CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I've been researching colleges lately. I've come across the concept of demonstrated interest, and I'm curious about how much it actually matters in the admissions proces …

Hi guys! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm starting to research financial aid options for college. I know there are scholarships, grants, and loans, but I'm not exactly sure what the differences ar …

I want to discuss my experiences with mental health and how I've grown because of it. Do you guys think it's an appropriate topic for a college essay or should I avoid it completely?

Hi guys! I'm a junior in high school, and I've taken a few community college courses during my summer breaks. How do colleges view these courses on my transcript, and will they help my chances of gett …

Hi all, I'm a freshman (or sophomore) and I want to start preparing for the college admissions process early. What steps can I take now to set myself up for success down the road? I appreciate any adv …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I want to make sure I'm focusing on the right things this year to prepare for college applications. What should be my top priority to maximize my chances of getting into …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm starting to think about my college essays. I'm struggling to choose a topic that will showcase my personality and make me stand out. Does anyone have …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior, and I'm starting to think about whether I should apply to public or private colleges. I'm not sure what the main differences are and which type of college would be best for …

Hello everyone, I'm currently looking at colleges both in-state and out-of-state. When considering potential out-of-state schools, what factors should I be keeping in mind? I want to make sure I'm not …

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior, and I'm struggling to balance my schoolwork with my extracurricular activities. I want to do well in both areas, but it's becoming overwhelming. Any advice on ho …

Hello! I'm currently a junior in high school, and I know that the college essay is a really important part of the application process. I'm a little bit stressed about writing it, so I was wondering if …

Hi, I've been practicing yoga for a few years now and recently started teaching classes at my local studio. Can I list yoga as an extracurricular activity when applying to colleges? Thanks for the hel …

Hi all, I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about financial aid for college. I'm not sure whether I should focus on applying for need-based or merit-based aid. How do I decide which one is right fo …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I'm wondering how much colleges value AP courses in the admissions process. I've taken a few AP classes, but I'm not sure if I should take more to improve my chances of …

Hey guys, I'm working on my essay and I've noticed that I've used quite a few contractions. I think it makes the essay sound more conversational and genuine, but I'm worried it might come off as too i …

Hey guys! I'm a junior, and I've heard that some colleges offer alumni interviews as part of the application process. How do I go about requesting an interview, and what should I expect during the int …

Hey there! I have a passion for both STEM and humanities subjects, and I'm hoping to find colleges that have strong programs in both areas. Can any of you recommend some schools that fit this descript …

Hi guys, I'm a little stressed about the whole college application process. I was wondering how long it usually takes to write a good college essay? I want to make sure I give myself enough time to pe …

Hi guys! I'm getting ready to start working on my college essays, and I'm feeling a bit stressed about making my personal statement stand out. Do you have any tips or advice for writing a strong perso …

Hey all! I have a part-time job, and I was wondering if that counts as an extracurricular activity in my college applications? Thanks for any advice!