Explore our collection of admissions FAQs. Each answer is expert-approved by our team to help you reach your goals.
I feel that humor is a big part of my personality and I think it would help showcase who I am in my college essay. Is using humor in college essays generally acceptable, or should I stick to a more fo …
Hey guys! I'm a junior, and I'm concerned that my GPA might not be as high as it could be. I've been working hard to improve it, but I'm worried that it might still hurt my chances of getting into a g …
Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I need to decide whether to take the ACT, SAT, or both. I've heard different opinions on which test is better, but I'm not sure what's best for me. How should I decide wh …
Hi there, I'm a senior who just landed an internship at a local tech company. I'm really excited about it, but I'm not sure if I should include it on my college applications since I'll only start afte …
Hey guys! I'm a sophomore and I want to use my summer break wisely to strengthen my college applications. Are there any summer programs or activities you'd recommend that would be beneficial to partic …
Hi guys, I'm a junior, and I'm starting to look for college scholarships. What can I do to improve my chances of receiving scholarships and reduce the financial burden of college? Does Collegevine hav …
Hey guys, I'm curious about the role teacher recommendations play in college applications. How much weight do colleges give to these recommendations, and what can I do to make sure I get strong letter …
Hey all! I'm a high school junior and I'm wondering how important my class schedule is in the college admissions process. Do colleges really look at the specific classes I've taken or is it more about …
Hey people, my school uses a unique competency-based grading system that doesn't involve traditional letter grades. I'm unsure how this will be compared to other students' applications who have a regu …
Hello, I'm a high school junior starting to think about my college essays. I've read that having a unique and compelling essay is crucial for college admissions, but I'm not exactly sure what to write …
Hi everyone! I'm a homeschooled junior, and I'm curious about how the college application process might differ for someone like me compared to students who attend traditional high schools. Are there a …
I took a gap year to explore my passions and gain work experience. How should I emphasize this in my college applications? Is it an advantage or disadvantage, and how can I make the most of it? Thanks …
Hi all! As I compile my college list, I'm interested in finding out which universities are considered the top research institutions in the US. Can anyone recommend some schools or point me to a reliab …
Hi everyone! I have a pretty good sense of humor and I am considering incorporating it into my college essay. Is humor appropriate for college essays, or should I stick to a more serious tone? I want …
Hi, I'm trying to balance my time between school, sports, clubs, and volunteer work. What's the ideal number of extracurricular activities to be involved in to be considered competitive for Ivy League …
Hello! As a first-generation immigrant, I want my college essay to reflect my unique experiences and background. Do any of you have advice or suggestions for writing a compelling essay about being an …
Hi all! I'm working on my college apps, and I'm wondering if colleges know when we re-use the same essay for different schools? I have a pretty solid essay that I think would work well for several pro …
I recently got a 1500 on my SAT, and I'm wondering if it's enough for Ivy League admissions. My GPA, extracurriculars, and recommendations are all strong, but I'm unsure about my test score. What do y …
Hello fellow applicants! So, here's my situation. I'm currently a junior with a 3.3 GPA. I know, not the greatest, especially for a top school like UCLA. Despite my bad grades, I have a strong backgro …
I will be applying to college soon, and I am unsure of how to pick a range of colleges that are a good match for me. I have a mixture of reach, match, and safety colleges, but I'm still uncertain if I …