CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi everyone, I'm a high school junior and I'm starting to think about how to pay for college. I'm wondering if I should focus on applying for financial aid or merit-based scholarships. What are the di …

Hello, I'm starting to look into scholarships and I've noticed that some are need-based, while others are merit-based. Am I correct in assuming that my family's financial situation won't impact my cha …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and I've been involved in a variety of extracurricular activities throughout high school. How can I best present these on my college applications to make them stand out? Are …

Hey everyone! I'll be taking the ACT soon, and I'm feeling a little bit stressed about how to prepare for it. Can anyone recommend an effective study plan or any resources that have worked for them? T …

Hello! I'm curious about how important recommendation letters are in the college admissions process. I have a couple of teachers who know me well and could write strong letters, but I'm not sure how m …

I've been hearing that plagiarism detectors are getting more and more advanced. Is it possible that colleges will use AI detectors to check for authenticity in college essays? Just curious about the c …

Hey guys! I'm a junior and I'm starting to look at colleges. I was wondering if it's worth applying to colleges with high acceptance rates, or if I should focus on more competitive schools. What do yo …

Hi there! I've done a substantial amount of volunteer work, and I was wondering if colleges place a high value on this during the admissions process? Any input would be appreciated.

Hey guys, I'm in the midst of writing my college essay, and I'm curious: do colleges really read all the essays they receive? If they receive thousands of applications, how do they manage to read all …

Hi there! I'm a junior and I want to make the most of the upcoming summer break to strengthen my college applications. What are some productive ways to spend my time that will help me stand out to col …

Hi, I'm a junior and have been babysitting my younger siblings for a couple of years now. Is it appropriate to include this in my list of extracurricular activities on college applications? Thanks!

I have been working part-time after school and on weekends throughout high school. I was wondering if this would be considered an extracurricular activity when applying to colleges, or just something …

Hi there! I'm planning on attending some college fairs and open houses soon, but I'm not sure how to make the most of these events. Can you provide some tips on how to get the most valuable informatio …

Hey guys, I'm torn between writing about a personal challenge I've overcome or an accomplishment I'm proud of for my college essay. Which one do you think would make a stronger essay? Any advice would …

UCLA is one of my top choices, but my grades in freshman and sophomore year were less-than-impressive. My GPA has improved significantly since then. How much weight will UCLA place on my past performa …

Hi everyone! I'm a bit worried about how my family's financial situation might affect my college admissions chances. We have a pretty low income, and I'm not sure if that will help or hurt me in the a …

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I'm trying to decide whether to take AP classes next year. I've heard that they can help with college admissions, but I'm worried about the workload. Are AP classes worth it …

Hi all! I've heard that building relationships with college admissions officers can be beneficial during the application process. How do I go about doing this? What are some appropriate ways to reach …

Hello, I'm having a hard time deciding on a topic for my college essay. I want it to be unique and personal, but I'm struggling to find the right focus. Does anyone have any advice or tips on how to c …

Hey everyone! Summer break is coming up and I'm trying to figure out what I should focus on to improve my chances for college admissions. Should I work on SAT prep, volunteer, or find internships? I'm …