CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi all! I'm a junior and I've taken a few AP exams already. I was just wondering how much weight these scores have in the college admissions process? Are they really important, or do colleges focus mo …

Hi there! I'm a junior, and I'm concerned about how much weight standardized test scores hold in the college admissions process. My GPA is strong, but my test scores aren't as high as I'd like them to …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I know that having strong relationships with my teachers can be important for getting good letters of recommendation. However, I'm not sure how to go about building thes …

Hello! I'm a high school junior, and I'm involved in a few extracurricular activities. I want to make sure my involvement stands out on my college applications, but I'm not sure how to do that. Should …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior and I'm hoping to get some merit-based scholarships to help pay for college. What can I do to improve my chances of receiving these scholarships? Any advice would be appreci …

Hi all! I'm a junior who's considering taking a gap year before starting college. I've heard mixed opinions on how gap years are viewed by college admissions officers. Can anyone provide some insight …

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I love to write and create art. I was wondering if I can submit some of my work as a supplement with my college application, and if so, how do I go about doing that? Will co …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior interested in STEM, but I also have a passion for photography. I was wondering if it's possible to submit an arts supplement to colleges even if I'm not applying for an arts …

Hi there, I'm a junior and recently took the SAT, but my score was lower than I hoped. Is it worth retaking the test, or should I focus on other parts of my application? I don't want to waste time if …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and I'm having trouble choosing a topic for my college essay. How can I come up with a good topic that will showcase my unique qualities and make my application stand out? Th …

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I want to make sure I don't make any mistakes that could hurt my chances of getting into my top-choice colleges. What are some common mistakes you've seen or heard about in …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior in high school and I've been considering both in-state and out-of-state colleges. Can anyone give me some advice on the pros and cons of each, and how to decide which option …

Hey there, I'm a junior interested in applying to art schools, and I'm working on my college portfolio. What types of pieces should I include to showcase my skills and creativity? Any advice would be …

Hey guys, I'm a high school junior and I'm starting to research college requirements. I've heard about SAT Subject Tests, but I'm not sure if all colleges require them or if they're optional. Can anyo …

Hi everyone, I'm a high school junior and I'm starting to work on my college application essays. I want to make sure my essays stand out and showcase my personality. What are some tips for making my e …

Hey guys, I'm taking a few AP classes this year, and I want to make sure I do well on the exams. What are your favorite study resources and strategies for AP exam prep? I'm a little bit stressed, so a …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior trying to plan out my extracurricular activities to strengthen my college application. I was wondering how much weight colleges give to extracurriculars and if there are any …

Hi! I'm in the process of applying to colleges, but I'm still unsure about what major to choose. Can you offer any guidance on how to decide on a major before submitting my applications? Thank you!

Hey there! I'm a high school junior, and I've been thinking about college applications lately. I know it's important to start early, but I'm unsure about the best time to begin working on them. Colleg …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about who I should ask for recommendation letters. What do colleges look for in these letters and what should I tell my teachers to focus on? Any h …