CollegeVine Expert FAQ

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


Is it okay to have fewer AP classes if my school doesn't offer many?

Hello everyone! My school doesn't offer a ton of AP classes, and I'm worried that it might hurt my chances of getting into a competitive college. Will colleges take that into account when they review …

a year ago

What are the best ways to edit your own college essay?

Hey! I just finished writing my initial draft of my college essay and now I need to revise and edit it. What are your best tips and strategies for editing your own essay effectively and efficiently? I …

a year ago

Should I apply Early Decision to boost my chances?

Hi all, so I'm thinking about applying Early Decision to Duke or Brown next year, but I'm not sure which one to choose. My SAT score is a 1480, and I have strong extracurriculars and recommendation le …

a year ago

Does practicing art count as an extracurricular activity?

Hi guys, I've been working on my drawing and painting skills for years, but I don't have any formal art classes or clubs at my school. Can I still list this as an extracurricular activity on my colleg …

a year ago

What should I do during my senior year to improve my college application?

Hey there! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm trying to plan out my senior year. What are some things I should do during my senior year to improve my college application and increase my chances of g …

a year ago

How selective are honors programs, and are they worth it?

Hi there! I've been looking into public universities and noticed many offer honors programs. Can anyone share their experience with such programs? How selective are they, and do you think they’re wort …

a year ago

How specific should I be about my major in college applications?

Hey everyone, I'm working on my college applications and I'm wondering how specific I should be about my intended major. Should I mention a specific field or is it better to keep it more general? I do …

a year ago

Do Ivy League schools provide athletic scholarships?

I'm a competitive athlete and was wondering if Ivy League schools offer athletic scholarships to prospective students. Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks!

a year ago

Does applying Early Decision make a significant impact?

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and have already identified my top choice college. I'm considering applying Early Decision, but I'm not sure how much of a difference it really makes in terms of admission ch …

a year ago

Is a 1490 SAT score enough for Ivy League schools?

Hello, I recently took the SAT and got a 1490. I'm interested in applying to Ivy League schools and I'm wondering if my score is good enough, or if I should retake the test to try to improve. I'm feel …

a year ago

Is it possible to receive scholarships with bad grades?

Hello, I'm a high school junior, and although my grades aren't the best, I still hope to receive some scholarships to help cover college costs. What are my chances of getting a scholarship with a lowe …

a year ago

Does attending a prestigious high school help or hurt my college chances?

Hey there! I'm a junior at a prestigious high school, and I've heard mixed opinions about whether attending a well-known high school helps or hurts my chances of getting into a good college. Can anyon …

a year ago

How do I know if a college visit is worth it?

Hello! I'm a high school junior and I've been thinking about visiting some colleges before applying. However, I'm not sure if it's worth the time and money to visit all the colleges on my list. How do …

a year ago

Should my college essay be double-spaced?

Hi everyone, I'm in the process of finalizing my college essay and I was wondering if it should be double-spaced or if single-spacing is fine. I want to make sure my essay is easy to read and follows …

a year ago

Are there any negatives to applying Early Decision (ED)?

Hi, I'm a junior thinking about my college application strategy, and I'm unsure about whether to apply Early Decision. Are there any downsides or risks to applying ED? Thank you for your insights!

a year ago

How do you define a Tier 1 research university, and is it worth aiming for one?

So I've been hearing the term 'Tier 1 research university' a lot as I work on my college search, but I'm not exactly sure what it means. Is there a specific ranking or criteria that set these universi …

a year ago

Can I apply to both early action and early decision schools?

Hey guys, I'm a junior in high school and I'm considering applying to some schools early action and others early decision. Is it allowed to apply to both types of schools? How will this affect my chan …

a year ago

What should I look for in a college roommate?

Hello everyone, I'm starting to think about the roommate situation for college. What qualities or preferences should I be considering while searching for a roommate? Thanks for your advice!

a year ago

How can I stand out in a competitive major?

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I'm planning to apply to college as an engineering major. I know it's a competitive field, so I want to make sure my application stands out. What can I do to differentiate m …

a year ago

Should I work on a startup during high school?

I have an idea for a startup and I'm considering working on it during my high school years. Would this be viewed favorably by college admissions officers, or might it be perceived as me not focusing o …

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.