CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Explore our collection of admissions FAQs. Each answer is expert-approved by our team to help you reach your goals.


How long does it usually take you to write a college essay?

Hello fellow juniors! I'm just starting my college essay, and I'm curious – how long did it take you to write yours? I don't want to procrastinate, but I'm a little overwhelmed by how long it might ta …

a year ago

Can you still be accepted into an Ivy League school with a B on your transcript?

Hey, I'm freaking out a bit. I got my first B in a challenging AP class last semester, and I'm worried about how badly it might affect my chances of getting into an Ivy League school. Do I still have …

a year ago

Should I take a gap year before applying to the Ivies?

Hello everyone, I'm a junior thinking about taking a gap year before applying to the Ivies. I have strong academics and extracurriculars, but I'm considering taking a year to strengthen my overall pro …

a year ago

How can I improve my chances of getting financial aid?

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I'm starting to think about applying for financial aid. I know that getting a good aid package can be competitive, so I was wondering if there are any specific things I …

a year ago

Is it better to take more AP courses or focus on extracurriculars?

Hello everyone! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm trying to decide whether to take more AP courses next year or focus on my extracurricular activities. Which would be more beneficial for my college …

a year ago

What's the best way to approach writing a college essay?

Hello there! As a junior, I'm starting to think about the dreaded college essay. I'm feeling a little stressed and unsure about how to approach it. I've heard it's important to tell a story that shows …

a year ago

Will my artistic pursuits help me with STEM college admissions?

Hey friends, I'm super passionate about science, and I'm aiming for a top college to study biology. I also love painting and have won several local art competitions, but I'm not pursuing an art major. …

a year ago

How do colleges view online courses and MOOCs?

I’m considering enrolling in some online courses or MOOCs to expand my knowledge in certain topics. Will these courses help my college application, and how do admission officers view them? Thanks for …

a year ago

Are AP scores of 4 strong enough for Ivy League schools?

Hello! I recently received my AP exam results, and I got several 4s and a couple of 5s. I want to apply to schools like Princeton and Cornell, but I'm unsure if those scores are good enough. Should I …

a year ago

What are the best tools or websites to use when researching colleges and universities?

Hi there! I've started working on my college research and was wondering if you guys have any recommendations for useful tools or websites I should use to gather information about different colleges an …

a year ago

Having trouble finding a school that's the perfect fit?

Hey guys, I’m a junior and feel a bit lost when it comes to narrowing down the schools I want to apply to. None of them seem to have everything I'm looking for. What tips do you have for finding a sch …

a year ago

Can someone explain what a research program in university is?

Hey everyone, I keep hearing about research programs in universities and how beneficial they can be to a student's college experience. As a current junior, I'm trying to make an informed decision rega …

a year ago

Any tips on staying organized during the college application process?

Hey all, I'm a junior and I want to make sure I stay organized and on top of everything during the college application process. Any tips or methods that have worked well for you? Thanks in advance!

a year ago

Need advice on researching colleges and universities!

I'm trying to organize my college search and was wondering if anyone has recommendations on how to most effectively research colleges and universities. I'm interested in narrowing down my list based o …

a year ago

Do Ivy League schools value students who start their own clubs?

I'm considering starting a club at my high school related to environmental awareness and activism. I'm passionate about the cause, but I'm also wondering if Ivy League schools appreciate applicants wh …

a year ago

Online volunteering opportunities impact on college applications?

Hello! Due to COVID-19, I started participating in online volunteering opportunities in areas such as tutoring and environmental advocacy. Will colleges view these virtual extracurriculars differently …

a year ago

How much weight do colleges put on extracurricular activities?

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about college applications. I'm wondering how much weight colleges put on extracurricular activities compared to other factors like GPA and test scores …

a year ago

Should I retake my ACT if I didn't get the score I wanted?

Hey everyone, I recently took the ACT and got a 31. I've been aiming for around a 33, and I'm unsure if I should retake it given the cost and time constraints. What are the pros and cons of retaking t …

a year ago

How can I find out if a college offers a specific major?

Hi all! I'm interested in pursuing an uncommon major (marine biology) and I'm having some difficulty figuring out which colleges offer this program. How can I easily find a list of colleges offering t …

a year ago

What's a good unweighted GPA for Ivy League applicants?

Hi everyone! I'm trying to figure out the level of academic achievement needed to be competitive at Ivy League schools. What would be considered a good unweighted GPA when applying to these universiti …

a year ago
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About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.