CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hello! I've been hearing a lot about demonstrated interest lately, and I'm a little bit confused. How do colleges track it, and how much does it really matter in the admissions process? I'd appreciate …

Hey guys, I'm a high school junior, and I'm starting to think about where I want to live when I go to college. I'm not sure whether I should live on-campus in a dorm or off-campus in an apartment. Wha …

Hi there! I'll be the first person in my family to attend college, and I'm wondering if I should discuss this in my college application. Do you think it could help my chances of getting accepted? Than …

Hey guys! I've been teaching myself a new language (not offered at my school) for the past few years, and I'm really enjoying the process. Can this be considered an extracurricular activity for my col …

Hi guys! I'm a junior, and I'm planning on taking some AP exams this year. I'm not sure which ones to take, as I've heard that some are more important for college admissions than others. How do I deci …

Hey guys! I spend a lot of time babysitting my younger siblings and sometimes babysit for other families too. I was wondering if this could be counted as an extracurricular activity when applying to c …

Hi everyone, I've heard that some college admissions officers might be biased against certain essay topics. Is this true? If so, are there any topics I should avoid to increase my chances of getting a …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm starting to make my college list. I'm not sure how many colleges I should apply to, or how to choose which ones to apply to. Can anyone give me some advice on how to …

Hi guys! I was wondering if it's worth applying for financial aid even if my family's income is considered 'high.' Will it hurt my chances of getting into college? Thanks for your advice!

Hi all! I'm a high school junior, and I'm curious about how important community service is for college admissions. I've participated in a few service projects, but I'm not sure if I should be doing mo …

Hi, I'm feeling a little bit stressed about college interviews. Can someone clarify if there are colleges that require interviews, or are they all optional? Is it a good idea to participate in intervi …

I have a few college interviews coming up, and I'm feeling a bit nervous. Can anyone share some tips or advice on how to make a great impression during these interviews? Thanks so much!

Hello! I'm a high school junior and I've been wondering which extracurricular activities are most impressive to college admissions officers. I'm involved in a few clubs, but I want to make sure I'm sp …

Hi everyone, I'm a little stressed because I'm close to a college application deadline. Do colleges usually have a grace period after the official deadline, or do I need to make absolutely sure my app …

Hello everyone, I'm really passionate about yoga and practice it frequently. Can I count this as an extracurricular activity for my college applications? Your insights would be appreciated. Thank you!

Hi everyone, I'm starting to work on my college applications and I'm not sure what to include in the extracurricular section. Should I list everything I've done, or only the activities I'm most passio …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior trying to figure out the balance between standardized test scores (like the SAT or ACT) and GPA in the eyes of college admissions officers. Do colleges weigh test scores mor …

Hey! I'm a junior and my high school isn't very well-known or highly ranked in terms of academics. I was wondering how much colleges care about the reputation of the high school you're applying from. …

Hey all, I'm a junior who wants to major in computer science when I apply to college. How can I show my passion for the subject both in and outside of the classroom? Thanks for your help!

I'm in the middle of writing my college essay, and I'm wondering if I need to format it in MLA style? Or is there a certain format colleges expect us to use when we submit our essays? Does it even mat …