CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey! I'm a junior who is considering applying to some Ivy League schools. I have mostly B's on my transcript but several extracurriculars, including significant leadership positions. Is it still possi …

Hello all, I'm a high school junior and I'm starting to look at colleges. I've noticed that some schools have lower acceptance rates, and I'm wondering if I should still consider applying to them. Wil …

Hello, I'm brainstorming ideas for my college essays, and I've heard a lot about avoiding cliche or overused topics. What exactly makes a topic cliche, and how can I make sure my essay is unique and i …

Hi everybody! I asked one of my favorite teachers for a recommendation letter, but I'm not sure if it's going to be strong. Is there any way to know if they wrote a good letter? Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I was just thinking about who to ask for recommendation letters for college applications. Can I ask my 10th-grade English teacher for a recommendation letter? She was a really supportive …

Hello, I've been focusing a lot on my extracurricular activities, and I'm wondering if this will give me a strong advantage, even if my GPA isn't as high as I'd like it to be. How do colleges weigh GP …

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I'm starting to look into the college application process. I was wondering if all colleges require an interview as part of the admissions process? If so, do you have any tip …

Hi everyone, I'm a high school junior and I'm trying to understand what makes a college application stand out. I know there are many components, but I'm not sure which ones are the most important. Can …

Hey guys, as I start to make my college list, I'm torn between schools with highly-ranked specific majors (e.g. engineering) and schools known more for their overall reputation. Should I prioritize sc …

Stanford is one of my dream schools due to its strong academics and location. However, it's crucial for me to attend a research university. Can someone confirm if Stanford fits that description and pr …

Hi everyone! I've always been interested in USC, but I'm also looking for a college with a strong emphasis on research. Would you consider USC a research university? How are the research opportunities …

Hi! I'm a low-income, first-generation student considering applying to Ivy League schools. I have a 3.85 GPA, a 1460 SAT score, and several leadership roles in extracurriculars. Do you think I'd be a …

Hey all! I'm a high school junior, starting my college search, and I have my eyes on Columbia University. I'm curious to know if it's considered a research university and what kind of research opportu …

Hi there! I'm a junior, and I want to make sure I'm using my time wisely to prepare for college. What should I be focusing on this year to make the most of my time? Any suggestions are welcome!

I've heard of students getting their college acceptances rescinded because of bad grades. How bad do the grades have to be? I'm worried because I don't want to potentially lose my spot at my dream sch …

Hello, I'm a high school junior and I'm wondering if SAT Subject Tests are necessary for college admissions. I know that some colleges require them, but are they really that important? I'm a little bi …

Hi everyone! I'm currently attending a non-Ivy university with a respectable ranking, and I was wondering if it's easier to transfer into an Ivy League school after a year or two. Does anyone have any …

Hey guys, I have two volunteer opportunities this summer: one at my local library and one at a homeless shelter. I can only choose one, so which one do you think would look better on my college applic …

I want to make sure my college essay starts off strong and grabs the reader's attention. How do I come up with a captivating opening sentence? Any tips or examples would be greatly appreciated!

Hi all, I've struggled with mental health issues in the past, and I'm considering writing about my experiences in my college essay. I want to show how I've grown and overcome challenges, but I'm worri …