CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Explore our collection of admissions FAQs. Each answer is expert-approved by our team to help you reach your goals.


Is it worth retaking the SAT/ACT to improve my score?

Hey everyone! I'm a junior, and I recently took the SAT/ACT. My scores were decent, but I'm wondering if it's worth retaking the test to try and improve my score. Will colleges view multiple test atte …

a year ago

How do I decide if a college is a good fit for me?

Hello! I'm a high school junior, and I'm starting to research colleges that I might be interested in applying to. What factors should I consider when trying to decide if a college is a good fit for me …

a year ago

What are some unique extracurricular activities that stand out to colleges?

Hello everyone, I'm a junior and I'm looking for some unique extracurricular activities that will make my college applications stand out. I'm already involved in a few clubs, but I want to do somethin …

a year ago

What's the difference between Early Action and Early Decision?

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and I've been hearing about Early Action and Early Decision, but I'm not exactly sure what the difference is between the two. Can someone explain it to me? And which one woul …

a year ago

Will a low GPA affect my chances of getting into a good college?

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I'm a bit stressed about my GPA. My freshman and sophomore years were rough, and my GPA is currently around a 3.4. I'm worried this will hurt my chances of getting into a go …

a year ago

Are AP classes worth taking for college admissions?

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and I'm debating whether or not to take AP classes next year. Will taking APs significantly improve my chances of getting into a good college, or is it better to focus on ext …

a year ago

What factors should I consider when deciding on a college major?

Hey guys, I'm a junior in high school and I'm starting to think about what I want to study in college. There are so many majors to choose from, and I'm not sure where to begin. What factors should I c …

a year ago

What are some common mistakes to avoid on the Common App?

Hi there! I'm a junior who's starting to work on my Common App, and I want to make sure I don't make any mistakes that could hurt my chances of getting into my dream schools. What are some common mist …

a year ago

How should I approach writing the 'Why this college?' essay?

Hey everyone! I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about writing my college essays. I know many colleges require a 'Why this college?' essay. How should I approach writing this type of essay? What s …

a year ago

How can I improve my college essay writing skills?

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I've started thinking about my college essays. I'm not the strongest writer, and I'm worried that my essays might hurt my chances of getting into my dream school. What c …

a year ago

What are the best ways to prepare for AP exams?

Hi guys! I'm a junior, and I'll be taking a few AP exams this year. I'm a little stressed about how to study effectively and make sure I'm prepared for the exams. What are some study tips or resources …

a year ago

How do I decide whether to apply to a college as a reach, match, or safety?

Hey everyone! I'm a high school junior, and I've been trying to categorize the colleges I'm interested in as reach, match, or safety schools. How do I decide which category a college falls into, and h …

a year ago

How do colleges view test-optional policies?

Hello everyone, I'm a junior, and I've noticed that many colleges have implemented test-optional policies due to the pandemic. I'm wondering how colleges view applicants who choose not to submit test …

a year ago

What should I do if I'm waitlisted at a college?

Hi everyone! I'm worried about the possibility of being waitlisted at one of my top-choice colleges. If this happens, what should I do? Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of getting off …

a year ago

Is it possible to transfer colleges after my freshman year?

Hello everyone! I'm a junior thinking about my college options, and I'm wondering if it's possible to transfer to a different college after my freshman year. If so, what's the process like, and how di …

a year ago

How to choose a major for college applications?

Hello everyone! I'm not sure what I want to major in yet, but I know that some college applications ask for your intended major. How should I go about choosing one, and will it affect my chances of ge …

a year ago

How do I know if I should retake the SAT or ACT?

Hi all, I'm a junior and I recently took the SAT/ACT for the first time. How do I know if I should retake the test to improve my score, or if my current score is good enough for the colleges I'm inter …

a year ago

How do I explain a bad grade on my transcript?

Hey everyone! I'm a junior and I have one bad grade on my transcript that I'm worried about. Should I address it in my college applications, and if so, how do I explain it without making excuses? Than …

a year ago

Should I retake the SAT/ACT if I have a good but not great score?

Hello! I recently got my test scores back, and while they're decent, I'm not sure if they're good enough to get me into my top-choice colleges. Should I retake the SAT/ACT to try to improve my score, …

a year ago

Should I take AP classes even if my school doesn't offer them?

Hey! My school doesn't offer many AP classes, but I've heard that colleges like to see students take challenging courses. Should I try to take AP classes online or at a nearby school, or will colleges …

a year ago
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About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.