CollegeVine Expert FAQ

I'm looking for universities that offer a solid education similar to UMass Amherst. I'm especially interested in their strong programs and research opportunities for undergrads. Any tips on other publ …

Hey y'all! So in a bit of a dilemma here – I've taken three years of Spanish but I'm not sure if I should go for the fourth year. Is it true that colleges like to see 4 years of a language? Or can I s …

I visited James Madison University and fell in love with the campus culture and the way students seemed so connected. Unfortunately, it’s not a guarantee I’ll get in. Do you all know of any other scho …

I'm planning my schedule for senior year and wondering how many classes I should take to maintain a challenging but manageable workload. How many classes did you guys take during your senior year and …

I'm weighing my options for college applications and stumbled upon ED2. In your experience, does applying Early Decision 2 increase your chances of getting accepted compared to Regular Decision? Feeli …

Hi! My dream is to attend an Ivy League school and I am currently trying to put together my college application strategy. I'm aware that many of these schools have Early Decision, but do any of them a …

Hey, I applied and got accepted through Early Decision at a college, but I might need to take a gap year first. Is there a way to defer my acceptance so that I can attend the college the following yea …

Hey everyone, does anyone else feel super deflated when you start looking at colleges and comparing yourself to others? How do you deal with this overwhelming sense of possibly not measuring up?

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I'm considering applying Early Decision to my dream school soon. I understand that it is a binding decision if I get accepted. However, has anyone heard of situations where …

Question for y’all – when writing application essays, I know personal struggles can be compelling, but do colleges get tired of 'sob stories,' or do they genuinely value these narratives? Just trying …

Do most colleges require freshman students to live on campus, or do some schools allow alternative housing arrangements? How does this vary depending on the institution? Is it better to live on campus …

Hey everyone! I'm starting high school soon, and I want to make a positive first impression. Can anyone share some tips on how to 'glow up' for freshman year? I'm hoping to make new friends and get in …

Hey, just wondering if it's possible to significantly raise your GPA during senior year. If so, how much can you realistically raise it? Would colleges even pay attention to the improvement, or is it …

Stonehill College initially attracted me with its close community vibes and emphasis on social justice, but I feel like I should have a couple more options. Any leads on small to medium-sized colleges …

I'm sorry if this seems off-topic, but my parents were curious about senior discounts (they're both 55). Does anybody know if they would qualify? I hope it's okay to ask this here. Thanks!

Hello fellow students, I’ve been wondering how much weight do internships carry in the college admissions process? I managed to land a summer internship related to my intended major. Should I prioriti …

I'm an athlete and I was wondering if it's still possible to get recruited during my senior year, or do most college coaches recruit earlier? Feeling a little stressed, would love to hear some opinion …

Southern Methodist University is my top choice for its Cox School of Business and vibrant campus life, but Id love to hear about any similar alternatives. Any other colleges come to mind with strong u …

Feeling a bit stressed about ECs here! Does anyone know what sorts of extracurricular activities colleges really like seeing on applications? I'm into drama and science olympiad but worried they might …

Hello! I'm currently a junior in high school, and I'm wondering how crucial are senior year grades when applying to college? Do colleges pay more attention to the first three years, or do they weigh a …