CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi everyone, I have a felony on my record and I'm worried about how it might affect my chances of getting financial aid for college. Does anyone have any experience or advice on this? Thank you!

Hey guys, I'm just curious (not planning to do it, I promise!) - what happens if someone plagiarizes a college application essay? Do they get blacklisted from all colleges or something? Just wondering …

I'm a junior, and I'm starting to feel a bit stressed about the college application process. Can someone please help me understand the timeline? When should I start working on applications, taking sta …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I'm considering attending a community college and then transferring to a four-year university. I want to make sure I have a strong transfer application, but I'm not sure …

Hi there! I've been hearing about the importance of having a 'hook' in college applications. Can someone please explain what a hook is and whether it's really crucial for getting into a competitive co …

Hey guys! I'm really determined to get accepted into a competitive college, and I want to know what I can do to improve my chances. What steps should I take in my junior year to strengthen my applicat …

So, I'm currently a junior and I've been thinking about taking a gap year before starting college. I'm just not sure how colleges view gap years and if it would hurt my chances of getting accepted. An …

Hi there! I've heard that having a 'spike,' or a particularly strong area of focus, can help with college admissions. Is this true, and if so, how do I go about developing a spike in my application? I …

Hey guys! Some of the colleges I'm applying to have a holistic admissions process, which means they consider more than just grades and test scores. How can I make my application stand out in this type …

Hi all! I've heard that some colleges track 'demonstrated interest' in their applicants. How important is this factor, and what are some ways to show interest in a college without coming across as ins …

Hi all! I'm a high school junior, and I've been trying to figure out whether I'd prefer attending a large or small college. I can see the benefits of both, but I'm not sure which one would be the best …

Hi, I'm a junior, and I've taken a few AP classes in high school. How important are AP classes in the college admissions process, and do colleges look for a certain number of AP classes on my transcri …

Hello! I'm a junior and I know that some colleges require or recommend interviews as part of the application process. I'm a bit nervous about this aspect, so I want to start preparing as early as poss …

I'm a junior and I recently took the ACT, but I'm not completely happy with my score. Should I retake it, or will colleges not care that much about the difference? I'm feeling a little stressed about …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior, and I want to make sure I have a strong relationship with my school counselor since they'll be writing one of my letters of recommendation. How do I go about building this …

Hi everyone! I'm planning on visiting a few college campuses this summer, and I was wondering what I should do while I'm there to get the most out of my visit. Are there any specific questions I shoul …

Hi everyone, I know this might be a bit early, but I'm already thinking about how I'll decide between colleges if I get accepted to more than one. What factors should I consider when making this decis …

Hi there, I'm a junior and I've been thinking about my course selection for senior year. How important is it to take challenging courses, and do colleges really care about the classes I choose? Thanks …

My parents went to a college that I'm interested in applying to, and I'm wondering how much their legacy status might impact my chances of getting in. Is it a significant factor in the admissions proc …

Hey there, I'm a junior, and I've been thinking about my college applications. I want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to make my application as strong as possible. What are some things I can d …