CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hello! I want to write about a personal failure I experienced and how it helped me grow, but I'm worried that it might reflect poorly on me. Is it okay to discuss failure in a college essay, or should …

Hey guys, I'm working on my college application essays and I was wondering if it's ever acceptable to use swear words in them? I have a personal story that might be more impactful with a bit of strong …

Hello friends! I'm a junior and I recently took the SAT/ACT, but I'm not thrilled with my score. Should I retake the test or focus on other aspects of my college application? Any advice would be great …

I'm a little worried about my GPA and how it will affect my chances of getting into a good college. Is there a specific GPA that I should aim for, or do colleges consider other factors as well? Thanks …

Hi everyone, I have a college interview coming up and I'm really nervous about it. I'm just wondering, do college interviews actually have a big impact on your chances of getting accepted, or are they …

I'm writing my college essay and I want to include a conversation I had with someone that's relevant to my topic. Is it acceptable to use dialogue in a college essay or is it considered unprofessional …

Hey guys! I'm a high school junior and I've noticed that a lot of people seem to place a lot of importance on college rankings. Do college rankings really matter when it comes to choosing a college? S …

Hi there! I'm a junior, and I'm planning on visiting some colleges soon. I want to make the most of my visits and get a good feel for each campus. What are some things I should be sure to do or ask wh …

Hello, I'm a junior, and I'm starting to think about how to manage my college applications while keeping up with my senior year classes. I want to maintain a strong GPA and stay involved in my extracu …

Hello! I've been considering applying for summer programs to help boost my college applications, but I'm not sure if they're worth the time and cost. Do colleges value these programs, and which ones w …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and I've been hearing a lot about demonstrated interest lately. I'm not sure how much it really matters when applying to colleges. Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks …

Hey everyone, quick question: should I double space my college essay or is single spacing fine? I want to make sure I'm following any formatting guidelines that might be expected. Thanks for your help …

Hi there! I'm a junior in high school, and I've been wondering whether it's better to participate in many extracurricular activities or focus on a few and excel in them. I want to make sure I'm using …

Hello! I'm a junior, and I'm planning on visiting some colleges soon. What should I be doing during my visits to make the most out of them? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Hello! I'm starting to think about my college essays, and I'm having trouble choosing a topic. What should I consider when picking a topic, and how can I make sure it's a strong choice? Thanks for any …

Hi all! I'm starting to work on my college applications, and I'm having a hard time figuring out what to include in my personal statement. I want to make sure it stands out and showcases my personalit …

Hi everyone! I'm currently debating whether I should take more AP classes next year, even if it might lower my GPA. In your experience, is it better to have a higher GPA with fewer AP classes or a sli …

Hi guys! I'm curious about how much weight college essays actually carry in the admissions process. Are they as important as GPA and test scores, or are they just a small part of the overall applicati …

Hi guys! I'm starting the college application process and I'm wondering how long it typically takes to write a good college essay. I want to make sure I give myself enough time to brainstorm, write, a …

Hey everyone, I'm a high school junior and I'm starting to research colleges. With so many options, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. How can I figure out which college is the best fit for me, both acade …