CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey everyone! I'm starting to think about the college application process and I'm wondering how to approach college essays. What are some tips for brainstorming and writing a strong essay? Thanks for …

Hey guys! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm really passionate about the arts. I've been involved in theater, music, and visual arts throughout my time in high school, and I'm wondering if I should …

Hey all! I'm starting to think about college costs, and I want to make sure I find the best financial aid package possible. What should I be looking for, and how can I compare offers from different sc …

Hello, I'm a high school junior, and I'm worried about my GPA. I know it's not as high as I'd like it to be, and I'm not sure if it will negatively impact my college applications. CollegeVine, can you …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and I can already feel the stress of the college application process. What are some tips for managing stress during this time? How do you stay calm and focused? Thanks for an …

Hi all! I'm a junior, and I want to make the most of my upcoming summer break to strengthen my college applications. Does anyone have any suggestions for productive things I can do during the summer t …

Hello, I'm a high school junior and I've been wondering whether it's better to take more challenging courses (such as AP or IB classes) at the risk of lowering my GPA, or if I should stick to easier c …

Hello! I've been researching college application timelines, and I'm a little confused about the difference between Early Action and Early Decision. Can someone explain the differences and the pros and …

Hi, I'm thinking about applying to a school through early action or early decision, but I'm not sure how to choose the right one. What factors should I consider when selecting an early action/early de …

Hey guys! I'm a junior, and I'm starting to think about what I want to major in. I have a few interests, but I'm not sure how to choose the best one for me. How did you decide on your major? Any advic …

Hello! I'm a junior and I'm considering applying to some out-of-state colleges. I'm curious about the benefits of attending college in a different state, but I'm also a little nervous about being so f …

Hello! I'm a junior in high school and I'm starting to prepare for college interviews. I'm a bit nervous and I want to make a good impression. What are some tips for standing out in college interviews …

Hello! I'm a hardworking junior who dreams of attending a highly selective college, but I'm worried that my application might not stand out. What are some things I can do to improve my chances of gett …

Hello everyone! I'm a junior and I've been trying to research colleges, but I can't visit them in person due to COVID-19 restrictions. What are some alternative ways I can get a feel for a college's c …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I feel like my extracurriculars are a bit lacking. What are some good activities to get involved in that will look impressive on my college applications? I'm open to any …

Hey, everyone! I've been looking at college rankings and I'm not sure how much weight I should give them in my decision-making process. Are they really that important? Thanks for any advice!

Hey everyone, I'm a high school junior, and I'm trying to decide between applying to liberal arts colleges or research universities. What are the main differences between the two, and how should I cho …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior, and I'm wondering how important my GPA is for college admissions. I know it's a factor, but how much weight does it carry compared to other aspects of my application, like …

Hey guys! I'm curious about what factors colleges consider the most when evaluating applicants. Is it GPA, test scores, essays, or something else? I want to make sure I focus on the right things durin …

Hey everyone! I've been working on my college list, but I'm not sure if it's well-balanced in terms of safety, match, and reach schools. How can I tell if I have a good mix of these types of schools? …