Hello, I have a felony on my record, and I'm worried about how it might affect my chances of getting financial aid for college. Do any of you know if having a felony disqualifies someone from receivin …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I'm starting to think about the college application process. I know that recommendation letters are a part of it, but how important are they really? Should I be worried …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about my college applications. I want to make sure my resume is as strong as possible, but I'm not sure what I should include or how to format it. …

Hello! I'm a junior in high school, and I've started to put together a list of colleges that I'm interested in applying to. What factors should I consider when creating this list? I want to make sure …

Hi guys! I was wondering if colleges actually check for plagiarism in application essays. I'm not planning on plagiarizing, but I'm curious if they have a system in place to catch students who do. Tha …

Hello! Some of the colleges I'm applying to have gone test-optional due to COVID-19. How do I decide if I should submit my test scores or go test-optional? Thanks in advance for any advice!

I'm considering asking either a teacher or a coach for a letter of recommendation, but I'm unsure which would be more beneficial. They both know me well, but is it better to get a recommendation from …

Greetings! As a junior, I've developed a strong interest in political science and want to major in it. How can I identify colleges with reputable programs in this area? I've looked into Georgetown, UV …

Hey everyone, I was thinking about my extracurriculars and I've done quite a bit of traveling with my family. We've visited several countries and experienced different cultures together. Would college …

Hi there! I'm really hoping to attend UCLA, but my GPA is a bit low due to struggling freshman and sophomore year. I've improved a lot over time and have great extracurricular involvement. Can anyone …

Hey! I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about my major and college applications. I noticed that some college programs are more competitive than others. I'm really interested in majoring in either …

Hi everyone, I really want to attend West Point, but my grades aren't exactly stellar. Is it still possible for me to get in, and if so, how can I improve my chances? Are strong extracurriculars and a …

Hey everyone! In my college essay, I want to include a quote from a book that had a significant impact on me. Is it okay to include quotes in my essay or would that be seen as unoriginal or lazy? I wa …

I have a 4.0 GPA, strong test scores, and am involved in a variety of extracurricular activities, but I know that competition for Ivy League schools is fierce. What can I do to make my application eve …

Hi there! I'm a junior, and I got an internship at a research lab for this summer. I'm really excited and want to make the most of the experience, but I'm also a bit nervous. How can I ensure that I u …

I'm wondering if I should even bother applying to Ivy League schools, considering their insanely low acceptance rates. Is it worth the effort if the odds are so heavily stacked against me? Any advice …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior considering taking a gap year after high school, but I'm unsure of how colleges perceive this decision. If I take a gap year and reapply to colleges, how will this affect my …

Hi all, I was wondering how important SAT scores are in the college admissions process. I know they're just one part of the application, but how much weight do they carry? Thanks for any insight!