CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi all! I'm a high school junior, and I'm trying to decide whether I should apply for Early Decision or Early Action at my top choice college. What are the pros and cons of each? Thanks for your help!

Hi everyone! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm starting to put together my college list, but I'm a bit confused about the terminology. Can someone please clarify what reach, match, and safety schoo …

Hi, I'm a high school junior and I haven't won many awards or honors yet. How important are they in college applications? What do admissions officers look for? I'm a little stressed, any advice would …

Hi all! I'm a junior and I'm starting to feel a little bit stressed about balancing my schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and college applications next year. Do you have any tips for managing my …

I like to use humor in my writing and I think it could make my college essay more engaging. Is it okay to be funny in a college essay or should I stick to a more serious tone?

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about who to ask for recommendation letters for my college applications. How do I choose the best teachers to write my letters? Should I focus on te …

I've had some low grades during high school due to personal circumstances, and I'm wondering if I should address this in my college essay. Is it a good idea to bring up my low grades or should I focus …

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior and I've been hearing a lot about legacy admissions. My parents both attended a prestigious university, and I'm wondering how much of an advantage that might give …

Hey guys! I'm working on my college essay, and I want to write about a controversial topic that's really important to me. Will this hurt my chances of getting accepted, or will it show that I'm a thou …

Hello, I'm a junior in high school and I'm wondering if I should apply for merit scholarships. How do I know if I'm a strong candidate, and what should I consider when deciding whether to apply? Thank …

Hi all, I'm in the process of writing my college essay, and I'm wondering how personal I should get. I want to show the admissions officers who I am, but I also don't want to overshare or make them un …

I've had some mental health challenges throughout high school and I'm considering writing about them in my college essay. However, I'm worried it might be seen as a red flag by admissions officers. Sh …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I'm wondering when I should start preparing for the college application process. What timeline should I follow to make sure I'm on track? Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about applying to colleges. I've heard that you can get a fee waiver for college applications if you qualify, but I'm not sure how to go about it. C …

Hey, I'm a junior and I'm starting to work on my college apps. I was wondering if giving a creative title to my college essay would make it more impactful or if it's just unnecessary? What do you all …

I'm starting the IB program next year, and I'm not sure how many HL courses I need for the diploma. I've heard different numbers from a variety of sources, so I thought I'd ask here. What's the minimu …

My school doesn't offer IB courses, but I've heard that they can look impressive on college applications. Is it possible to self-study and take the IB exam without being in an official IB course? Has …

Hey guys, I've been working on my essay and I noticed I've been using contractions throughout the whole thing. It makes the essay feel more like a conversation, but I'm worried that it might come off …

Hey there! I know that some colleges require or offer interviews as part of the admissions process, but how important are these interviews in the decision-making process? Thanks for your help!

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I've been going to the gym regularly throughout high school. Is this something I should include on my college applications as an extracurricular activity or not? Thanks …