CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi there! I'm a junior and I'm trying to plan out my senior year schedule. I'm wondering if it would be better for my college application to maintain a higher GPA with easier classes or take more chal …

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior and I'm working on my college essay. I want to write about a difficult personal experience I've had, but I'm not sure how to approach it without sounding too nega …

Hi all! I'm a junior, and I'm already thinking about the college application process. I've heard of Early Decision and Regular Decision, but I'm not sure which is the better option for me. What are th …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I'm curious about the financial aid process. Can I apply for financial aid before I get accepted into a college, or do I have to wait until after I've been admitted? Any …

Hey guys! I've taken a few AP and IB courses, and I'm wondering if my scores on the exams can earn me college credit. Do most colleges accept these scores for credit, or does it vary by school? Thanks …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior, and I've heard a lot about the Common App, but I'm not exactly sure what it is or how to use it. Can anyone give me an overview of what the Common App is and how it works? …

Hi everyone, I'm a high school junior starting to think about college. I know that choosing the right college is very important, but I'm not sure how to go about it. Can anyone give me some advice on …

Hi everyone! I'm starting to work on my college application essays, and I want to make sure they're as strong as possible. What are some tips for writing a compelling and well-written essay? Thanks fo …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I've been starting to think about what major I want to pursue in college. I have a few interests, but I'm not sure how to narrow it down and make a decision. Can anyone …

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior, and I've been thinking about possibly applying to colleges outside the United States. What are some pros and cons of studying abroad? And how do the application …

Hi everyone! I'm planning to take the SAT soon, but I'm not sure how to best prepare for it. What study methods or resources worked for you? Are there any specific strategies I should use for each sec …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior in high school, and I've been taking a few AP classes this year. I'm wondering how colleges view AP classes in the admissions process. Are they seen as a positive factor, or …

I've heard that colleges like to see students challenging themselves, but I'm worried that taking harder classes might lower my GPA. Is it better to have a high GPA or take challenging courses? Thanks …

Hi! I'm a junior and I want to make sure I know all about college application deadlines. What are the different types of deadlines and how can I stay organized? Thanks for the help!

Hi there! I'm currently working on my college application essay, but I'm struggling to make it stand out. How can I make my essay more personal and engaging so that it captures the attention of the ad …

Hello! I'm a junior and I'll be the first in my family to attend college. I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed by the college application process and I'm not sure where to start. Can anyone share some …

Hi all, I'm a high school junior and I recently took the SAT/ACT but my scores were lower than I had hoped. I'm wondering if it's worth it to retake the test to try to improve my score, or if I should …

Hello everyone, I'm a junior and I've recently found my top-choice college. I know that applying early can increase my chances of getting in, but I'm not sure whether I should apply early action or ea …

Hello, I'm a junior in high school and I just realized that I haven't started preparing for the SAT yet. I know that most people start studying way earlier, so I'm feeling a bit stressed about it. Is …

Hey all! I'm a junior and I'm struggling to decide whether I should take a more challenging course with the risk of getting a lower grade, or take an easier course and likely get a higher grade. What …