CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey! I'm trying to decide between taking AP and IB courses, and I've heard that IB courses are more challenging than AP courses. Is this true or just a myth? Thanks for your input!

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I had a pretty rough freshman year academically. My grades improved dramatically in 10th and 11th grade, but my overall GPA is still lower than I'd like. Is an upward tre …

Hi fellow students and collegevine! I'm a high school junior, and I've been involved in a few clubs and activities, but I haven't held any leadership positions. Will this hurt my chances of getting in …

Hey all! I'm a junior considering applying to some prestigious engineering programs like MIT, Caltech, and Stanford. My stats (GPA and test scores) are pretty strong, but my extracurriculars are lacki …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I'll be the first person in my family to attend college. I've heard that being a first-generation college student might give me an advantage in the admissions process. Is …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and I'm in the process of creating my college list. I'm having a hard time figuring out which schools would be a good fit for me, both academically and socially. My GPA is ar …

Hey guys! I'm planning to take the SAT in a few months and I've been feeling a little bit stressed about it. I've heard that having a good study plan can make a huge difference in your score. Do you h …

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior and I'm trying to figure out the best course load for next year. Is it better to have a high GPA in easier classes, or a slightly lower GPA in more challenging cl …

Hey, I'm a bit stressed about applying to college and I'm not sure whether I should go for early decision or early action. Can you explain the differences between the two and which one might be a bett …

Hello! I'm a junior working on my college list, and I'm trying to figure out how to balance reach, target, and safety schools. How many of each type of school should I apply to? Are there any guidelin …

Hi guys! I'm a junior in high school and I'm thinking about joining a sports team to diversify my extracurriculars. I know that playing sports might help my college application, but I'm not exactly su …

Hey! I'm curious about the college essay review process. Do admissions officers actually read every single essay, or do they only read a select few? I'm just wondering how much effort I should put int …

Hey there! i wanted to know, can you take an IB exam without having taken the full course? I'm kind of interested in testing myself in a subject, but my school doesn't offer the course. Is it even pos …

Hey guys! I'm considering applying to a college with a binding Early Decision program, but I'm a little nervous about committing. How can I decide if this is the right choice for me? What are the pros …

Hi there, I recently took the SAT and scored a 1450. I'm aiming for top-tier colleges and I'm not sure if my score is good enough. Is it worth retaking the test or should I focus on other aspects of m …

Hello, I'm a junior and I'm a bit worried about my freshman year grades. They weren't as strong as my sophomore or junior year grades. How much do colleges consider freshman year grades when making ad …

Hey everyone, I'm currently ranked #6 in my class of 400, and I've been wondering what kind of class rank would be considered competitive for an Ivy League school. Do I stand a good chance with my cur …

Hi there! I'm a high school junior and I recently took the SAT. My score is just below the average for my dream school, and I'm not sure if I should retake it or not. Is it worth trying to improve my …

As a first-generation immigrant, I feel like my experiences could make for a strong college essay. However, I'm not sure how to start or what to focus on. Can anyone give me some tips or share their e …

Hi all, I'm a junior, and I'm passionate about history. How can I best convey my enthusiasm for this subject in my college application? Are there specific things I should focus on or include to show t …