CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey! I recently took the SAT and got a 1520, which I'm pretty happy with. However, I want to make sure it's considered strong enough for Ivy League admissions. Do you think my score is competitive or …

Hey everyone, I've heard rumors that colleges may be using AI detectors to analyze our college essays. Is this true, and if so, how can we make our essays more genuine and avoid sounding generic? Feel …

Hi everyone, I'm a high school junior and I'm hoping to play a sport in college. What should I know about the recruitment process and applying to college as a student-athlete? Any advice would be grea …

Hi everyone! I'm considering attending a large university and I'm wondering about the pros and cons. Can anyone share their experiences or thoughts on why a large university might be a good or bad cho …

I'm a little stressed about this whole college selection process, and I've noticed a lot of emphasis around research universities. Do these universities really have an edge over other types of college …

Hey everyone! With the pandemic still ongoing, I'm finding it difficult to research colleges effectively since I can't visit them in person. What are some alternative ways that I can learn about diffe …

Hi everyone! I have a strong opinion on a controversial topic and I'm thinking about writing my college essay on it. Is this a good idea or should I avoid controversial subjects to not risk offending …

Hey everyone! So - I spent a few weeks of my past summer traveling to different countries with my family, where I got to know various cultures and also volunteered for some local NGOs. It was an incre …

Hi there! I've been researching colleges and I've fallen in love with a few of them. I want to make sure they know I'm really interested. What are some effective ways to demonstrate interest? I've hea …

Hey guys! I'm currently a junior, and I'm starting to look into colleges. I'm interested in Tufts University, but I'm unsure if it's considered a research university. Can someone confirm this for me? …

Hi everyone, my second-choice school offers Early Decision, but I'm conflicted about applying. My first-choice school has restrictive Early Action, which I'm leaning towards. Would applying ED to my s …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and my dream school is Princeton, but my GPA isn't that great. I had a rough couple of years academically and my GPA has suffered. I have a strong extracurricular background …

Hello, I'm a high school junior who's been actively involved in my local church throughout high school. I was wondering if I could include my church-related activities as extracurriculars on my colleg …

Hey guys, I'm a junior, and as I start researching colleges, I keep coming across the terms 'reach,' 'match,' and 'safety' schools. What exactly do these terms mean, and how can I use them to my advan …

Hey guys, I've heard about applying Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) to colleges but I'm not really clear on the differences and pros/cons of each. Could someone help explain these to me? I'm …

Hello everyone! I'm currently a junior, and I've realized that my extracurricular involvement is kind of lacking. My academic performance has been strong, but I'm worried about my chances at competiti …

Hey there! I did a study abroad program last summer and am wondering if this experience counts as an extracurricular activity for my college applications. Thanks in advance for any help!

Hi everyone! I've heard that demonstrated interest can play a role in college admissions, but I'm not sure how important it is for Ivy League schools. Should I make an extra effort to show my interest …

UCLA is my top choice, but my GPA isn't stellar. I'm heavily involved in multiple extracurriculars and have a solid SAT score. Is there any chance for me to get in? What aspects of my application shou …

Hi guys! I'm a junior and I recently took the SAT and scored a 1450. I'm wondering if I should retake the test to try for a higher score, or if I should focus on other aspects of my application instea …