CollegeVine Expert FAQ

My dad attended a prestigious college, and he's been suggesting that I should apply there because of my legacy status. How big of a role does being a legacy really have in the admissions process? Do a …

Hey guys! I'm a junior, and I want to apply to some competitive summer programs to boost my college application. What can I do to increase my chances of getting accepted into these programs? Any tips …

Hello, I'm currently a junior and have started thinking about my college essays. I know they're a crucial part of the application, but I'm unsure about what colleges are specifically looking for. Are …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior planning on pursuing pre-med in college, and I'm starting to work on my applications. Are there any specific things I should focus on in my application to increase my chance …

I'm currently editing my college essay and I noticed that I've used some contractions throughout the text. Is this considered informal for a college essay? Should I change them to their full forms or …

Hey everyone, I'm writing my college essay and I want to make sure it's okay to use 'I' and tell my story from a first-person perspective. Is this acceptable or should I stick to third person?

I'm applying for several scholarships and some of the essay prompts are pretty similar. Is it acceptable to submit the same essay for multiple scholarships, or should I write a unique one for each? I …

Hello! I'm working on my college essays right now, and I'm stuck on the 'Why This College' prompt. Can anyone share their strategies for writing a convincing and unique essay for this prompt?

Hey, I'm wondering if colleges value consistency in extracurricular activities or if it's better to try a variety of different activities throughout high school? Which one would look better on a colle …

Hey everyone! I'm struggling with the conclusion of my college essay. Is it crucial to have a strong conclusion, or will I be fine if the rest of my essay is strong? Also, do you have any tips for cra …

Hi, I've been practicing yoga regularly for a couple of years now. Would you consider this as an extracurricular activity? Should I include it in my college application? Thanks!

Hey there, I'm a junior and I've been stressing a bit about my SAT and ACT scores. I'm wondering how important they really are when it comes to college admissions. Should I be dedicating more time to …

Hi everyone, I'm a bit stressed about my college essay and I was wondering if using contractions (like 'I'm', 'didn't', etc.) is okay? I want my essay to sound casual and conversational, but I don't w …

Hey guys! Affording college is an important factor for me and my family, and I'm looking for schools with generous financial aid packages. How can I research and find colleges that consistently offer …

I've taken the SAT twice and I'm considering taking it a third time to try and raise my score. Will colleges look down on the fact that I've taken it multiple times? Or do they only really care about …

I've struggled with mental health issues throughout high school, and I feel like it's an important part of my story. However, I'm worried that writing about this in my college essay could make me seem …

Hello! I'm starting my college search and wondering what resources are available to help me find the right fit? Any websites, books, or other tools that you've found helpful would be greatly appreciat …

Hi all, I'm considering the IB diploma program, but I'm not exactly sure how many HL courses I need to take. If anyone has insights on this or advice on choosing HL courses, please share! Thank you!

Hey everyone, I'm a junior in high school and I'm trying to decide which standardized test to take: the SAT or ACT. How do I determine which test is better suited for my strengths and weaknesses? Any …

Hey there, I'm in the process of putting together my college list, and I've noticed that I'm drawn to schools with smaller class sizes. However, there are some larger universities I'm interested in as …