CollegeVine Expert FAQ

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 …

Hi all! I'm trying to plan out my senior year schedule and want to make sure I'm taking enough AP classes to be competitive for Ivy League admissions. How many AP classes do they typically expect stud …

Hello everyone! I've been doing some research on college interviews, and I was wondering if you guys have any tips on how to stand out during these interviews? I'm a fairly shy person, so I want to ma …

Hey all, I'm currently a junior, and I'm really interested in pursuing a degree in environmental science. What are some summer programs, clubs, or activities that I can get involved within my school o …

Hey everyone! I've been teaching myself Japanese for the past couple of years, and I'm wondering if this could be considered an extracurricular activity for college applications. What do you think? Th …

Hey there, I'm a high school junior and I'm starting to think about where I want to go to college. Location is important to me, but I'm not sure how to narrow down my choices based on that factor. Can …

Hello, I'm currently a junior and starting to think about the college application process. I was wondering if the major I choose to apply for can influence my chances of being admitted to competitive …

Hi everyone! I'm considering attending a local college for my first year and then transferring to a bigger university. Is transferring between colleges difficult? What should I expect in terms of the …

Hi everyone, I'm a high school junior, and I am planning to major in visual arts when I apply to college. I have a strong portfolio and have won several regional art competitions. I was wondering if I …

Hello, I'm working on my college essays and I was wondering if they need to be in MLA format. I know it's a standard for academic papers, but I'm not sure if college essays require it. Can someone ple …

Hello, I'm working on my college essay, and I was wondering if I should follow the MLA format? I know it's common for research papers and such, but is it required for college application essays too? A …

Hey all! I'm a leader in my church's youth group, and I'm always participating in various religious activities and outreach programs. Can I include these experiences as an extracurricular activity on …

Hey there, I participate in my school's choir and sometimes in competitions. I was just curious if this counts as an extracurricular activity when I apply to colleges? Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello everyone! As I'm going through my college search process, I've stumbled upon the phrase 'tier 1 research university.' I'm not sure what it means or what criteria a university needs to meet in or …

Hey there! I'm a high school junior who's very passionate about research, and I'm wondering if choosing a career in academia would be financially conceivable. Can anyone provide some insight on what a …

Hello! I'm a junior involved in various activities at my local church, such as volunteering and participating in youth group activities. Would I be able to add this to my list of extracurricular activ …

Hey everyone, I'm a high school junior and I'm considering applying to some in-state colleges. What are the benefits of staying in-state compared to going out-of-state? Thanks for your help!

Hi guys, I'm feeling a bit stressed and paranoid about my senior year grades. I've already been accepted to my dream school, but I'm worried that if my grades slip a little, I might get my admission r …