Explore our collection of admissions FAQs. Each answer is expert-approved by our team to help you reach your goals.
Hello fellow students! I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about who I should ask for letters of recommendation. I've heard that it's important to choose teachers who know me well, but I'm not sure …
Hi all, I'm a junior researching the college application process. I know there are two main application platforms: the Common App and the Coalition App. Can I apply to colleges through both platforms? …
Hey everyone! I'm trying to decide whether to apply to a large public university or a small private college. What are the pros and cons of each and what factors should I consider when making this deci …
Hey everyone, I'm researching colleges and financial aid, and I've come across the terms need-blind and need-aware. I'm not exactly sure what these terms mean, and I'm wondering how I can find out if …
Hey guys! I recently took the SAT/ACT and got a decent score, but I'm wondering if I should retake it to try and get an even better score. Is it worth the time and effort? Will it make a significant d …
Hey guys! I'm a high school junior, and I know I'll need financial aid for college. I'm not sure how to decide which colleges to apply for aid, though. What factors should I consider when making this …
Hello everyone! I'm a junior and starting to feel overwhelmed with schoolwork, extracurriculars, and now the college application process. Does anyone have tips on how to manage all of these responsibi …
Hey everyone, I'm a high school junior and I'm starting to look into financial aid options for college. The whole process seems really confusing, and I'm not sure where to start. Can anyone give me so …
Hey everyone! I'm a high school junior and I'm curious about how colleges view AP classes when considering applications. I've taken a few AP classes, but I'm not sure if that's enough or if I should t …
Hi all! I'm a high school junior and I've been reading about the importance of having a 'spike' or a focused passion in the college admissions process. I have a variety of interests but I'm not sure i …
Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I recently took the SAT but my score is just below the average for some of my target schools. I'm wondering if I should retake the SAT or focus on other aspects of my co …
Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm trying to figure out the financial aid process. Is it possible to apply for financial aid after submitting my college applications, or do I need to do it at the same …
Hey guys, I'm starting to think about my college essays and I want to make sure I write a strong personal statement. What are some tips or advice you have for making my essay stand out? Any help would …
Hi everyone, I'm working on my college list and I'm not sure how to balance my reach, target, and safety schools. How many of each type of school should I apply to? Any advice or personal experiences …
Hi all, I'm a high school junior and I'll be asking for letters of recommendation soon. What should I do to ensure that I receive strong letters from my teachers? Are there any specific things I shoul …
I'm a little bit stressed about my college essays and was considering using CollegeVine's essay review service. Has anyone here used it before? If so, was it helpful? Thanks for sharing your experienc …
Hello! I'm a junior, and I've been thinking about visiting some college campuses to get a feel for the schools I'm interested in. When is the best time to start these visits, and how can I make the mo …
Hello! I'm a junior in high school, and I've taken a few online classes to supplement my regular coursework. I was wondering how colleges view these online courses on my transcript? Will they be consi …
Hello everyone! I'm working on my college applications and I'm curious what colleges are looking for in terms of extracurricular activities. Is it better to have a lot of different activities or to be …
Hey everyone! I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about applying to college. I know that it's really competitive, especially for top-tier schools. What can I do to stand out in the application proc …