CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey guys, I'm currently a junior exploring different colleges to apply to in the coming year. I'm particularly interested in research opportunities, so I wanted to know if Northwestern University is c …

Hey everyone! I was wondering if it's acceptable to use abbreviations in my college essay, like 'US' for 'United States' or 'NBA' for 'National Basketball Association'. Are abbreviations okay, or shou …

Hey there, I applied to my dream school last year but was rejected. I'm planning on reapplying, and I want to show them that I've worked on improving myself since my last application. Is there a certa …

I'm not planning to major in music, but I'm skilled at playing an instrument and interested in participating in music ensembles in college. Would submitting a music supplement to non-music programs gi …

Hey everyone, my family members have a history of attending Ivy League schools, and I'm curious if this legacy status still plays a big role in admissions? I'm trying to gauge my chances and see if it …

Hi! I'm a high school junior planning to visit some colleges soon. I want to make the most of my time on campus and get a good feel for each school. What are some important questions to ask during col …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior planning on majoring in computer science, and I have a 3.85 GPA and 1460 SAT score. I'm hoping to apply to MIT, Stanford, and some Ivies, but I'm also considering UC Berkeley …

Hi all! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm working on my college applications. I want to make sure my application is as competitive as possible. What are some things I can do to improve my applicati …

I'm a bit confused about standardized testing. Do I need to take both the ACT and SAT for college applications, or is it enough to take just one of them? Which one do colleges prefer? Thanks for your …

With college application season around the corner, I want to take full advantage of college fairs and information sessions to get a better understanding of the schools I'm interested in. How can I eff …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about my living situation in college. I'm not sure if I should plan to live on-campus or off-campus. Can you guys share some pros and cons of each o …

Hi everyone! So I'm a junior starting my college search, and I'm a bit confused about reach, match, and safety school classifications. Could someone give me a rundown of the differences? Thank you!

Hi everyone! I'm in the process of selecting my courses for next year, and I'm not sure which AP classes I should take. How can I decide which ones are the best fit for me and my college goals? Thanks …

I've been working on my college essay and I'm wondering if I should have someone else read it before I submit it. Is it a good idea to get feedback or should I trust my own judgement?

Hey guys, I'm seriously considering a career in academia and I'm curious about the salary prospects for university researchers. Is there a typical range or average that you guys are aware of? Would lo …

As a junior, I'm starting to look more closely at colleges. UCLA seems like a great option, but I'm wondering if anyone can tell me about its status as a research university and what research opportun …

Hello! I recently took the SAT/ACT and my score is just a bit below the average for my top-choice college. Should I retake the test to try and improve my score, or should I focus on other aspects of m …

Hello! I'm a junior, and I'm trying to decide whether to apply to public or private colleges. I've heard that there are pros and cons to both, but I'm not sure how to weigh those factors. Can anyone g …

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior interested in majoring in engineering. What are some colleges with great engineering programs that I should consider? Thanks for the suggestions!

Hi everyone, I'm trying to decide which courses to take next year, and I'm not sure if it's better to take AP classes and possibly get a B or stick to regular classes and maintain an A. What do colleg …