CollegeVine Expert FAQ

I recently received a 1490 on my SAT exam and I'm wondering if this score is good enough for a competitive application to Ivy League schools like Harvard and Princeton. Should I consider retaking the …

Hi all! I'm a junior and I've been contemplating the idea of taking a gap year before starting college. Can anyone share their experiences or thoughts on the pros and cons of taking a gap year? Thanks …

Hi there! I'm a junior and I need to start thinking about getting letters of recommendation for my college applications. I'm not exactly sure how to approach my teachers about it. What's the best way …

I'm a junior, and I have the opportunity to do an internship this summer. How important are internships when it comes to college admissions? Will it significantly improve my application, or are there …

I took a gap year after high school and I'm worried about how it will look on my college applications. How can I explain my gap year in a positive way so it doesn't hurt my chances of getting accepted …

Hi guys! I'm a junior and I'm currently taking 4 AP classes. I've been able to keep up so far, but I have been feeling increasingly stressed. Does it look bad if I drop one of the AP classes? My main …

Hey everyone, I've been fortunate enough to do a lot of traveling with my family. I feel like these experiences have shaped me and contributed to my growth a lot. Can I include travel as an extracurri …

Hello everyone! I had a rough sophomore year, and my grades suffered due to some personal issues. How can I best explain this to colleges in my application? I want them to know that I have overcome th …

Hi! I've been tutoring younger students in math and science for the past two years, and I was wondering if this is something that could be considered an extracurricular activity for my college applica …

I am planning to apply as an economics major, but I also have interests in psychology and environmental science. If I get admitted to a college, how difficult is it to change my major? Will switching …

Hi there! I have a really great relationship with one of my sophomore year teachers, but I keep hearing that colleges prefer letters of recommendation from junior year teachers. Is this true? Thanks f …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm struggling to balance my schoolwork and extracurricular activities. I want to do well in both, but I'm finding it difficult to manage my time. Do you have any tips o …

Hi there! I'm a junior trying to plan my senior year schedule. I'm torn between taking more challenging courses (like APs) and potentially lowering my GPA, or taking easier classes to maintain a high …

Hey there, I'm a high school junior and I recently took the SAT. My score isn't bad, but it's not exactly what I was hoping for. With many colleges now offering test-optional admissions, I'm wondering …

I have a scene in my college essay where I'd like to include some dialogue. Is it okay to use dialogue in a college essay or should I avoid it? Thanks for any advice!

Hey everyone, I want to write about a failure I experienced and how it helped me grow for my college essay. But I'm worried that it might make me look bad to admissions officers. Is it a bad idea to w …

Hello everyone, I'm a high school junior and I've been researching the college application process. I know financial aid is an important factor for many students, but I'm not exactly sure how it works …

Nursing has always been my passion, but my high school grades have been less than ideal. Do bad high school grades mean that I won't be able to pursue a career in nursing? How can I make up for my lac …

Hello everyone, I'm trying to figure out how many extracurriculars should be on my application to be competitive for Ivy League schools. Can anyone help me out with this? Thanks!

Hello, I'm a junior who's been researching college admissions and I'm curious about how demonstrated financial need might impact the process. Do colleges take this into account when making admissions …