Explore our collection of admissions FAQs. Each answer is expert-approved by our team to help you reach your goals.
I have a good GPA, solid course rigor, and strong extracurriculars. However, I haven't taken many AP courses at my school. Will this hurt my chances of getting into highly-ranked colleges, or can I st …
I got my ACT scores back and received a 33. I'm happy with it, but I'm unsure if it's competitive enough for the Ivy League schools I'm considering, like Penn and Brown. Should I retake the test or fo …
Hello, I've been considering taking a gap year to volunteer abroad, but I'm worried that colleges might view it unfavorably. How do schools generally view applications of students who've taken gap yea …
Hey everyone! I'm a high school junior weighing my options for college. I've visited a few schools that have an amazing vibe, with lots of clubs and events, but their academic programs aren't as prest …
Hi guys, I'm a junior, and I've been trying to figure out what a good unweighted GPA would be when aiming for Ivy League schools. Any input would be much appreciated!
Hello, I'm a junior and I've been actively involved in my church for years. Can activities like this be considered extracurricular on college applications? Thanks in advance!
Hey there, I'm a junior and I have a part-time job because I need to help support my family. I have less time to devote to extracurricular activities as a result. Will having a part-time job instead o …
I'm a high school junior with a felony on my record, and I'm really worried about my ability to receive financial aid for college. Is it still possible for me to obtain financial aid despite my felony …
Hi everyone! I have a lot of options for AP classes next year, and I'm not sure which ones I should take. Should I choose based on potential college majors, or should I focus on subjects I enjoy? Any …
Hi all, I've been hearing mixed opinions about whether Ivy League schools really care about AP exam scores. How much do my AP scores actually matter when applying?
Hello! I'm a junior and I've taken a few online classes to supplement my regular high school coursework. I was wondering how colleges view these classes when considering my application. Are they seen …
Hi everyone, I've always dreamed of going to Princeton, but my GPA isn't the best (3.4). I'm involved in a bunch of extracurriculars and I have a high SAT score. Do you think it's still possible for m …
Hi! I'm a junior, and I'm worried that my extracurriculars might not be unique or impressive enough for top colleges. Can anyone give me advice on how to make my activities stand out or what kind of a …
Hi there! Over the past few years, I've been teaching myself Korean and have become quite proficient. Can I include this as an extracurricular activity on my college applications, or should I stick to …
Hey there! I absolutely love reading and have a rather impressive home library. Would it be okay if I list reading as one of my extracurricular activities on my college applications? Thanks for your i …
Hey guys, I'm a junior, and I've taken the SAT twice and the ACT once. I'm not thrilled with my scores, so I'm considering taking them again. Do colleges view multiple attempts negatively? Will it hur …
Hi, I heard that some colleges look at applicants' social media profiles while reviewing applications. Is this true? Should I be cleaning up my social media before applying to college?
I have some pretty clear goals for my future, and I think writing about them in my college essay might help me stand out. How can I approach this topic in a way that's engaging and doesn't sound like …
Hello! I'm a high school junior and I'm not sure what I want to major in when I go to college. Is it okay to apply as an undecided major, or will that hurt my chances of getting accepted? I'm worried …
Hey everyone! I just got my SAT scores back and I received a 1480. I know the Ivy League schools are extremely competitive, so I'm wondering if a 1480 SAT score will be competitive enough for these co …