CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey, I'm really passionate about poetry and I wrote a poem that I think would make a great college essay. Is it possible to submit a poem as my essay or is that considered inappropriate?

My identity has played a big role in my life, and I want to write about it in my college essay. How can I approach this topic in a way that showcases who I am without sounding cliché or overly dramati …

Hi there! I'm an avid reader and wanted to know if my passion for reading falls under the category of extracurricular activities when applying to colleges. Should I include this information in my appl …

Hey everyone, I had to take a semester off during my sophomore year due to health issues that greatly affected my academics. How can I best address this gap in my college applications? Thank you for y …

Hello everyone! I'm writing my college essay and I noticed that I tend to use contractions quite often. Is it considered informal or unprofessional to use contractions in a college essay? Should I rew …

Hey guys! I'm a junior, and I've been considering applying to a school with a binding Early Decision policy. I'm not sure if this is the right choice for me, as I'm worried about committing without kn …

Hey guys! I'm not entirely sure what field I want to major in yet, so I'm a bit stuck on how to choose a college. What factors should I consider when making my decision? Thanks for any suggestions!

Hello, I hope you all are doing well! I was recently accepted to a prestigious university. However, I'm really worried about my current grades slipping, and I wanted to know: what on earth could make …

As a junior, I've been starting to think about college essays. However, I'm not really sure about the best approach to take while writing them. How do I pick the right topic or angle to stand out with …

Hello all, I'm moving to a new city and switching high schools during my junior year. I'm worried about the impact that this switch might have on my college applications. How do colleges look at stude …

As a high school junior, I'm just starting to think about the college application process. When is the best time to begin drafting my personal statement? Should I wait until senior year or start now? …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior in high school, and I feel like my extracurricular activities are somewhat lacking. I've been involved in a few clubs, but I haven't taken any leadership positions or partici …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I've been wondering how much my high school's reputation matters in the college admissions process. My school is not very well-known, and I'm worried that it might hurt …

I'm interested in joining the military after college, but I'm not sure whether to apply for ROTC right away or wait until I'm in college. What are the pros and cons of each approach? Would ROTC be a s …

Hello everyone! I'm considering applying to a community college as a backup option, but I'm not sure if they require essays as part of their application process. Can anyone tell me if community colleg …

I'm thinking about applying to college as a psychology major, but I'm also very interested in computer science. Is it feasible to double major in these two subjects, or would I be better off pursuing …

Hey guys, I'm really interested in applying to Ivy League colleges and want to make my application as strong as possible. Does anyone know what specific qualities or aspects of the application these s …

Hey guys! As a junior, I'm starting to research colleges and I'm unsure about how to categorize them as safety, target, or reach schools. What factors should I consider when deciding which category a …

Hi there! I'm a junior and unfortunately it's not financially feasible for me to visit all the schools on my list. How can I show my interest in a college without physically visiting? Would appreciate …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I've taken a few college courses at a local community college in addition to my regular high school coursework. How do colleges view these kinds of courses when evaluati …