CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hello! I'm a high school junior, and I've heard that having a good relationship with your counselor can be helpful during the college application process. Is it really that important, and if so, what …

Hey everyone, I've seen the term 'demonstrated interest' mentioned a lot lately and I'm not entirely sure what it means. Can someone explain it to me and how I can effectively show my interest in a co …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I've been struggling to find an extracurricular activity that I'm truly passionate about. I want to get involved in something that I enjoy and that will also look good on …

Hey, I'm a junior and I'm trying to plan my senior year schedule. I'm debating between taking a regular class and getting an A, or taking an AP class and potentially getting a B. Which option would lo …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm starting to look for scholarships to help pay for college. I know there are a lot of them out there, but I'm not sure where to start. What are some good resources fo …

Hey everyone! I've taken the SAT once and the ACT once, but I'm not sure if my scores are good enough for the colleges I'm interested in. Is it worth retaking one or both of the tests to try to improv …

Hi there! I'm a junior trying to decide between taking AP or Dual Enrollment courses next year. Which one do colleges prefer? Are there any benefits to taking one over the other? Thanks in advance for …

Hey guys, I'm working on my college essay and I've noticed I use 'I' a lot. Is this frowned upon or is it okay? I don't want it to sound too self-centered. Thanks for any advice!

Hi everyone! I'm really passionate about my extracurricular activities and I was thinking about writing my college essay on how they've shaped me as a person. Is this a good idea or should I focus on …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I'm trying to plan my senior year schedule. I've heard that taking AP courses can look good on college applications, but some of the subjects don't interest me. Should I …

Hi there! I'm a junior starting to think about the college application process, and the Common App essay seems pretty daunting. I've heard that it's really important, but I'm not sure how to approach …

Hello everyone! I love writing poetry, and I'm considering submitting a poem as my college essay. Do you think this is a good idea, or should I stick to a more traditional essay format? I want to show …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about college admissions interviews. I'm pretty nervous about this part of the process and I'm not sure how to prepare. Does anyone have any tips o …

Hi there! I'm not sure what I want to major in yet, and I'm wondering if applying as an undecided major will hurt my chances of getting into college. Do colleges prefer students who have a clear idea …

Hi all, I'm starting to write my college essay and I was wondering if it needs to be in MLA format? I know we use MLA for most of our high school essays, but I'm not sure if it's necessary for college …

Hey everyone, I'm working on my college essay and I'm not sure if I should use abbreviations for certain terms. Is it considered informal or is it acceptable? Thanks!

Hey everyone, I've got a story I want to share in my college essay and there's a part where using a swear word might emphasize the emotions and situation better. Is it acceptable to include it or shou …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior and I'm starting to create my college list. I'm not sure what the balance should be between reach, match, and safety schools. Can anyone offer some guidance? Thanks in advan …

Hi there, I'm a junior and I recently took the SAT/ACT. My score is decent, but I'm wondering if it's worth retaking the test to try for a higher score. Will colleges look favorably on multiple attemp …

Hello, I'm a junior and I'm a little bit stressed about my GPA. It's lower than I would like, and I'm worried that it might hurt my chances of getting into a top college. Are there any other factors t …