CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey guys, I'm a high school junior and I have a passion for art. I spend a lot of my free time drawing, painting, and working on my portfolio. I'm curious as to whether art can be considered an extrac …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I've been involved in some leadership roles throughout high school. I've heard that showcasing leadership skills can be important in college applications, but I'm not su …

I'm a bit confused about the formatting requirements for my college essay. Do I need to use the MLA format, or can I simply follow the Common App requirements? Thanks for any insights!

Hi everyone! I've been babysitting for a few families in my community since I was a freshman. I don't want this time commitment to go unnoticed on my college application, so can I list babysitting as …

Hi all, I'm trying to decide between taking AP classes or dual enrollment classes next year. I know both can help with college admissions and potentially earning college credit, but I'm not sure which …

I've written a college essay about a sensitive and potentially controversial topic, but I think it truly reflects my values and experiences. How can I tell if it's too risky or inappropriate to submit …

Hello! I've been trying to research college scholarships, but it's proving to be a little overwhelming. Can anyone recommend resources or strategies for finding scholarships that I may qualify for? An …

I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed by the whole college process, and I've been looking into financial aid options. How many years does financial aid usually cover for students? I know there may be v …

Hey guys! I'm a junior, and I'm starting to think about my college essays. I've heard that admissions officers sometimes don't read the essays, and I'm wondering if that's true. How important are essa …

Hello! I've been hearing a lot about demonstrated interest lately, and I'm a little bit confused. How do colleges track it, and how much does it really matter in the admissions process? I'd appreciate …

Hey guys, I'm a high school junior, and I'm starting to think about where I want to live when I go to college. I'm not sure whether I should live on-campus in a dorm or off-campus in an apartment. Wha …

Hi there! I'll be the first person in my family to attend college, and I'm wondering if I should discuss this in my college application. Do you think it could help my chances of getting accepted? Than …

Hey guys! I've been teaching myself a new language (not offered at my school) for the past few years, and I'm really enjoying the process. Can this be considered an extracurricular activity for my col …

Hi guys! I'm a junior, and I'm planning on taking some AP exams this year. I'm not sure which ones to take, as I've heard that some are more important for college admissions than others. How do I deci …

Hey guys! I spend a lot of time babysitting my younger siblings and sometimes babysit for other families too. I was wondering if this could be counted as an extracurricular activity when applying to c …

Hi everyone, I've heard that some college admissions officers might be biased against certain essay topics. Is this true? If so, are there any topics I should avoid to increase my chances of getting a …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm starting to make my college list. I'm not sure how many colleges I should apply to, or how to choose which ones to apply to. Can anyone give me some advice on how to …

Hi guys! I was wondering if it's worth applying for financial aid even if my family's income is considered 'high.' Will it hurt my chances of getting into college? Thanks for your advice!

Hi all! I'm a high school junior, and I'm curious about how important community service is for college admissions. I've participated in a few service projects, but I'm not sure if I should be doing mo …

Hi, I'm feeling a little bit stressed about college interviews. Can someone clarify if there are colleges that require interviews, or are they all optional? Is it a good idea to participate in intervi …