CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi everyone, I recently received my SAT scores, and I got a 1480. I want to apply to Ivy League schools, but I'm not sure if this score is competitive enough. Should I retake the SAT and try to score …

Hey all, my high school offers dual enrollment classes where I can take college courses while still in high school. Would participating in these classes be a positive addition to my Ivy League applica …

Hey everyone! I recently got a 1490 on the SAT and I'm wondering if that's a good score for applying to Ivy League schools. Should I consider retaking the test or focus on other parts of my applicatio …

Hey everyone, I was talking to my friends and one mentioned research-intensive universities. I didn't quite understand what that meant. Could someone give me an explanation and maybe provide some exam …

If someone gets accepted through early decision but decides not to attend that college, are there any penalties or consequences? I'm thinking about applying early decision but I want to understand the …

Hi everyone, I need some help figuring out if Penn State has a focus on research. I'm planning to major in meteorology and I'm curious about the research possibilities at Penn State. Can someone let m …

Hey, guys! I'm putting the final touches on my college essays and I wanted to know if they need to be in a specific format like MLA. I've written my essays in the standard format, but I wasn't sure if …

Hello, I'm considering applying to UCLA and wanted to know if it's regarded as a research university. Are there ample research opportunities for undergraduate students at UCLA? Are these opportunities …

I'm really interested in attending an Ivy League school, but my GPA is a 3.0. Can I still have a chance at getting in or is it nearly impossible with a B average?

Hey everyone! I'm a junior trying to plan ahead. When the time comes, how should I weigh the financial aid packages offered by different colleges in deciding where to attend? Is there a rule of thumb, …

I feel like I don't have any standout extracurriculars for my college applications. What are some unique clubs or activities I can join that will make my application more appealing to colleges?

I see a lot of people talking about Ivy League schools, but what exactly makes a school an Ivy League? Are there specific criteria they have to meet, or is it just a group of prestigious universities …

Hi everyone, I'm exploring different colleges and wanted to know which universities are considered top research universities. Can you share a few examples and what makes them stand out? What fields do …

I've just started working on my college applications, and I can't decide between two top choices for early decision. Is it possible to apply early decision to both or is there a rule against doing tha …

Hello! I'm thinking about applying to UCLA and wondering if it's regarded as a strong research university. I would like to participate in research related to media and entertainment during my undergra …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior trying to plan my senior year schedule. I'm wondering whether I should take a lighter course load and aim for higher grades, or challenge myself with more difficult classes b …

Hey guys, I'm a little bit stressed about my college applications and managing my time. Can you share any helpful tips or techniques you use to cope with stress during this process?

Hi guys! I'm a high school junior planning to apply to a few Ivy League schools next year. I was wondering if anyone has any insight into the main factors these schools look for in their applicants? T …

I'm compiling a list of research universities and am wondering if Duke University is classified as one. I'm planning to apply there and want to understand if research is a significant part of their ac …

Hi there! I'm a junior and looking to apply to Ivy League schools, but I don't know if my class rank is high enough. I'm currently in the top 5% of my class, but is that considered competitive in Ivy …