CollegeVine Expert FAQ

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 …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior in high school and I've been seeing the term 'public research university' a lot while searching for colleges. I'm not quite sure what it means. Can someone help me understand …

Hello everyone! Due to financial reasons, I'm strongly considering attending a community college for two years and then transferring to a four-year college to complete my degree. I want to study busin …

Hey everyone! I've been teaching myself Italian for the past year using apps and online resources. Can this be considered an extracurricular activity? Should I include it on my college application?

Hey everyone, as a junior, I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed trying to balance school, extracurriculars, and college applications. How do you find a balance that works for you? Any time management tips w …

Hey everyone, I had the opportunity to study abroad in France last summer through a short-term program. Can I list this experience as an extracurricular activity when applying to colleges? I'm not sur …

I've been looking into pre-college summer programs at universities like NYU and Georgetown. While they look interesting and potentially valuable, they can be expensive. Are these programs worth the in …

Hello! I'm an international student hoping to attend a competitive US college. Are there any tips or advice on what I can do to stand out in the admissions process and improve my chances of getting ac …

Hey everyone, I'm currently a junior and feeling a little overwhelmed with the whole college application process. I have decent grades and test scores, but I'm not sure what else I should be doing to …

Hi all, I'm a little bit confused about when to apply to college. Can someone help me understand the pros and cons of applying Early Action versus Regular Decision? I want to ensure I'm making the rig …

Hey everyone! I have pretty solid leadership experience as a captain of my school's debate team and a co-founder of a community service club. What's the best way to highlight these experiences on my c …

Hey guys, so I need to ask a few teachers for letters of recommendation for college applications. What's the best way to approach them, and how can I ensure they write a strong and personalized letter …

I've been working at a local retail store part-time during the school year, and I'm wondering if this is something that colleges would like to see on my application. Does it show responsibility and wo …

My grades from freshman and sophomore year were not that great, but I've improved a lot since then. Does anyone have any advice on how I can still have a shot at getting into Princeton, despite my pas …

Hello everyone, I'm a high school junior and I'm considering the IB diploma program for my senior year. Can anyone tell me how many HL courses I need to take in order to earn the diploma? Thanks for y …

Hey guys, I've heard that writing about a failure can be a good topic for a college essay, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea. Should I write my college essay about a failure, or is it better to foc …