CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi all! I'm a junior, and my GPA isn't as high as I'd like it to be. I've faced some personal challenges that have affected my grades, and I'm wondering if I should explain this in my college applicat …

Hey everyone, I've just started looking into different colleges, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. Can you share your best tips or resources for researching colleges so that I can find the schools …

I've heard that certain majors are more competitive than others at some schools. Is it true? Are my chances of being admitted better if I choose a less popular major, or is that just a myth?

Hey everyone, I'm a junior interested in applying to engineering programs at Georgia Tech, Michigan, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Sadly, my SAT scores are quite average which is making …

Hello! I'm a high school junior from a low-income background, and I'm worried about the cost of attending a top-tier college. I know that these schools often offer generous financial aid packages, but …

Hey everyone, I'm starting to work on my college essays and I'm considering writing about a personal struggle I've been through. However, I'm worried it might come across as too negative or oversharin …

Hello everyone! I'm a junior with a decent GPA (3.7) but my class rank is not that great (top 25%). I'm wondering how much this will hurt my chances of getting accepted into competitive colleges. Do c …

I've been browsing College Confidential recently and have seen a lot of different opinions on admissions chances, extracurriculars, and essays. How accurate and helpful is this information? Should I b …

Hi there! I know that letters of recommendation are an important part of college applications, but I'm not sure how to go about getting strong ones from my teachers. Do you have any tips on how to bui …

I want to write about a challenging experience I went through, but I'm worried it might come across as too negative. How can I write about this in a way that shows my growth and resilience? Thanks for …

I've heard that colleges sometimes look at your social media profiles during the admissions process. I'm a bit concerned because I don't post much online, but when I do, it's mainly just silly stuff m …

Hey guys, I'm a junior in high school and I've been visiting some college campuses. I'm trying to get a feel for the campus culture, but it's hard to know if a college is a good fit just by visiting. …

Hey, I'm considering applying to Ivy League schools like Princeton and UPenn, but I've been hearing that transferring into an Ivy League is easier. Is this true? If so, what are the benefits or disadv …

Hey guys, I've been hearing a lot about liberal arts colleges but I'm not exactly sure what sets them apart from other schools. What are the benefits of attending a liberal arts college, and why might …

Hey, I'm a junior, and I'm worried about my lack of extracurriculars when it comes to applying to college. What are some things I can highlight in my application to make up for this? Are there any tip …

Hey everyone, I've heard the term 'demonstrated interest' lately, and I'm curious how much it matters in the admissions process, particularly for selective colleges. Is it worth putting in the effort …

Hi all, I'm trying to figure out the best way to present my extracurricular activities in my college applications. Should I focus on a few key activities or try to include everything I've been involve …

Hey there, I've heard that applying early decision or early action can increase my chances of getting into my top-choice college, but I'm not sure about the pros and cons of each option. Can anyone ex …

I am passionate about pursuing a career in medicine, but my high school grades haven't been the best. Can I still become a doctor if I work hard in college and improve my GPA?

Hi all! I'm working on my college essay and one of my family members has played a huge role in my life. I want to mention them but I'm worried it might come across as cliche or unoriginal. Is it okay …