CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey guys, just got my SAT score back and I’m sitting on a 1490. Stanford's been my dream school for a really long time, but I'm not sure if my score is competitive enough. Considering their crazy high …

Hey everyone, so applications are expensive and I heard about fee waivers for the Common App. How do I qualify for one, and what's the process to get it? Is it a lot of paperwork or pretty straightfor …

Can anyone tell me where I should be adding my certifications in the Common App? I've earned a few that are related to my intended major, and I definitely want colleges to see them!

I’m a little confused by my PSAT score report. There's a bunch of different numbers and percentiles. Can someone explain to me how to read it properly, so I know what areas I need to work on?

Trying to fill out the Common App and I've hit the academic subject section. Are they asking for my best subject, or all the subjects I've taken so far in high school? Any tips from seniors or others …

Hi guys, I'm a sophomore and starting to stress about my college prep. Just took the PSAT 10 and I'm waiting for my scores. Like, what would be considered a good PSAT 10 score if I'm aiming for top-ti …

Hi everyone! I'm beginning to organize my college list and I was wondering, how can I find out which colleges don't use the Common App? I want to make sure I'm aware of any additional applications I n …

I've been through some pretty dark times and I've grown a lot from those experiences. I want to share this in my essay, but I'm concerned it might be too heavy for the admissions office. How dark is t …

Hey guys, I've been super involved in soccer throughout high school and it's a big part of who I am. I can think of a few good stories to tell, but I've heard that sports essays are overdone. Thoughts …

Really proud of becoming an Eagle Scout and definitely want colleges to know about it, but where's the best place to put my Eagle Scout accomplishment on the Common App? Should it be under activities, …

So, I've got my ACT scores, and I'm kinda confused about how to get them onto the Common App. Is there a specific section where I upload my ACT scores, or is that done through the testing agency? Any …

Coming out has been a monumental part of my life story, and I want to share it in my college essay. However, I'm a bit wary about the best way to navigate this personal topic while keeping the focus o …

This might be a long shot, but I'm applying to Boston College and I was thinking about weaving in my religious journey, which has been a huge part of my life. I know BC is a Jesuit school, but would t …

Hi everyone, I was filling out the Common App and got to the Education section. Can someone explain what 'No Grade' means in this context? Does it refer to a class I took pass/fail, or is it for a cla …

Alright, I think I've filled out everything necessary on my Common App, but I'm a bit nervous about sending it off to colleges. Could someone guide me through the final submission process? How do I kn …

Okay, so I'm planning out how many colleges I want to apply to and noticed that the Common App has a limit. Why is there a cap on the number of schools you can apply to through the Common App? Is that …

Kinda stressed about this and could use some advice. I'm trying to figure out what PSAT scores actually mean for college admissions. Are they something that colleges look at, or are they just importan …

How do you guys feel about including dialogue in college essays? Does it add to the narrative, or is it just taking up valuable space? Anyone had success with this approach?

Okay, so there's this song that's been basically the soundtrack to all my high school ups and downs. Do you think I could weave my college essay around it, or is that just not deep enough? Does anyone …

Money’s tight at home and these app fees are daunting 😔 I’ve heard you can get fee waivers for the Common App - does anyone know how many a person can receive? And maybe some tips on how to go about g …