CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey guys, I'm starting to write my college essay and I want to avoid making any common mistakes. What are some things I should watch out for? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Hey guys, I was wondering if there are any benefits to submitting my college application earlier than the deadline. Do admissions officers look at applications on a rolling basis or all at once? Thank …

Hello everyone, I'm writing my college essay and I was thinking of including some dialogue to make it more engaging. Is this a good idea or should I avoid using dialogue? I'd appreciate any thoughts o …

Hello! So, I'm a junior and I've been researching about applying to colleges through Early Decision. I've heard that it might increase my chances of getting accepted, but I'm not entirely sure if it's …

Hey everyone, I'm working on my college essay and I'm not sure how personal I should get. I want to be genuine and share my story, but I also don't want to overshare or make the reader uncomfortable. …

Hey guys, I'm a junior, and I'm considering applying to some honors programs at state schools, as well as more selective private colleges. I'm not sure which option is better for me in terms of academ …

Hi all, I'm a junior and I want to make the most of my summer before senior year. What activities or experiences should I focus on to strengthen my college application? Thanks for any advice, and Coll …

I'm struggling to come up with a topic for my college essay that will make me stand out. How did you guys choose your essay topics, and do you have any tips for finding a unique and interesting idea? …

Hey guys, I'm starting to brainstorm ideas for my personal essay, but I'm having trouble figuring out what to focus on. How do I choose a topic that truly represents me and makes me stand out to colle …

Hello! I'm a junior and I want to make good use of my summer break to improve my college applications. What are some activities or programs you'd recommend to help strengthen my application? Thanks in …

Hi fellow high school students and collegevine experts! I'm a junior and I've been taking a mix of honors and AP classes throughout my high school career. My GPA is pretty good, but I'm wondering if c …

My GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities are all good, but I'm worried about standing out from the crowd when I apply to competitive schools like Stanford and Harvard. How can I make my app …

With technology getting more advanced, I'm a little worried about accidental plagiarism since I tend to discuss popular topics in my essays. Does anyone know if colleges are using AI detectors to find …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm unsure about my future career goals. Is it important to have a clear career goal when applying to college, or is it okay to be undecided? Thank you!

I'm currently at a decent college, but I've been considering transferring to an Ivy League school. I was wondering if any of you have experience or know if it's easier to get accepted as a transfer st …

Hello! I took the SAT and scored a 1480, which I feel good about. However, I'm concerned that it may not be impressive enough for Ivy League applications. Should I try to improve my score, or is a 148 …

Hey all! I've been practicing yoga consistently for a few years now and have even attended some workshops and training sessions. Can I include yoga as an extracurricular activity on my college applica …

Hi all, I'm a junior and I've been hearing a lot about the SAT and ACT lately. When do you think is the best time to start studying for these tests? I want to make sure I give myself enough time to pr …

I'm a junior struggling to decide if I should take AP classes next year or focus on maintaining a high GPA. What's more important for college admissions: taking AP classes or having a high GPA? Thanks …

Hi all! I'm currently in my junior year and I've started looking for colleges that I'd like to apply to. I'm trying to find some research universities that have a strong liberal arts feel to them. Any …