CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi everyone, I've seen a lot of college rankings online and I'm wondering how much I should take them into consideration when choosing where to apply. Are college rankings really that important? Thank …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I've been finding it challenging to balance my schoolwork and extracurricular activities. I want to do well in both, but I'm not sure how to manage my time effectively. C …

Hi guys! I'm a junior and I've heard a lot about the Common App. How does it work and what are the benefits of using it? Can I apply to all of my colleges through the Common App? Thanks for any inform …

Hi, I'm a junior in high school, and I'm really passionate about art. I've been considering submitting an art portfolio with my college applications, even though I'm not planning on majoring in art. W …

Hi! I'm a junior, and I've heard that some students choose to attend a community college before transferring to a four-year school. What are the benefits of this path, and how would it impact my colle …

Hey, guys! I've heard that showing demonstrated interest and visiting colleges can help with admissions. Is this true? How important are these factors? Thanks for any advice!

Hello, I'm a junior and I'm struggling to decide between two potential majors for college. I'm interested in both subjects, but I'm not sure how to choose the one that's right for me. Can anyone provi …

Hello! I'm a junior and I'm working on my college list. I know it's important to have a safety school, but I'm not sure what factors to consider when selecting one. Can anyone give me some advice on w …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior who's just starting the college search process, and I've been looking at various college rankings (like US News and Forbes). I'm not sure how much weight I should give to the …

Hello everyone! I'm a junior and I will be the first person in my family to attend college. What should I know about the college application process as a first-generation student? Are there any resour …

Hello! I'm a high school junior and I'm starting to think about the college application process. I know that choosing a major can be important, but I'm not quite sure what I want to study yet. How do …

Hi all, I'm a junior and I'm planning on taking either the SAT or ACT, but I'm not sure which one. I've heard that colleges don't really have a preference, but I want to make sure I choose the one tha …

Hi everyone, I'm a high school junior struggling to balance my extracurriculars and academics. I want to do well in both, but I'm finding it difficult. Any tips on how to manage my time effectively? T …

Hello! I've noticed that many colleges have gone test-optional recently. Should I apply to test-optional colleges if I don't have great test scores? How do admissions officers evaluate applicants at t …

Hi all, I'm a junior and I'm starting to prepare for my college applications. I'm curious about what factors are most important to colleges when they decide whether to admit a student or not. Is it ma …

Hi all, I've taken the SAT a couple of times and I'm not quite happy with my scores. I really want to improve them for my college applications. What are some effective strategies or resources for stud …

Hey guys, I'm a high school junior and I've been wondering if colleges look at senior year grades when making admissions decisions. I've heard mixed opinions on this, so I'm not sure what to believe. …

Hey guys, I'm starting to think about my college essays and I want to make sure my personal statement really stands out. What types of topics or writing styles have you found to be successful? Thanks …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior in high school, and I've been looking into applying to some of the top colleges in the country. I've been wondering, what are some key factors that these colleges look for i …

Hi everyone, I'm a bit torn between taking challenging courses and maintaining a high GPA. I've heard that colleges like to see a rigorous course load, but I'm worried that taking too many difficult c …