CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi everyone! I was just wondering, how old are students typically when they start their freshman year of high school? I know it varies, but I'd like to know the average or what's considered 'normal'

Hello! I know that colleges generally pay more attention to our grades in junior and senior year, but I wanted to know if our freshman year grades are still considered to be important in the college a …

Hey everyone, I'm a bit concerned about my SAT score. How many times can you take it during your senior year to improve your score before it's too late for college applications?

This might be a silly question, but if I'm a freshman in high school right now, what year will I graduate? I need this info for planning purposes, like extracurricular activities and college applicati …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior now and was wondering if colleges look at the first semester of senior year when I apply. I'm feeling a little stressed and wanted to make sure I have a solid understanding …

As I'm looking into different colleges, I've noticed that liberal arts colleges seem to have really high tuitions. Does anyone know why they're so expensive? Do they offer something unique or special …

I'm a bit confused as to when freshman year begins. Does it start during the summer orientation or from the first day of classes in the fall semester? And when do colleges typically consider you a 'so …

Hi everyone. So, I've heard about 6th-year seniors in high school and I'm a little confused. How does that happen, and would that affect the college admissions process? Thanks for any information you …

Hi all! I'm currently a junior and I'm hoping to get a track scholarship during my senior year. What steps should I take to make myself a competitive candidate for a track scholarship? Any tips or adv …

Hi, I'm a junior and I've heard that senior year goes by very fast. Is this true? I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for the college application process and senior year in general. Any thoughts or …

Hi, I am curious about why liberal arts colleges are typically ranked separately from research universities. How do these rankings differ? Is there a specific reason for this separation? Any informati …

Hey everyone, I'm a little bit stressed because I've heard from some people that colleges only look at junior and senior year, while others say every year counts. Can someone please clarify the import …

Hey everyone, I'm a high school junior thinking about applying early decision to college next year. I was wondering, is it possible to cancel your early decision commitment if you change your mind aft …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior now, but I'm already thinking about college and want to have an idea of how to succeed during my freshman year. What are your best tips to make the transition smoother and a …

Hello everyone! I've been seeing the term 'early decision' thrown around quite a bit, but I'm not exactly sure how it works. Can anyone explain what early decision is and how it differs from other adm …

Hello everyone, I was wondering what happens if a school doesn't accept or reject my Early Decision application. Can they defer me to the regular decision pool, or is this not allowed? Any help would …

Hello! I'm a QuestBridge finalist and I'm a little confused about how early decision works through this program. Can someone please explain the process to me and if it's binding like a regular early d …

Hello! I've been looking into different universities and I've noticed many of them emphasize their research programs. Why is research such a big deal at universities? How does that benefit students, a …

Hello! I was wondering what happens if I get deferred from my early decision school. Can I still apply to other schools through regular decision or am I still committed to that school if I later get a …

Hi everyone, my family and I will need a significant amount of financial aid in order for me to attend college. Will this affect my chances of getting accepted into schools? Is there anything I can do …