CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey guys, I'm a junior in high school and I've heard about the CSS Profile, but I'm not exactly sure what it is or if I need to complete it. Can anyone explain the purpose of the CSS Profile and how t …

Hey there, I'm a junior and I'm wondering how much weight college admissions officers place on course rigor and class rank. I've taken some challenging classes, but I'm not sure if it's enough. Should …

I'm getting ready to have some people review my college essay, but I'm not sure how many opinions I should get. Would you recommend having multiple people, like teachers, friends, and family, review i …

Hey guys, I'm a junior and starting the college application process. Can someone please explain what reach, match, and safety schools are and how to identify them? I appreciate any advice you can give …

Hi! I'm a high school junior and I'm starting to look into college options. I'm a little bit stressed because I don't understand how financial aid works. Can someone please explain the basics of finan …

Hey everyone! My school doesn't offer the IB program, but I was wondering if it's possible to register for an IB exam by self-studying the material? Does anyone have any experience with this? I'd love …

Hey, I've been doing a lot of college research lately, and terms like 'reach', 'match', and 'safety' keep coming up. Can someone please explain the differences and how I should classify schools? Thank …

I'm in the final stages of editing my college essay and I'm not sure if it should be double-spaced or not. I've heard different opinions on this, and I want to make sure I'm doing it correctly. Should …

Hey guys! I'm a junior, and I know I'll need recommendation letters for my college applications. I'm not sure how to go about asking a teacher for one. What's the best way to ask, and how can I make s …

Hi everyone, I am a junior in high school and I have a felony on my record. I'm worried that this will affect my chances of getting financial aid for college. Does anyone have information on whether i …

Hi all! I'm a high school junior, and I'm trying to decide whether I should apply for Early Decision or Early Action at my top choice college. What are the pros and cons of each? Thanks for your help!

Hi everyone! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm starting to put together my college list, but I'm a bit confused about the terminology. Can someone please clarify what reach, match, and safety schoo …

Hi, I'm a high school junior and I haven't won many awards or honors yet. How important are they in college applications? What do admissions officers look for? I'm a little stressed, any advice would …

Hi all! I'm a junior and I'm starting to feel a little bit stressed about balancing my schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and college applications next year. Do you have any tips for managing my …

I like to use humor in my writing and I think it could make my college essay more engaging. Is it okay to be funny in a college essay or should I stick to a more serious tone?

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about who to ask for recommendation letters for my college applications. How do I choose the best teachers to write my letters? Should I focus on te …

I've had some low grades during high school due to personal circumstances, and I'm wondering if I should address this in my college essay. Is it a good idea to bring up my low grades or should I focus …

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior and I've been hearing a lot about legacy admissions. My parents both attended a prestigious university, and I'm wondering how much of an advantage that might give …

Hey guys! I'm working on my college essay, and I want to write about a controversial topic that's really important to me. Will this hurt my chances of getting accepted, or will it show that I'm a thou …

Hello, I'm a junior in high school and I'm wondering if I should apply for merit scholarships. How do I know if I'm a strong candidate, and what should I consider when deciding whether to apply? Thank …